Greece's rise and fall from 2004 till 2008

[Truth Bearer]

Greece's rise and fall



Archive: Portugal 0-1 Greece - Euro 2004

By Andrew McKenzie


The year 2004 was always expected to be a big one for Greek sport.

However, nobody expected their national football team to cause such a stir as to overshadow the return of the Olympics to its spiritual home in Athens.

BBC Sport looks back at Greece's rise to winners of Euro 2004, their subsequent fall from grace and what this year holds for the current European champions.

THE GLORY OF GREECE

[B]"The whole is more than the sum of its parts"
Aristotle (384-322 BC), Greek philosopher [/b]

Greece is regarded as the birthplace of democracy - a country that has helped shape the development of the world with its impact on philosophy and politics, literature and theatre, mathematics and physics.

But it would take the combined minds of Aristotle and Archimedes, Plato and Pythagoras to work out how they went from no-hopers to all-conquering heroes at Euro 2004.

In sporting terms, Greece was the origin of the Olympics Games. But in international football the country was barely even a bit-part player before 2004.

That journey can perhaps be traced back to 2001, when the German Otto Rehhagel was appointed as coach.

He took over a ragbag bunch, a team of individuals who were 61st in the Fifa world rankings for good reason. His first game in charge was an embarrassing 5-1 defeat by Finland.


WHAT THEY SAID

"This is the biggest win of any Greek team."
Coach Otto Rehhagel, after the opening win over Portugal

"We have made Greece not just the talk of Europe but also of the world."
Captain Theo Zagorakis, after qualifying for the knockout stages

"This is the greatest moment in Greek football."
Striker Angelos Charisteas, after beating France

"The fairytale continues, it's unbelievable what they did. It's a true miracle."
Rehhagel, after defeating the Czechs

"We will never forget this, our country will remember this moment forever."
Defender Nikos Dabizas, after winning the final

Domestically, Greek football was beset by financial problems, hooliganism and a national match-fixing scandal involving the country's referees.

But a month after that loss to Finland there were signs of what was to come as Greece were a desperation David Beckham free-kick away from victory over England at Old Trafford.

The Greeks failed to make the 2002 World Cup but qualified for Euro 2004 above Spain after six wins in a row.

But when the shortlist of likely winners in Portugal was drawn up, Greece were at the back of the queue.

"It was only the third time Greece had made a major tournament so to qualify for the finals was success in itself," said Greek journalist Panos Polyzoidis.

"There was a feel-good factor but nobody would dream of them winning it."

Odds of over 100-1 were being offered on a team that were 35th in the world and had never won a game in a major tournament before.

That was to change in the opening match of the tournament whey they shocked the hosts Portugal with a 2-1 victory.

It was the start of 23 days when the Greeks would stun the footballing world.

They qualified for the quarter-finals at the expense of Spain, then ranked third in the world, knocked out the holders France and the tournament's form side Czech Republic to reach the final.

In a repeat of the opening game of the tournament, Greece beat Portugal to be crowned European champions.

It was not Raul, Zinedine Zidane, Pavel Nedved or Cristiano Ronaldo lifting the trophy but Greece captain Theodoros Zagorakis.

PARTY TIME

"The greater the difficulty, the more the glory in surmounting it"
Epicurus (341- 270 BC), Greek philosopher

A banner hanging in Athens city centre read: "If this is a dream, then I never want to wake up."


Even four years on it still seems somewhat surreal to think of Greece as the European champions.
But anyone who was in Athens at that time can vouch for the reality.

Journalist Barney Spender went out to the city in March 2004 to cover the Olympics and got more than he bargained for. He has never left.

"Athens is a very noisy place," said Spender, who covers the national team for Reuters and sportingreece.com. "There are cars everywhere and people lean on their horns all the time but during games the city was silent, no cars were on the roads as everyone was watching the games.

"When the goals went in there was this amazing echo of roars around the city, which was extraordinary.

"Within 15 seconds of the final whistle you could hear the car doors banging closed and the horns beeping again.

"Every time they played the parties got bigger and longer and louder. After the final they reckon two million people crammed the city of Athens and drove round in their cars until the early hours of the next day. Some just went straight to work from there."


The celebrations continued when the Greek team returned to a hero's welcome.

President Costis Stefanopoulos and the country's political leaders led a ceremony in the old Olympic stadium that was broadcast live on almost every television channel.

The streets were lined from the airport to welcome home the team, while fans sang "God is German" to honour their coach.

Rehhagel, the first foreign coach and the oldest to win a major tournament, was offered Greek citizenship.

THE HANGOVER

"Observe your enemies, for they first find out your faults"
Antisthenes (450-360 BC), Greek philosopher

A week after their historic victory in Portugal, Rehhagel was offered the chance to coach Germany but turned them down to stay with Greece. It seemed that he could do no wrong.

However the feel-good factor was to only last until September when they lost to Albania in their opening qualification game for the 2006 World Cup.

The players were still at odds with Greek authorities over a bonus row from their victory and Albania took full advantage of any lack of concentration.

Greece were to finish fourth in their group and fail to make it to the finals tournament in Germany. Otto's empire had crumbled.

Polyzoidis puts their failure down to "psychological fatigue and some silly losses".


FORTUNE AND FAME?
BBC Sport

For the players the expected big-money moves to Real Madrid or Barcelona never materialised.

Georgios Setaridis was the biggest winner, swapping Panathinaikos for Champions League winners Porto in a deal already agreed before Euro 2004. But otherwise there was little interest from Europe's powerhouses.

The national side were not the only ones to fail to take advantage of their success.

"There was a hope that this could possibly boost the Greek league. But the disappointing thing was they failed to capitalise on that victory," added Polyzoidis.

"Problems with corruption and hooliganism are endemic and there is a general lack of trust in the authorities in this country. Even this year the league title was decided for the first time in history not on the pitch but in the courts.

"Greece's win hasn't changed anything."

Spender revealed: "Greek football still has problems with violence and crowd trouble - they are kind of crazy and people have been killed. Big games are played with home fans only."

THE DEFENCE OF THEIR CROWN

"I want Greece to be up there competing for the title, just as we did four years ago,"
'King' Otto Rehhagel (1938- ) Greece coach

No team has successfully defended their title at the European Championship. You will struggle to find anyone expecting that to change this summer.

Of all the teams at Euro 2008, Greece had the best record in qualifying - winning 10 out of 12 games - and they have climbed up to eighth in Fifa's world rankings despite missing out on the World Cup.

Seven of their winning team in Portugal will be in Switzerland and Austria for Euro 2008, while Rehhagel remains at the helm.

But not even patriotic Greeks will expect their team to be around when the closing stages of the tournament is being played.


"I think what happened in Portugal is the biggest upset in world footballing history," said Polyzoidis. "More than Germany beating Hungary in 1954 and the Danish in 1992. So by definition it is extremely unlikely it will happen again."
Rehhagel's side are no longer reliant on the defensive style that stifled and frustrated their opponents in 2004 - winning all three knockout games 1-0.

In qualifying for Euro 2008 they scored 25 goals in 12 qualifying games and the side has added the fresh legs of Bayer Leverkusen's Fanis Gekas, the top scorer in Germany's Bundesliga a season ago, and attacking midfielder Ioannis Amanatidis.

"Four years ago it was a defensive team that would score one goal and then protect it," added Spender. "They have more creativity and imagination now and they have more confidence and experience."

Polyzoidis said: "Rehhagel has a team that looks like a well-oiled machine again, despite them lacking the talent of other national sides.

"They have scored several goals during the qualification rounds but that's different, they played Malta. In the finals they will again employ clever, pragmatic tactics.

"It would be silly to say they will reach the final again, but you never know."

The is a certain feeling of deja vu after Greece's 2-1 win over Portugal earlier this year and again being drawn in a group with Spain and Russia, while France may await in the quarter-finals.

Could there really be a sequel to mission impossible?



Story from BBC SPORT:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/spo...ce/7413507.stm

Published: 2008/06/05 07:03:59 GMT

© BBC MMVIII

[Truth Bearer]

What happened to Greece's 2004 heroes?



By Andrew McKenzie


Greece shocked the world of football when they were crowned European champions in Portugal in 2004.


Their players returned to a hero's reception back home where they were treated as gods.

But did the victory bring with it fortune and fame to the Greek players? Here's what happened to the men that pulled off one of sport's greatest shocks.



Antonios Nikopolidis

The goalkeeper, who was 33 at Euro 2004, made a controversial move to Olympiakos after 15 years with rivals Panathinaikos following the tournament.

The George Clooney lookalike is still at Olympiakos and still in contention for the goalkeeping position at Euro 2008.


Giourkas Seitaridis

Possibly Greece's outstanding player in Euro 2004, at 23 the right-back was reportedly interesting Real Madrid but had made a pre-tournament contract with Porto, who looked to have a bargain at £3m.

In 2005 he moved to Dynamo Moscow for £7m only to be sold to Atletico Madrid for £8m a year later. He has recovered from a serious injury to make the 2008 squad.

Traianos Dellas

The towering centre-half, who struggled at Sheffield United but starred at Euro 2004, continued his form after the tournament to earn a starting role at Roma.

He moved back to Greece in 2005 with AEK Athens, where he is now captain, and he has also overcome injuries to return to form.


Michalis Kapsis

An ever-present alongside Dellas in the Greek defence, he was one of five AEK Athens players in the Euro 2004 squad.

He left the club, who were close to bankruptcy, and spent a season in France with Bordeaux before returning to Greece with Olympiakos and then Apoel but he will not be at Euro 2008.

Takis Fyssas

The uncompromising left-back who stifled Cristiano Ronaldo in the final spent a second season at Benfica after Euro 2004 before deciding on a move to Scotland with Hearts.

After two years at Tynecastle he headed back home with Panithinaikos but now in his mid-30s he is no longer involved in the national set-up.


Theo Zagorakis

Greece's skipper, their inspiration and voted player of the tournament in 2004. He left AEK Athens on a free transfer after the win to earn a lucrative deal with Italian side Bologna.

After only one season he headed back to his spiritual home of PAOK Thessaloniki, where he played for two seasons before becoming their president. He retired from international football in 2007 with 120 caps.


Kostas Katsouranis

The defensive midfielder was the only squad member to stick with AEK Athens after Euro 2004 amid their financial problems.

However, after two further seasons he decided to leave his home country for Benfica, but he remains one of the first names on Otto Rehhagel's teamsheet.


Angelos Basinas

Basinas, who set up the winning goal in the final, was chased by both Portsmouth and Birmingham but stayed with Panathinaikos until September 2005 when the Greek side ended his contract after over a decade of service.

He joined Real Mallorca in Spain and has become a popular player with the Spanish club, while taking over the armband for the national team ensures he is as influential as ever as their playmaker.

Georgios Karagounis

A fixture in the Inter Milan side before Euro 2004 but the midfielder, who was banned from the final, fell out of favour in the 2004-05 season.

Karagounis, nicknamed 'The Dude', spent two seasons back in Portugal with Benfica before returning to Panathinaikos in 2007 and remains a key part of the national side.

Stelios Giannakopoulos

The Bolton midfielder, who appeared in the final because of Karagounis's suspension, became a firm fixture for the English club after his Euro 2004 exploits.

His stay at the Reebok Stadium lasted until this summer when his contract ended and he was released. He has been linked with a return to Greece but there was no doubt over his place in Rehhagel's squad for Euro 2008.

Zisis Vryzas

The hard-working leader of Greece's forward line became something of a journeyman, heading from Fiorentina to Celta Vigo on loan, then to Torino in the two seasons after Euro 2004.

He returned to Xanthi, the club where he started his career, before hanging up his boots after a spell with PAOK, where he is now technical director.


Angelos Charisteas

The scorer of Greece's winning goal in the final headed back to Werder Bremen after the tournament but before the season was out he had signed for Ajax for more than £3m.

He struggled for games in Amsterdam so made a controversial move to Rotterdam to join Feyenoord, before heading back to Germany with Nuremberg last summer. Another who remains a key cog in Rehhagel's side.



Story from BBC SPORT:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/spo...ce/7426854.stm

Published: 2008/06/05 07:27:19 GMT

© BBC MMVIII

[Truth Bearer]

The IMMORTALS!!!!!!

[Truth Bearer]

Upsets in international football are nothing new.

Even England fans who weren’t around in 1950 will probably know about their defeat by the United States in the country’s first World Cup appearance. It has since become known as the Miracle on Grass.

At the same finals Uruguay also defeated a mighty Brazil side on their own turf to be crowned world champions, and since then there has been a steady stream of shocks in major tournaments.

Germany’s win against a previously unbeatable Hungary side in 1954 is referred to as the Miracle of Bern.

Most of football’s heavyweights have suffered at the hands of the minnows at some stage.

Italy have been victim of the Korean double – losing to North Korea in 1966 and South Korea in 2002.

In 1982 Germany were beaten by Algeria and Spain lost to the 10 men of Northern Ireland.

Argentina were the reigning World Cup champions when they were beaten by Cameroon in 1990, while France suffered a similar fate in 2002 to Senegal.

Denmark’s victory over Germany in the final of the 1992 European Championships was all the more remarkable as they had not even qualified for the tournament, earning a late entry after Yugoslavia were forced to withdraw.

But, for me, Greece’s victory at Euro 2004 tops the lot.

What separates their win from most of the above was it was no one-off. They beat some of the cream of Europe in Portugal (twice), France and Czech Republic.

On Thursday we will look back at Greece’s victory in 2004 and what has happened to the team – and the players – since then.

But for now, let us know what you think is the biggest shock in the history of international football and why.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A36874966#commentbox

[Tsontos]

Originally Posted by Truth Bearer

while fans sang "God is German" to honour their coach.

I think "the German is God" is the right translation.

[Truth Bearer]

Beware of Greeks bearing team spirit

Phil Gordos 1 Jun 08, 08:43 PM

Football's still a team game, right? It's just that a lot of the views being churned out by newspapers, magazines, television shows, radio stations and websites seem to have ignored this very basic fact in the run-up to Euro 2008.

Look, being blessed with lots of talented individuals isn't a precursor to success. Just ask Steve McClaren. Yet for some reason a lot of people believe Greece have absolutely no chance of winning the European Championships again.

Other countries may have better squads - Spain, for example, boast such luminaries as Torres, Fabregas, Ramos and Casillas - but the Greeks are a proven team, one that equals more than the sum of its parts.

They are in the Finals on merit, topping their qualifying group by dropping just five points from a possible 36, and they are coached by the same man - Otto Rehhagel - who guided them to success in Portugal.

I'm not suggesting Greece will shock the footballing world for a second time by defending their trophy, just reminding everyone that it is perhaps a little foolhardy to say they won't.

And, please, no more 'Lightning Won't Strike Twice' headlines.

What's clear to me from the numerous interviews I've read and heard in the build-up to Euro 2008 is that this is a tournament capable of serving up another surprise winner.

My particular dark horse is Poland. Like Greece, they topped their qualifying group - a group that included Portugal - and they have a coach in Leo Beenhakker who, like Rehhagel, is capable of instilling his players with oodles of self-belief.

And had Romania not been drawn in a group that also includes Italy, France and Holland, I might have tipped them to cause an upset as well.

Two other major themes have emerged from my 'research'. The first is that not many people are giving either of the host nations a prayer, particularly Austria. The second is that each team's first game is hugely significant. Win it and the self-confidence blossoms. Lose it and the pressure is well and truly on


Phil Gordos is a senior broadcast journalist at BBC Sport

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