Angelos Basinas and Greece will try to become on the second nation to repeat as European champions. (Aris Messinis/Getty Images) Like Rodney Dangerfield before them, Otto Rehhagel and the Greek national team "don't get no respect."
Greece pulled off of one of the greatest and surprising results in soccer history when it upset such favourites as France, Czech Republic and Portugal en route to winning Euro 2004.
All of the usual suspects (France, Italy, England, Spain and Germany) were considered the odds-on-favourites to win at the start of the tournament, but it was rank outsider Greece — an 80-1 longshot according to English bookmakers — that defied the odds to be crowned champions of Europe.
And yet, even today, Greece's miracle run to the championship is considered by some as nothing more than a fluke, and that Rehhagel's team will not be able to repeat as champions at Euro 2008.
Critics point to the team's recent poor run of form — the European champions suffered a 3-2 loss to Hungary and were held to a goal-less draw by lowly Armenia — as evidence that Greece will fall flat on its face this summer.
Hogwash, says Rehhagel.
"The only thing that counts is that we're totally ready for our first game (at Euro)," Rehhagel said after the Armenia game.
It's a sentiment shared by Greek defender Christos Patsatzoglou, who points out that the purpose of exhibition games is to allow teams to work out the kinks before heading off to compete in an international tournament.
"We haven't being playing at our best, but that's what friendly games are all about," Patsatzoglou said. "We don't really care who we're playing. Defeats in friendlies don't really matter much either."
Greece coach Otto Rehhagel is one of the most astute and crafty coaches in international soccer. (Atilla Kisbenedek/Getty Images) Indeed, Greece's poor results as of late are hardly an accurate barometer of the team's skill level, and op posing nations would be well advised not to take the Greeks lightly at Euro 2008.
Greece comes into this year's tournament riding high after a successful qualifying campaign (they finished with 31 points — more than any other team in qualifying) and won 10 of 12 games, losing only once.
Team unity is another thing the Greeks have going for themselves.
Rehhagel's 23-man roster for Euro 2008 features a core of 10 players who were on the Greek team that won Euro 2004 in Portugal, including midfielder Angelos Basinas, who will captain the team.
Much like the 2004 side, this year's team is built on the foundation of a solid defence - a team that frustrates opponents by putting as many players behind the ball as possible when they're not in possession, soaking up the pressure, and then quickly hitting back on the counter-attack.
It's a game plan that worked to perfection four years ago in Portugal and in the qualifying campaign for Euro 2008, as the European champions conceded only 10 goals in the qualifiers (four of them came in one game against Turkey), so opposing teams can expect to have a tough time scoring on them.
In Rehhagel, Greece has one of the most astute and crafty coaches in international soccer, and is noted for challenging and getting the most out of his players. The German tactician took over the Greek national team shortly after it failed to qualify for the 2002 World Cup and wound up leading them to glory at the European Championships two years later.
Rehhagel has struck the perfect balance with his team, instilling his players with confidence but at the same time keeping them grounded, as he's gone to great lengths to keep them focused on this summer's competition, instead of dwelling on victories achieved four years ago.
"Euro 2004 belongs to the past. We have to think only about Euro 2008," Rehhagel said.
With files from Associated Press
