With
Euro 2012 kicking-off - it's time to profile the countries taking part, from
their footballing beginnings to the present day.
Coach: Fernando Santos
Group Winners
One to Watch: Ionnas Fetfadzidis
With
Euro 2012 less than a week away, all of our minds, well most of them at least,
have turned away from the domestic football competitions within our own
countries, towards the International arena for the eagerly awaited European
Championship Finals, to be held in Poland and the Ukraine. At It's All In The
Game, I shall be profiling each of the 16 finalists that will bid to become the
champions of Europe until 2016.
Continuing
our look into the teams that will contest the Uefa Euro 2012, we arrive in
Greece. The Greek national side do not have a very illustrious history in
international competition. Greece have qualified for the World Cup Finals just
twice in the history of the competition, in 1994 when the tournament was held
in the U.S.A. and in 2010 in South Africa.
In
1994 Greece failed to secure any points, crashing out in the group stage,
unable to score a single and conceding ten goal in the process. 2010 saw an
improvement with a 2-1 win over Nigeria, however, first round elimination at
the feet of Argentina was to follow.Greece’s record of qualification for the
European Championships is almost as bad, having made the finals just three
times, the first being in 1980 and the most recent in 2008, both of these
forays ending in group stage elimination.
In
2004, however, Greece stunned the rest of Europe and the footballing world, by
winning the tournament and becoming European Champions, defeating the reigning
champions, France, and the host nation, Portugal, twice along the way (once in
the group stage and again in the final). Greece’s triumph was built on the back
of three successive 1-0 victories in the knock-out stages and is regarded as
one of the biggest shocks in football history. The success of the Greek team in
2004 owed much to the defensive strategy of, long-time coach, Otto Rehhagel,
the German coach who has recently stepped down as manager of Hertha Berlin.
The
failed Greek campaigns in Euro 2008 and World Cup 2010 saw the replacement of
Otto Rehhagel, after many years in charge, by Fernando Santos of Portugal.
Santos, inheriting an ageing squad in need of revitalisation, set about finding
and calling up fresher, talented, younger players in an attempt to integrate
them into the squad. Santos didn't have
time on his side, however, as he had to do this
quickly enough and well enough to
get off to a good start in the qualification campaign for Euro 2012.
Judging
by the performances and results that the Greeks have achieved during the last
fourteen months, it seems that he has been fairly successful in achieving his
goal. He has managed to freshen up the squad and incorporate some younger
players while maintaining a solid, ultimately successful, campaign. Greece
didn’t lose a match in the qualifying stage, theyfinished top of their group,
two points ahead of heavily fancied Croatia, who they beat 2-0 on the way,
helping them climb the rankings to an unprecedented eighth in the world.
Looking
at the Greek squad as it is now, Santos has managed to incorporate a number of
youngsters into the team such as Kyriakos Papalopoudos, and Sotiris Ninis.
Papalopodous is an excellent central defender, with fantastic positional
awareness for one so young, great anticipation and a handy turn of pace. He
currently plies his trade with Schalke 04 in the Bundesliga and was an integral
member of the side that finished third in the table (thus ensuring Champions'
League qualification) and made the quarter-finals of the Europa League.
Papalopoudos looks to have a very bright future ahead of him, whether he
remains in Germany or moves elsewhere. He is being courted by a number of
Premier League clubs and, should he shine this summer, may be able to take his
pick.
Sotiris
Ninis of Panathanaikos is one of the hottest prospects in Greek football.
Ninis, who has just turned 22, was the youngest player ever to play for a Greek
team in UEFA European competition at 17 years old. First called up by Otto
Rehhagel before Euro 2008, Ninis failed to make the final squad, however he did
feature briefly at World Cup 2010. Santos has made the tricky midfielder a
regular in his team and the youngster has put in some eye-catching
performances, notably scoring a fanatstic goal against Israel which practically
assured his country's qualification for Euro 2012. Suffering a long-term injury
in September, Ninis only returned to action in March. He would appear to be
almost back to full fitness, however, having featured for Panathanaikos
following his recovery and will move to Serie A next season having signed a
contract with Italian side Parma.
Santos
has integrated the new, whilst at the same time holding on to some of the
veterans who bring such a wealth of experience to the side. Names such as
Charisteas in attack and Karagounis in the midfield, although Charisteas hasn't
made the final squad this time, leaving Karagounis and Katsouranis as
experienced survivors from Rehhagel's triumphant 2004 squad.
The
current squad then, looks to have a good balance of youth and experience and a
number of potentially exciting prospects, in particular, Ionnis Fetfadzidis. Fetfadzidis is a twenty year old
attacking midfielder currently playing with Olympiacos, his fantastic close
control and skill have led him to be dubbed the “Greek Messi” by Greek fans and
players alike.
Although
this comparison is certainly premature, he is the kind of player who isn't
afraid to run with the ball and commit defenders and certainly adds a touch of
fizz and unpredictability to the Greek arsenal. Making his debut in the Euro
2012 qualifying campaign, Fetfadzidis has gone on to score three goals in
twelve caps (as of 29/02/12) so far from wide midfield, despite often starting
on the bench, prompting his cub to extend his contract until 2015 and slap a
12.5 million euro release clause on the 20 year old’s contract.
Despite
these new additions to the squad with their skill and trickery in midfield,
Greece's success in qualification was still fundamentally based on defending.
Although the Greeks came through their
group unbeaten, they only scored fourteen goals in ten games getting to Poland
and Ukraine, less than any other of the qualifying nations. Whilst they only
conceded five goals during this time, Greece, under Santos, still lack pace and
creativity on the whole, and rely heavily on veterans such as Gekas and Samaras
to score their goals.
Drawn
in group a alongside Russia, Poland and the Czech Republic, Greece could fancy
their chances. Although the teams are very evenly matched, it is by far the
weakest group on paper. Russia are the flair team in the group and, after their
excellent showing at Euro 08, coupled with their form in qualification, I would
expect them to finish on top.
Who
comes second is nothing if not up for grabs. Poland will have fanatical support
as the host nation and that may lift them and inspire them through. The Czech's
are capable of producing fantastic football but, when not on song, that level
drops and they can be dull and predictable. Greece, with their resolute,
stubborn defensive record, may just squeak through in second. If they can keep
a couple of clean sheets, they are certainly capable of nicking the odd goal,
as we know only too well.
Lightening
doesn't strike the same place twice, or so they say, in which case Greece have
absolutely no chance of winning Euro 2012. But, with the economy collapsing
amidst political turmoil in Athens and the future far from secure for many at
home, just reaching the knock-out stages will bring all Greek fans something
welcome to celebrate.
By Neil Patterson
Email:
neil.b.patterson@gmail.com
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