World Cup Team Guide: Greece

Greece / Dave Farrar / 13 May 2010 / Leave a comment Free £25 Bet

Theofanis Gekas is Greece's best hope of goals and if he can get the service, expect him to put a couple away

Incredibly this will be only the second-ever appearance by the Euro 2004 champions at the World Cup and it will be hard to not improve on what they did last time out. Under the wily Otto Rehhagel they have a decent chance of getting out of their group but they'll have to work hard to achieve that...

"Their ability to turn in a performance when the pressure was on, and the fact that they play their two rivals for second place in their first two games does give them a chance of qualifying, particularly if they trade at a big price in a tough looking position, but I can’t see them going much further than the last 16, if they do indeed get that far."

It's hard to believe that this will be only a second World Cup appearance for Greece, and in fact that they are still on the lookout for a first-ever goal at the World Cup finals. A worthy European Champion six years ago, and yet one which has struggled to ever make an impact on a bigger stage.

To be honest, Greece were lucky in qualifying: they were drawn in one of the easiest European groups, and having made a real mess of that, they then secured a plum play-off draw against Ukraine. Having missed a string of chances in the home leg, they were finally impressive when it mattered, winning a tight game in Donetsk to go through.

Their ability to turn in a performance when the pressure was on, and the fact that they play their two rivals for second place in their first two games does give them a chance of qualifying, particularly if they trade at a big price in a tough looking position, but I can't see them going much further than the last 16, if they do indeed get that far.

They'll almost certainly do better than they managed at their only other World Cup appearance, when they were shrugged aside in 1994 by Argentina, Bulgaria and Nigeria, conceding ten goals and not managing to score. The fear I have is that countries know what to expect from Greece now, and their style has become easy to play against under Rehhagel. You always suspect that, while they have a chance of making the last 16, they'll find two teams which are too good for them.

COACH: Otto REHHAGEL

It's been nine years now since Rehhagel took over the Greece job, and we should remember that it was a surprising move at the time for a man who had experienced such success in the Bundesliga. I still think his decision to stay with his adopted country after Euro 2004 (and reportedly turn down the Germany job) was an excellent one for his sanity but a terrible one for his career. And so he remains, sanity intact, with a team of familiar, slightly older looking faces, a rigid tactical plan, and a likely early exit. This is his first World Cup as a coach, but he's highly unlikely to be phased by the experience.

Key Players

Theofanis Gekas

I've long been an admirer of Gekas, a proper old fashioned striker who sees his job as little more than actually scoring goals. He got ten of those in qualifying, and if you can get anywhere near even money on him finishing as Greece's top tournament scorer, then pile in - one goal might be enough.

Giorgios Karagounis

The common impression of this Greek side as well organised and entirely lacking in flair has always seemed a bit tough on Karagounis, who is seriously skilful, and in another life could have had a reputation as being a playmaker. The fact that he works hard rather takes away from his ability but it will be his job to create the chances for Gekas and it his personality which must drive this team forward.

Sotirios Kyrgiakos

The centre-half looked a strange signing for Liverpool, and yet, of all Rafa Benitez's lower profile additions to the squad, Krygiakos has been the biggest success. He's old fashioned and rugged, and was outstanding in all but one of the qualifying games (he was suspended when they conceded two goals against Latvia). These three key players give Greece a decent spine, and they're the main reasons why Rehhagel's side might just sneak through.

Recommended Bet:

Back Greece to Qualify from Group B @ [2.6]

Tags: Euro 2004 champions, Gekas footballes, Greece football bets, Greece football team, Greek footballers, Karagounis, Otto Rehhagel