Surface Area: 131,940 sq. km.
Population: 11.3 million greeks (circa 7 million more outside of Greece and Cyprus)
Lyrics to the national anthem :
Se gnorizo apo tin kopsi
tou spathiou tin tromeri,
se gnorízo apo tin opsi,
pou me via metrai tin gi.
Ap' ta kokkala vgalmeni
ton Ellinon ta iera,
kai san prota andriomeni,
chere, o chere, Eleftheria
English:
I shall always recognize you
by the dreadful sword you hold
as the Earth with searching vision
you survey with spirit bold
From the Greeks of old whose dying
brought to life and spirit free
now with ancient valour rising
let us hail you, oh Liberty!
Official Team Bus Slogan for South Africa:
Η Ελλάδα είναι παντού!
(Greece is everywhere!)
National Food Culture:
Oooohhhhhhhhhh.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhrgmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
You can’t go wrong when you mary in love lamb, the freshest vegetables, suculent yogurts and squeaking-fresh seafood.... washed down with liters of Rezina...
Subjectively Greek food is so good its enough to eat every day for seventy five lifetimes...
Positive Nicknames:
The Ethniki, the pirate ship, galanoleyki (the blue and white), the phalanx
Negative Nicknames:
The Sheeplovers, the backdoor-pirate ship
Most Famous Clubs:
Panathinaikos Athens, Olympiakos Pireus, AEK Athens, PAOK Thessaloniki, Iraklis Thessaloniki, Aris Thessaloniki, OFI Crete
Famous Players of the Past:
Not many as the 2004 team overshadowed all previous Greek footballing „achievements” but some of those team members have already retired:
Theodoros Zagorakis, Stratos Apostolakis, Antonios Nikopolidis, Nikos Anastopoulos, Demis Nikolaidis, Georgios Georgiadis
Achievements:
2004 European Champions
Otherwiese mostly disastrous performances
Current Coach:
Otto Rehhagel is an underapreciated footballing genius. Yes the Greek National Football Team had talent in 2004, but so did many of the teams in that competition.
When he took over the Greek National team in 2001, he was faced with a bucket full of talent, no hard work, no system, no discipline, blaring overblown egos, and infighting... all of which he managed to work into a deserving championship team in 2004.
He took a very defensive mode, and introduced the perfect system which accentuated the strengths of that team, a superb defence, and covered for the fact that the players didn’t have the fitness to attack for 90 minutes. The system is referred to as a „controlled defense.”
He has not yet managed to repeat the success, and for that generation of Greek supertalent this World Cup is undoubtedly the last chance to show something... Otto stayed around for the very reason that getting veterans to do something great a second time is four times as hard as an already superb achievement.
Alas, success can breed conservatism... and Rehagel’s defensive approach might not be suited to the fact that the new generation has more class attacking players than defensive ones. The result is that Greece fail to create sufficient opportunities sometimes, and if they do they are too tired to finnish correctly having had to cover more ground before having a chance at goal.
As a personality Otto is an older Mourinho or Hiddink, having been known as a rebel and Maverick in his time, and for his dictatorial approach to management.
Rehhagel will be the oldest coach managing a team in South Africa, clocking in at just under 72 years of age.
Squad of 23:
Probable strarting 11: (x greek games, x greek goals)
Antonios Nikopolodis was a symbol of the Greek goal for two decades. Now he is gone and three goalkeepers are still fighting for the number one spot – Kostas Chalkias, 36 (27,0) of PAOK is the most likely choice because given the lack of hypertalent Rehhagel is likely to stick with experience – Alexandros Tzorvas, 27 (8,0) of Panathinaikos was the hero of the 2 legged playoff against Ukraine, and could still be Greece’s number one for the World Cup – Michalis Sifakis, 25 (2,0) of Aris, has a longer shot at number one but is talented. Given the attacking talents of the opposition, this uncertainty of goalkeepers could really hurt the Greek team.
The twin towers of the Greek defence are probably the strongest aspect of the team. Their names are Sotirios Kyrgiakos, 30, Liverpool (58, 4) and Sokratis Papastathopoulos, 21, Genoa (10,0). While they might have the same height but have a significant experience gap. Kyrgiakos is one of the best defenders at this tournament, but can Sokratis partner him?
Otto likes wingbacks. Greece has two exceptional wingbacks one of which is likely to start in South Africa. Since the 2004 victory Giourkas Seitaridis, 28, Panathinaikos (69,1) has been the main right back for Greece and is a very balanced player excellent at defense and helpful going forward. Vasilis Torosidis, 24, Olympiakos (26,2) is Rehhagel’s first choice at left back although he struggles against fast opposition.
Alexandros Tzoilis, 25, Siena (19,0) measures 191 cm and is the physical presence in defensive midfield that Otto tends to prefer.
A frequent team captain and defensive midfielder is Kostas Katsouranis, 30, Panathinaikos (69,8) is a block of experience in central midfield that orchestrates Rehhagel’s complicated „controlled defense.” He is more of a defensive player but has a fair amount of passing ability.
Giorgios Karagounis of Panathinaikos, at 33 is one of the biggest footballing talents that Greece has produced. He has amassed 93 appearances for his national team and scored 6 times. He is capable, an excellent dribbler and passer, and the only really creative player that Greece currently have, but not a good finisher which explains his only 6 goals given that he has had a lot, lot more opportunities on goal. His freekicks and corners are a key to Greece’s tall players knocking in the ball. A theatrical charmer, Karagounis is entertaining to watch, and highly annoying if you are an opposition fan.
Dimitris Salpigidis storms down the right wing, weaves his way into penalty boxes and does what not all Greek players know how to do: scores. The catch is that he does it in key matches for Panathinaikos, but has only managed to do it 3 times in 36 games for Greece.
So the burden of goals will go to the highest scorer in European qualification: Teofanis Gekas, 30, Eintracht Frankfurt (47,20). Gekas has consistently been scoring bags of goals all over Europe, including in Germany and England but it took him a while to start scoring for Greece. He just knows how to make the run and finnish calmly. A precious ability at any World Cup with thousands of screaming fans and historiy-in-the-making putting pressure on you.
A lot more was expected of attacker Georgios Samaras, 25, of Celtic Glasgow (34,5) who combines technical ability and height with speed. He failed to impress in England and several other leagues before finally becoming something of an asset for Celtic in Scotland. He opens the holes which Gekas scores himself, but his finnishing is still poor.
The remaining benchies: (x greek games, x greek goals)
Angelos Charisteas, 30, Nuernberg (84,24) – the emblematic, charming forward who was the goal scorer in the final against Portugal in the 2004 European Championship win. A hard working workhorse, strong like a horse, and with the technical ball control of a horse he has lost steam over the years and doesn’t score as much as he used to. He is likely to start from the bench as a super-sub but that is uncertain as he is a sort of „lucky charm” for team in terms of goals.
Pantelis Kapetanos, 26, Steaua Bucharest (3,0) - a tall striker who scores bags of goals in Romania.
Sakis Prittas, 31, Aris Thessaloniki (0,0) – a flexible midfielder who is a surprise inclusion in the final team. He is consistent and hardworking, two traits that Rehhagel values.
Sotiris Ninis, 20, Panathinaikos (4,1) – A young supertalent, with exceptional dribbling and passing. This tiny player gets comparisons against Messi, but if Rehhagel is consistent we won’t get much time to compare the two side by side this summer as he doesn’t often get used in the Greek team. The Greek fans really want to see more of him though. Can play in the middle or on the wings as an attacking midfielder.
Christos Patsatzoglou (yes spelled correctly), 31, Omonia Nicosia (43,1) – a tall defensive midfielder with a strong shot. Likely to start on the bench but could be a starter.
Stelios Malezas, 25, PAOK (0,0) – a tall strong central defender who was another surprise inclusion in the team. Rehhagel has never yet let him play. He should provide good cover for the more experienced defenders.
Loukas Vyntra, 29, Panathinaikos (29,0)- could be a starting center back instead of Sokratis. He is rather fast and strong, he is a real defensive asset and gives Otto the option to employ three central defenders against an Argentina or Nigeria. He can also cover the left of defence and play as sweeper.
Avraam Papadopoulos, 26, Olympiakos (14,0) – Australian born, Avraam is really becoming a major asset for Greece as well. A possible starter, he is still pursuing the heights of his talent.
Vangelis Moras, 28, Bologna (11,0) – A very likely starter in Central defence, where he has many times partnered Kyrgiakos very effectivelly. He forced Avraam from the post before losing out to Sokratis himself. He is a giant of 196 cm who can easily score when going forward from corners. Rehhagel is a big fan and he could start.
Nikos Spiropoulos, 26, Panathinaikos (19,0) – A very talented fast left-wingback who should start, but since Rehhagel prefers defensive players this talent has gotten limited chances with Greece. If he does get to play, he will be remembered as a discovery of the World Cup. Very dangerous going forward.
Tactical Approach:
He tends to prefer big, strong players to technical ones and his teams attack a lot down the wings of the pitch and not through the center.
Look for a 4-5-1 formation than can become more of a 4-3-3 when needing goals.
Two giant strong central defenders are a must to Rehhagel’s „controlled defense” as well as a dedicated defensive midfielder (Katsouranis) and one strong tall ball-heading forward (Charisteas, Samaras).
Making up for the lack of 11 super-talents Greece adheres to the Rehhagel system carefully, and this makes them a dangerous opponent. When all else fails, individual talents and long-range shooting like that of Karagounis tries to save the day.
Who is missing? Why?
2 major injuries:
Ioannis Amanatidis, 28 (35,2) of Frankfurt is out of the team. This tall, strong winger’s dynamism might be missed.
Schalke defensive midfielder Vasilis Pliatsikas, 22 (4,0) is young but already doing great with Schalke 04 and was beginning to become a central player in the national team midfield.
Greece Straaangths
Although not as formidable as in 2004, largely due to age, the Greek defense is still one of the best.
Passion runs in Greek veins, it looks like hard work, but it comes in spurts and only when it wants to. This „juice” manages to create a confusing phenomenon where a team can look like an explosion of talent and energy for 1 game, and a Sunday afternoon Bingo tournament for the next 7 games. If the Greek team manages to tap this passion they will go far.
Karagounis and the defense are strengths of an international caliber and the team has Creative talent and physical strength. Gekas and Salpingidis can run and score... but not always.
Finally a key attribute is experience, some excellent experienced players are in this team, and in a tounrament where every decision counts this could be key.
Greece Weeeaaklingnesses
Consistency, work rate, and confidence. The team has lost the confidence and barely managed to qualify for this tournament beating Ukraine narrowly in 2 playoff legs.
The goalkeeper is very insecure and filling Nikopolidis’s gloves has been more than a challenge.
The offense doesn’t seem to always work correctly, perhaps because Rehagel’s tactics are now conservative.
Finally, as seems to be a definite cultural trait, the Greek team is very capable of meltdowns. When they get scored on they stop functioning as a team and this leads to more goals. Luckily strong personalities like Kyrgiakos or Karagounis can help avoid this with some leadership on the field.
Finally if you have read this far your reward (the prediction):
Very very hard to say. If Greece finds the correct gear they are capable of advacning at least to the quarterfinals. If Greece doesn’t find the right sailing winds in South Africa, this pirate ship will sink in port.
The talent is there its all in the psychology, and the fact that every minute of Group B will be important in the face of talented, diverse opposition from Nigeria, South Korea and Argentina.
Will Rehhagel prove his genius once again and get Greece out of this group?
Prediction: Greece will finnish third in the group.
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