Preview: After Denmark stunned the football world by beating the then-West Germany to win the 1992 European Championships, a dozen years later, it's Greece. Just a goal was enough for the then-outsiders to the title to win over host nation Portugal. If one only need a reason why anything can happen in football, Greece is the word. Expectations are higher than it was four years ago, surely.
To the extent that over a million Greek fans will be cramming down thousands of hamburgers, croissants, milk cartons and cans of beer this month to get their hands on free tickets for the tournament. Anyhow, some may see Greece's shock win four years ago as just a flash in the pan, probably like Denmark in 1992. But such results remind us why the ball is round. Sometimes you don't need an entire team of superstars.
Call me a football romantic because I am one at heart. I may not know even a single name on the Greek national team back then but, it didn't matter. Give me Cinderella-like football stories anyday!
So since after the fairytale run to the title four years ago against host nation Portugal, Greece didn't qualify for the 2006 World Cup which was also coincidentally held in national coach Otto Rehhagel's native Germany. Not so fast. The Greek national team bounced back and they made amends during the Euro 2008 qualifying route. They were at the top of their qualifying group and was among the earliest nations to qualify for a trip to Austria and Switzerland.
It was actually sweet revenge when they beat fellow qualifying group members Turkey in Istanbul after a 4-1 loss at home to their rivals. And with the win in Istanbul, they sealed their places with two matches to spare. They may enter Euro 2008 as the reigning champions but, another performance like the one four years ago is not many are expecting. But if they can progress from their group which also consist of Sweden, former European champions Russia (as Soviet Union) and Spain (last won in 1964 and the only honour so far in international tournaments), that will be something. That means in the quarter-final stage, they will have to meet any of the nations from Group C (or the 'Group of Death').
For coach Otto Rehhagel (or 'King Otto' after Greece's surprise win four years ago), he has seen it all. He is the only man who has ever involved in over 1,000 Bundesliga matches as a player and coach. The former defender is also the first foreign coach Greece ever had for its national team (and certainly also the longest-serving to date). Coaching stints at Kickers Offenbach, Borussia Dortmund, Arminia Bielefeld and Fortuna Düsseldorf were not remarkable, until transforming Werder Bremen's fortunes in 1981. After spending 14 years at the northern German club, he was off to Bayern Munich but struggled there (even famously clashing with a certain Juergen Klinsmann at that time) and left after less than a season. At 1. FC Kaiserslautern, he brought the club back up to the top-flight at first attempt and when they were there, amazingly won the Bundesliga title in 1998 (and the first team to do so immediately after promotion). It was in 2000 after internal disputes, he took on the Greece job.
The Euro 2004 success was built on defence. Entering into the tournament, Greece were actually ranked outsiders (just imagine the lucky ones who took a chance and bet on them). All the favourites tumbled along the way (along with his native Germany, crashing out in the group stages). Rehhagel's Greece never conceded a single goal in a group which also has hosts Portugal, Spain and Russia. Three 1-0 wins against France, Czech Republic and Portugal...then the title.
Attacking and free-flowing football are fun to watch (yes, I also admit). But keeping clean sheets is also important too. That was what Greece taught us four years ago. Clean sheets. Alright, Rehhagel may used to be a defender himself in his former playing days but, it's always best to concede as little as possible in major tournaments. If one also noticed Manchester United road to the Champions League final, they conceded the least of goals among all the clubs. They may not score the most en route to Moscow but, hey, they won in the end on penalties. Some defending don't hurt, you know.
Greece may not be among the strong favourites four years on. But then, how many betted on them to win it four years ago? It's not Greek to me, at all.
More background reading before I end my unofficial series of Euro 2008 features. Hope to have a few more up soon before the tournament really gets underway this weekend.
‘King Otto’ Rehhagel rules for Greece (When Otto Rehhagel took charge of his first game as Greece coach in September 2001, his side were ranked 61st in the world and were hammered 5-1 by Finland. Less than seven years later, Greece head into Euro 2008 as defending champions after their stunning triumph in Portugal four years ago and are ranked as the eighth best team in the world by FIFA. It is hardly any wonder that Greeks have dubbed the 69-year-old German, King Otto.)
Greece striker Gekas prepares to shine on big stage (Fanis Gekas needed a spell in the Bundesliga to blossom into the striker who will lead the line for Greece in their title defence at Euro 2008. Gekas, who turns 28 later this month, was always a good goalscorer from the moment he started his professional career with his local club Larissa, who were then in the second division. But he was never the finished article.)
Greece squad penpix (Short info on each player in the Greek national team)
Solid again in defence (ESPN's Dale Johnson wonders if defending champions Greece and coach Otto Rehhagel can recreate the miracle of Portugal.)
