Euro 2008 Team Preview: Greece

Greece Euro 2008FOOTBALL – Euro 2008 Team Preview – GREECE

28/1 with totesport to win Euro 2008.
9/2 with William Hill to win Qualifying Group D (includes Spain, Sweden and Russia).

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Past Championships

A study of the Greek side’s inauspicious qualification record for the European Championships makes their victory in Euro 2004 all the more remarkable. Their only previous appearance at the tournament finals consisted of elimination at the group stage in Italy 1980, and there was no reason to suspect that the 2004 side would achieve any more than their predecessors. However, Greece’s team spirit and well drilled performances took them beyond even their own wildest dreams to a final victory over hosts Portugal and gave hope to all the underdogs.
1960 – Did not qualify

1964 – Withdrew from qualifying

1968 – Did not qualify

1972 – Did not qualify

1976 – Did not qualify

1980 – Round 1

1984 – Did not qualify

1988 – Did not qualify

1992 – Did not qualify

1996 – Did not qualify

2000 – Did not qualify

2004 – Champions

Qualification

It took a 4-1 defeat by arch-enemies Turkey in Group C to arouse Greece’s attempts to defend their shock Euro 2004 title. Otto Rehhagel’s men had actually started well, with wins in their first three games, but their form following that humiliating Athens drubbing was sublime. Dropping just two more points in their eight remaining qualifiers the Greeks finished with 31 points, the highest total of any national team and seven points ahead of runners-up Turkey. They also kept seven clean sheets, echoing Rehhagel’s successful tactic in Portugal. Emphatic winners of qualifying Group C, Greece lost only once as they racked up 31 points and strolled on to Austria and Switzerland to defend their crown.

Coach

Greece’s German coach Otto Rehhagel has been in charge of the national side since 2001. Beating Portugal in a memorable 2004 final made Rehhagel the most successful coach in the history of the Greek national team. His defensive style and broad tactical knowledge were honed as a Bundesliga winning coach with Werder Bremen and Kaiserslautern and has made his name building sides based on work ethic and team spirit. The veteran, who turns 70 this year, has also spent more time in charge of the defending champions than anyone else.

Key Players

Georgios Karagounis (Panathinaikos) was one player who illuminated Euro 2004 from Greece’s midfield and was unfortunate to miss the final through suspension. His hard working yet skilful presence in the Greek midfield will be vital if they have any pretensions of retaining their title. Rated by some as Europe’s premier defender this season, former Rangers defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos played in all 1,080 minutes of Greece’s 12-game qualifying campaign, scoring three times from central defence. The 28-year-old stopper, another testing his mettle in the Bundesliga with Eintracht Frankfurt, missed Greece’s 2004 success through injury and will be keen to make amends this time. Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall, he is a major threat to the opposition at set pieces and could well be Greece’s most important player at both ends if Rehhagel sticks to a defensive gameplan.

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    Related Articles:
  • Euro 2008 Team Preview: Turkey
  • Euro 2008 Team Preview: Switzerland
  • Euro 2008 Team Preview: Portugal
  • Euro 2008 Team Preview: Austria
  • Euro 2008 Team Preview: Italy


    • Written by Max Hammond · Filed Under Euro 2008, Football 

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