Greece 2002-04

After numerous failures during the qualifying rounds for Euro 1996, the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000, the Greek team was then a little thumb in lack of success. It was then that the selection called upon the services of Otto Rehhagel, a surprise arrival for the winner of the 1996 Europa League with Bayern Munich.

Greece's objective is clear but nevertheless complicated, to qualify for Euro 2004, Greece is then a team without any international star. Before the qualifying phases of the Euro, the predictions are in favor of the European leaders such as Portugal which plays at home, France or even Spain, Germany and Italy.

Among the Greek squad, there are no less than fifteen players playing in the Greek championship. During the qualifying phase, Greece fell into a fairly affordable group. There are teams such as Spain, Armenia, Ukraine and Northern Ireland. However, Ukraine and Spain are favorites.

In the first match, Greece faced Spain who easily won with a score of 2 goals to 0 in Athens. In the next match, the score was the same but this time it was Ukraine who won against the Greeks.

Otto Rehhagel changes strategy and develops a game based on defensive solidity and the large size of his defenders to be dangerous from set pieces. During the 3rd match of the qualifying phase, Greece hosts Armenia and this time wins 2 to 0. This new philosophy breathes new impetus into the players who become surprisingly solid and efficient. During the rest of this qualifying phase, Greece won all its matches without conceding a single goal. Their reference match being that against Spain on June 7, 2003 where the Greeks won on Spanish soil with a score of 1 goal to 0. Greece finished, to everyone's surprise, first in the group with 18 points in 8 games ahead of Spain at 17 points.

On November 15, 2003, Greece faced Portugal in a friendly match, Portugal was then preparing to host the Euro the following year, and faced with a rather offensive team, the Greek lock did not break, the match ends with a score of 1 goal everywhere with a goal from Lakis on the head.

To continue its preparation for the Euro, Greece will face Bulgaria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Poland and Lichstenstein. The team will line up a 4-4-2 with two defensive midfielders. Greece first had two successes, 2 goals to 0, then 1-0. But they cracked against the Netherlands, the Orange scored 4 goals and Greece none. Then comes a second defeat against Poland 1-0. Greece reassures itself against a much inferior opponent in the last match by winning 2-0.

For Euro 2004, Greece finds itself in a much tougher group than during the qualifying phase. Their opponents will be Portugal, Spain and Russia. The predictions are unanimous, Greece leaves like the little thumb of this group.

However, Greece, which now plays in 4-3-3, will surprise everyone during the opening match of this Euro by winning this match 2 goals to 1 against Portugal. The press is shocked by this feat and by this team which had previously passed under the media radar despite its good qualifying phase.

During this match against Portugal, we were able to witness the tactical vision of the German coach, the wingers descended to the level of the midfielders, which made a block of 5 players across the width. The defenders are not the prettiest to watch play, but their size gives them a formidable and reassuring quality of heading play. A quality that almost the entire workforce shares.

The objective of this team is clear, to base its game on their athletic quality rather than on any technical quality. The only surprisingly talented player from this point of view is number 10 Karagounis who is the technical leader of this team. In midfield, Zagourakis is a very high level defensive midfielder who recovers many balls and harasses his opponents.

With this mentality, Greece will create a new feat by obtaining a draw against a Spanish team which nevertheless knew their defensive quality. The third match is the return to earth, with Russia leading 2 to 0 in the 17th minute, Vryzas manages to reduce the score in the 43rd minute, but nothing helps, Russia wins. Greece qualified for the quarter-finals thanks to the victory of Portugal, which eliminated Spain in the group stages.

Carried by an overperforming Nikopolodis and spectacular saves, Greece therefore arrives in these quarter-finals against one of the favorites of the tournament: France. The Blues have a very high level squad, well above that of the Greeks, we find players such as Thuram, Trezeguet, Zidane, Henry and even Pirès.

The Greek players come into this match uninhibited, being able to already say and think they have succeeded in their tournament if they are knocked out during this round. This lack of pressure is seen on the field and we observe a low-block Greece team which manages to contain the French attacks. The Greek team, which returned to a defensive 4-4-2 for this match, was very solid defensively. The 64th minute will be that of deliverance, Charisteas manages to find the net, France tries again and again but fails to come back, a new feat can be added to the list of this formidable efficient team.

Greece then climbs into the last four of this Euro, and will face the Czech Republic. In a match once again closed, Greece will manage to score the only goal of the match through its great defender Dellas in the 105th + 1 minute on a set piece. The Czech Republic will not be able to come back into this match during overtime. Greece is in the final to everyone's surprise. For its part, Portugal also qualified for the final by eliminating the Netherlands with a score of 2-1.

July 4, 2004 will remain in the memories of football and in particular that of Greek supporters. The Euro final between Portugal and Greece pits two styles of play against each other. Equipped with a monstrous offensive armada, Portugal intends to take its revenge and win the first major title in its history, at home. But Greece does not crack, plays with its low block, and the hero of this team is none other than Charisteas who in the 57th minute scores the only goal of the match. Portugal may try with all its might, but the Greek defense is superior. Greece lifts its first and only major title in its history after a crazy journey and this without the slightest international star. A legendary journey for a team which subsequently returned to an inconsistent and average level.