Euro 2012 Preview - Greece
Continuing our discussion of the extremely weak Group A, today's focus is on Greece:
Nickname: “Galanolefki” (“Blue and whites”)
Absurd FIFA ranking: 14th
Coach: Portugeezer Fernando Santos
Match Schedule:
June 8 – Greece v. Poland (Warsaw, 12 p.m. EST)
June 12 – Greece v. Czech Republic (Wroclaw, 12 p.m.)
June 16 – Greece v. Russia (Warsaw, 2:45 p.m.)
Prospects: Surprise 2004 European champions Greece are continuing the Otto Rehhagel mold of keeping it extra tight at the back and hoping to nick a goal off a set piece under Portuguese manager Fernando Santos. Hence, five of its seven wins in qualifying were won by a George Graham-style 1-0 margin.
Coach: Portugeezer Fernando Santos
Match Schedule:
June 8 – Greece v. Poland (Warsaw, 12 p.m. EST)
June 12 – Greece v. Czech Republic (Wroclaw, 12 p.m.)
June 16 – Greece v. Russia (Warsaw, 2:45 p.m.)
Prospects: Surprise 2004 European champions Greece are continuing the Otto Rehhagel mold of keeping it extra tight at the back and hoping to nick a goal off a set piece under Portuguese manager Fernando Santos. Hence, five of its seven wins in qualifying were won by a George Graham-style 1-0 margin.
Key Player: Skipper Georgios Karagounis, one of the surviving 2004 champions,
is getting a bit long in the tooth but he’s still the heart and soul of a tight
defensive midfield unit.
Youngster to watch: 19 year old Kaiserlautern wide man Kostas Fortounis could provide Greece with some spark if Santos decides to unleash him.
Youngster to watch: 19 year old Kaiserlautern wide man Kostas Fortounis could provide Greece with some spark if Santos decides to unleash him.
Who Will Get the Goals: Not a lot of goals in this side, but Celtic (and former
Citeh) striker Georgios Samaras was the lone forward throughout their
qualifying campaign.
Who Will Get the Cards: Olympiacos central defender Vasilis Torisidis was
frequently suspended during the qualifiers.
Prediction: Bottom of the group after two opening draws off hosts Greece and
the Czech Republic before losing to Russia in the crucial third match.
posted by The Blue Devil @ 5:05 PM
3 Comments:
You don't think that the Greeks will be looking to give their countrymen a lift? I see them as spoilers who could give Russia for one a very bad time if serial wasters like Arshavin and Pavelychenko have a bad day.
Nah - I don't fancy them at all. The Greeks will have to drown their sorrows in Ouzo as per usual.
The worst team in the worst group and the dullest team in the dullest group. I would not be surprised to see them go home with nary a goal nor a point. Perhaps a dour 0-0 draw vs Poland.
Post a Comment
<< Home