Back in 2004, Greece shocked the football world to its very core and had plates smashing all over Greece by winning the European Championship. It was made all the more special by the fact the winners were also the hosts. Since then however, Greece’s fortunes have suffered both as a country and a football team. They failed to qualify for the 2006 World Cup followed by a Euro 2008, in which they became the first defending champions to fail to win a single point. Greece doesn’t hold a the greatest of World Cup records, games played 3, games won 0, games lost 3, goals scored 0, goals conceded 10.
That appearance came at USA 94, in a group containing Argentina, Nigeria and Bulgaria. Worryingly this year’s draw has put them in a group which contains both Argentina and Nigeria again. Joining this group of old friends in Group B are South Korea, who finished 4th in 2002. It looks as though, with Argentina odds on World Cup Betting favourites to win the group, that it’s between the remaining three teams to fight for 2nd place.
German coach Otto Rehhagel has seen his Greek team fail to perform in either of their two warm-up games. A 0-2 defeat to Senegal followed by a 2-2 draw against North Korea, in which Greece surrendered a two goal lead, doesn’t bode well going into the World Cup. They have the chance to improve in their next two warm-up games, facing Paraguay and hosts South Africa before their opening group game against South Korea on June 12th.
Greece will be looking to striker Theofanis Gekas, who top the scoring the UEFA qualifying scoring charts, and veteran playmaker and captain Giorgos Karagounis to lead by example. If their key players perform and Greece recreate any of the form they showed in 2004, it could give their troubled country a much needed lift.
Meanwhile, World Cup Betting tips are hotting up today as most national teams name their final squad for South Africa.