Greek success reward for patience and planning
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-06-21 09:00

Greece's qualification for the Euro 2004 quarter-finals is not as much of a surprise to their players and coach as it is to most other people.

Greek fans in Athens celebrate after the Euro 2004 soccer game between Greece and Russia in Portugal June 20, 2004. The match ended in a 2-1 to Russia but Greece qualified for the last eight. [Reuters]

"The work we have done in the past three years is now bearing fruit," striker Demis Nikolaidis said after the team drew 1-1 against Spain last week.

But it has not an easy ride since German coach Otto Rehhagel took over three years ago.

After failing to qualify for the 2002 World Cup, the Greek FA decided to look abroad for a coach.

Bundesliga veteran Rehhagel agreed in 2001 a three-year contract and took over the team for their final two 2002 World Cup qualifiers.

A 5-1 defeat by Finland unleashed a wave of criticism, seriously putting Rehhagel's job in doubt after only one game, and forcing the FA to reject talk of the coach's resignation.

A strong performance against England in a 2-2 draw, when David Beckham's last minute free kick sent the English to the World Cup, was the first promising sign.

But the improvement would only be visible more than a year later.

After 2-0 defeats at home by Spain and away to Ukraine in their first two Euro qualifiers, most Greeks believed this team would have the same fate as so many others before them.

The only ones who seemed to disagree with the fans' jeers and whistles were FA president Vassilis Gagatsis and Rehhagel himself.

"The team has some excellent players. What they lack is discipline," he said after the loss to Ukraine.

After two consecutive wins against Armenia and Northern Ireland, the team, it seemed, had found the much needed discipline at the right time.

Qualification hopes

With their backs to the wall, the Greeks had to beat Spain in Zaragoza to keep their slim qualification hopes alive.

A Stelios Giannakopoulos goal threw them a lifeline and their next win over Ukraine suddenly put them in the driving seat for automatic qualification.

They never looked back.

The Greeks' confidence was also boosted by a record 15-game unbeaten run including victories in friendlies against Sweden, Belgium, Romania, Norway, Bulgaria and Switzerland.

"We are not going to Portugal as tourists, we will not be the character actors," Rehhagel had warned.

While the Greeks were secretly eyeing a Euro quarter-final spot, they publicly said they would be happy with just one win, their first in a major tournament.

After a shock opening victory against Portugal and a battling draw against Spain, Greece had their destiny in their own hands.

Even a 2-1 defeat by Russia in their final Group A match was enough to complete the job thanks to striker Zisis Vryzas's goal, and the story may still not be over.

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