Greece - Euro 2008 Team Profile

Marc Fox reports...

Greece Copyright © Soccerphile

Road to Switzerland / Austria

It took a politically charged 4-1 defeat to arch-enemies Turkey in Group C to arouse Greece's attempts to defend their shock Euro 2004 title this summer. Otto Rehhagel's men had actually started well, with wins in their first three games, but their form post 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 the second-placed Turks. They also kept seven clean sheets, echoing Rehhagel's successful tactic in Portugal.

Analysis

Four years ago, the defending champions pulled off the biggest upset since Denmark were crowned kings of Europe in 1992 when Angelos Charisteas headed the winner against the host nation.

Otto Rehhagel has kept the bulk of that triumphant squad together with the exception of now retired midfielder Theo Zagarokais. His aging squad will most likely be written off again but they still contain plenty of know-how, and, arguably, even better resources in defence.

Up-and-coming striker Georgios Samaras has gone on loan to Celtic from Manchester City to improve his chances of being involved although the beanpole striker is no certainty to make the cut. Meanwhile, Eintract Frankfurt winger Ioannis Amanatidis will bring class to wide midfield.

Key player: Sotirios Kyrgiakos

Rated by some as Europe's premier defender this season, 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.

One to watch: Sokratis Papastathopoulos

Another imposing central defender, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, was a shining light for Greece as the teenager skippered his national team to the under-19 World Cup final last year. Tall and dominant in the air, the AEK Athens centre half is comfortable on the ground too despite his tender years. Papastathopoulos, who turns 20 on the eve of Greece's opener against Sweden, made his senior debut in February's 1-0 friendly victory over the Czech Republic.

Coach

A failed 2006 World Cup qualifying campaign doesn't seem to have greyed the hair of hirsute German coach Otto Rehhagel. The eccentric tactician, considered somewhat a maverick in his homeland, is dubbed "King Otto" in Greece after turning the national side around following his 2001 arrival.

Beating Portugal in that memorable 2004 final has made Rehhagel the most successful coach in the history of the Greek national team. The veteran, who turns 70 this year, has also spent more time in charge of the defending champions than anyone else. Rehhagel previously won three national titles and three German Cups as well as the 1991/92 Cup Winners' Cup with Werder Bremen.

Recent Previous Tournaments

1996: Did not qualify
2000: Did not qualify
2004: Champions

Soccerphile says .....

Can lightening strike twice? Probably not.

Euro 2008 Squad

Bet on Euro 2008

Goalkeepers Konstantinos Chalkias (Aris FC), Antonios Nikopolidis (Olympiakos), Alexandros Tzorvas (OFI Crete)
Defenders Paraskevas Antzas (Olympiakos), Giourkas Seitaridis (Atletico Madrid), Vassilis Torossidis (Olympiakos), Sotirios Kyrgiakos (Eintracht Frankfurt), Traianos Dellas (AEK), Christos Patsatzoglou (Olympiakos), Yiannis Goumas (Panathinaikos), Nikos Spiropoulos (Panathinaikos), Loukas Vyntra (Panathinaikos)
Midfielders Angelos Basinas (Mallorca), Stelios Giannakopoulos (Bolton Wanderers), Georgios Karagounis (Panathinaikos), Konstantinos Katsouranis (Benfica), Alexandros Tziolis (Paniliakos)
Forwards Ioannis Amanatidis (Eintracht Frankfurt), Georgios Samaras (Celtic), Dimitrios Salpigidis (Panathinaikos), Angelos Charisteas (FC Nuremburg), Theofanis Gekas (Bayer Leverkusen), Nikolaos Liberopoulos (AEK)

Flights To Switzerland / Austria
Opodo

"The Onside In-Site" Copyright © From 2000. All rights reserved. Soccerphile Ltd.