Semi-final jinx strikes Czech icon
Dellas's defending has been key to Greece's presence in this tournament's knock-out stages, but it was his prowess in the air - and some suspect marking at a crucial moment that finally broke 105 minutes of deadlock to send the Czech Republic out.
If it wasn't for the tears in Nedved's eyes as he limped mournfully off the pitch in the first half you would be forgiven for coming to the decision that the Czech genius has an aversion to major finals.
Few will have forgotten the booking that ended Nedved's UEFA Champions League campaign at the semi-final stage just over a year ago - his absence a major factor in Juventus' defeat to Milan.
This time it was an injury that ended his chances of lifting the European Championship trophy, and also robbed his team of their talisman when they desperately needed his dynamism through the middle.
The Greeks have battled, harried and frustrated their way through to the final, and with the outstanding Dellas ably assisted by the impressive Michalis Kapsis, it always looked like it would take a playmaker of genius to break down the resistance.
When Nedved's leg wrapped around Kostas Katsouranis - extending his knee nastily - the Czechs had lost their rudder, and their inspiration.
The sight of Nedved limping off spurred on the Greeks - who had survived some early pressure from their opposition.
After Thomas Rosicky had rattled the bar just three minutes in, Marek Jankulovski's drive had Nikopolidis scrambling across the Greece goal.
Viewing that first half hour, you would be hard pressed to predict anything but a Czech victory - but when Nedved limped off, the merest glimmer of hope for Greece was enough to lift the side's massive support and add a previously unseen note of panic into the Czech play.
When they had found themselves two goals behind to the Dutch side, it was Nedved who had lifted them back into the game, but this despair came not from goals but from the loss of spark, and against a defence that has only underperformed in a nervous 2-1 defeat to Russia.
The Czechs continued to dominate against a side that coming into Euro 2004 had not won a game in a major tournament, but their play was predictable, with previous inventiveness replaced with the tried and trusted lump up to the big man Koller.
In truth, a little luck helped guide the Greek side into extra time, surviving a debatable penalty appeal as Koller appeared to be held back by Dellas - on one of the rare occasions he got space in the box, and Karel Poborsky watching a cunning lob drop just wide.
But at the other end Petr Cech had to be on his mettle as lone striker Zisis Vryzas found some space and drew a competent save.
Czech Republic could, and should, have opened the scoring with ten minutes left on the clock, when Koller received the ball 12 yards out, but fired woefully wide when anything on target would probably have hit the back of the net.
Kapsis denied the powerful forward the chance to make amends, when he produced a brilliant defensive header to keep Jankulovski's cross from finding its target.
But into extra time it went - and the Czechs froze as the Greek side grew in stature and influence.
Dellas must still have been wondering how he had not opened the scoring, flicking a header too close to Cech when losing his marker.
But, Czech Republic did not learn their lesson, and from the next passage of play another corner was won and Dellas was again not picked up.
This time he did convert - bulging the back of the net, and leaving the Czech supporters wondering just how different it could have been if their idol could have remained on the pitch.
