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Viva la Espana! Champions of Europe!

Re-live the Euro 2008 Championship by selecting a match below or visiting the dedicated site Euro2008TV.com for articles, photos, and video highlights of your favorite team.

 

Greece Euro 2008 Online Streams and TV Schedules

#Date	Time (US/Eastern)	Match	Result	Stage	Venue
Jun-10	02:30pm	Greece - Sweden	0:2	Group D	Salzburg
Jun-14	02:30pm	Greece - Russia	0:1	Group D	Salzburg
Jun-18	02:30pm	Greece - Spain	1:2	Group D	Salzburg

Greece at Euro 2008

	Group D Greece Russia Spain Sweden View all group D details

Back to defend crown

In case some of you forgot, Greece are the reigning European Champions.  They have also retained their legendary coach, Otto Rehhagel, and are ready to rely on the same tactics that won them their completely unexpected crown four years ago. The German coach ensured that Greece book their ticket to Euro2008 on virtue of their biggest strength: flawless organization.  The Greeks had the best defensive record in their qualifying group and finished on top, ahead of teams like Turkey and Norway.   It would take an extraordinary tournament to see Greece triumph again this summer, but given the self-belief of Rehhagel’s side a run to the quarter-finals is not completely out of the question.  Greece can certainly lock horns with Russia and come out on top.  In their current form, they can even defeat Sweden.  All in all, things are looking good for the Greeks.  They were not handed an impossible group, and they seem to be coming into their own again. Greece will not set the tournament alight with sparkling football, yet their staunch belief in the collective will nonetheless sway some neutrals.  They will be relying on their veterans of Euro2004 to bring their experience to proceedings.  That and the reassuring presence of Rehhagel will doubtless bolster the Greeks.   

How Greece  qualified

Greece amassed thirty-one out of a possible thirty-six points during the qualifiers. Their only defeat was a bizarre 4-1 drubbing at the hands of Turkey.  Though Rehhagel has probably done more for the Greece national team than any other man, sceptics did criticize him after the loss to Turkey. The defeat proved to be a turning point, as Greece won seven of their eight remaining games.

How Greece  play

Rehhagel prefers a 4-3-3, an adventurous formation, but one in which he stresses organization.  Many of the players who hoisted the Euro2004 trophy still form the nucleus of the side.  Trainos Dellas, Giorgios Karagounis, and Angelos Charisteas are three of the more prominent Euro2004 participants who still figure heavily in Rehhagel’s plans.

About the coach

The German has written himself in the history books by winning Euro2004.  The 69-year-old is an obstinate man, yet one who backs up his hard-nosed nature with results. Rehhagel is a strong advocate of tactical organization and a solid defence.  His Greece are not the most exciting team to watch, yet their ability to dig in and get results is uncanny.

Key players

Giorgios Karagounis- The former Inter man is a midfielder who works assiduously and has a great touch. Angelos Basinas- A mainstay in the Greek team, and one who figured heavily in their Euro2004 glory.  The defensive midfielder appeared eleven times in the qualifiers and scored thrice.

Star player

Theofanis Gekas – Bayer Leverkusen’s Gekas scored five times in nine appearances during the qualifiers. Two-footed and possesses great aerial ability.

Verdict

Greece will probably get past Group D.  However, any progress beyond the quarter-final stage may be too much to ask. Hopefully, they will not relinquish their title with a whimper.

Article by Hasan Saiyid

Greece Euro 2008 News

• Bulgaria Seeded Third for Euro 2012 Draw (Novinite.com)
  Bulgaria's national football team, headed by Dimitar Berbatov (pictured), failed to make it to the 18th spot in UEFA ranking and will be among the third seeds when the draw for Euro 2012 qualifying is made.
• Bulgaria Seeded Third for Euro 2012 Draw (Novinite.com)
  Bulgaria's national football team will be among the third seeds when the draw for Euro 2012 qualifying is made in February. The Bulgarians failed to make it to the second pot after a dismal showing in the race to reach next year's World Cup and are now rated the 21st best side in Europe.
• Greece team at World Cup 2010 (Daily Telegraph)
  The organisation instilled by coach Otto Rehhagel means that his Greece team will be hard to beat if not always good to watch at World Cup 2010.
• Slovenia shocks Russia in qualifier; Greece, Portugal in (USA Today)
  Slovenia upset Russia 1-0 Wednesday night and qualified for the World Cup for just the second time. Greece qualified, beating Ukraine 1-0 on aggregate after Dimitrios Salpigidis' first-half goal in the second leg. Portugal qualified for the World Cup for the third time in a row, beating Bosnia 1-0 in each leg ot their playoff.
• Relevant Links (AllAfrica.com)
  Greece qualified after beating Ukraine 1-0. This team was part of the 1994 FIFA World Cup but failed to qualify for 1998, 2002 and 2006. "We have seen what Greece can do in major football tournaments after their win in Euro 2004 and they are a great addition to the 2010 tournament.
• Ukraine 0-1 Greece: Greeks earn Donetsk shock (ESPN Soccernet.com)
  Greece qualified for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa with a 1-0 victory against hosts Ukraine on Wednesday, courtesy of a first-half goal from Dimitris Salpigidis.
• FOOTBALL: UEFA Under 21 Championship (North Wales Pioneer)
  Wales Under-21s’ seven-match unbeaten run was ended by Bosnia-Herzegovina who came from behind to secure their first Euro 2011 qualifying win in Sarajevo yesterday.