The Greeks won the European Championship in 2004, one of the biggest shocks in the history of the tournament. They did so under former coach Otto Rehhagel, since replaced by Portuguese Fernando Santos. Greece swept through their Euro 2012 qualifying group in some style, drawing away to Croatia and winning the group with a crucial victory over the same opponents last autumn.
Santos’ charges come into this tournament in confident mood after being drawn into a good group. They will not be afraid of the co-hosts Poland having shocked Portugal when they staged the 2004 competition. And Greece have experienced names in their ranks such as midfielders Giorgos Karagounis and Kostas Katsouranis, whose know-how will be invaluable this summer. They are now a more attacking side than that which won in 2004 and will cause problems for their group stage opponents.
In The Dugout – Fernando Santos
Santos took over from Otto Rehhagel following the 2010 World Cup. The Portuguese arrived with a big reputation in Greece already, having coached Panathinaikos, AEK Athens and PAOK Salonika; he was named the Greek Coach of the Decade that year.
Though he had big shoes to fill following the departure of Rehhagel, who led Greece to Euro 2004, Santos showed he was his own man when he arrived. The Portuguese has made his team’s attack more varied, and results have not suffered. He has lost just one game since taking over, and brings into Euro 2012 a side with momentum behind them.
Key Player – Sotiris Ninis
Ninis has been an important part of Santos’ Greece team. He became the country’s youngest ever goalscorer at the age of 18 and also played in the last World Cup. The 22-year-old is highly rated by his coach, who says "I’m counting on (Ninis) up front. He is an attack-minded player and has skills that others lack.”
Good on the left or right of the attack, the Albanian-born schemer will be the one Greece look to in possession. Ninis has been hampered by injury this season though, and Santos will hope he is back to his sharpest for the start of the tournament. Good at shooting from distance, Ninis has already agreed to join Serie A side Parma for next season.
View from Greece
There is positivity about Greece’s chances this summer, though few in the country seriously expect a repeat of the heroics of 2004. But this team came through qualifying impressively and with a favourable draw there are hopes of a quarter-final spot. That could lift the mood in a country beset by economic difficulties.
Verdict
Greece will feel that if they can beat Croatia, they can beat any of the teams in Group A. Santos’ side are not the most prolific of goalscorers though despite their attacking mentality, and while they should go into their final game still with hope of progress, the Euro 2004 winners are likely to heading back home sooner rather than later.
