www射-国产免费一级-欧美福利-亚洲成人福利-成人一区在线观看-亚州成人

  Home>News Center>Sports
         
 

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 success reward for patience and planning
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.



Pacific Life Open at Indian Wells
Commonwealth Games Swimming
Selected Reuters Sports Pictures on March 13
 
  Today's Top News     Top Sports News
 

Australia, US, Japan praise China for Asia engagement

 

   
 

Banker: China doing its best on flexible yuan

 

   
 

Hopes high for oil pipeline deal

 

   
 

Possibilities of bird flu outbreaks reduced

 

   
 

Milosevic buried after emotional farewell

 

   
 

China considers trade contracts in India

 

   
  Manchester United gains on Chelsea
   
  UEFA Cup loses top-name clubs
   
  Cuba celebrates win over Puerto Rico, advances in Classic
   
  Els moves into Bay Hill contention with 67
   
  World Cup to boost Japanese economy by $4 billion
   
  Alonso confident; Fisichella apologizes
   
 
  Go to Another Section  
 
 
  Story Tools  
   
  Related Stories  
   
Zidane takes over as "boss" of French team
   
Bulgaria out, Italy must win without Totti
   
Dismal Germany frustrated by Latvia
Manufacturers, Exporters, Wholesalers - Global trade starts here.
Advertisement
         
主站蜘蛛池模板: 国产一有一级毛片视频 | 欧美另类性视频 | 国产精品秦先生手机在线 | 欧美片网站免费 | 国产精品久久久久久久久久久久久久 | 久久中文字幕综合不卡一二区 | 亚洲国产精品欧美日韩一区二区 | 欧美极品大肚孕妇孕交 | 美女白浆视频 | 精品毛片| 97在线视频网站 | 欧美aaaaaa| 国产孕妇孕交视频在线观看 | 国产精品爱久久久久久久小 | 正在播放国产大学生情侣 | 日韩久久久精品首页 | 亚洲在成人网在线看 | 亚洲男人天堂2017 | 日本久草视频 | www.av视频在线观看 | 亚洲视频国产 | 亚洲欧美日韩国产综合 | av免费网站在线观看 | 夜夜躁狠狠躁日日躁2021 | 成人一a毛片免费视频 | 久久精品国产99久久6动漫欧 | 91探花福利精品国产自产在线 | 888米奇在线视频四色 | 国产亚洲精品久久久久91网站 | 亚洲视频在线观看免费视频 | 悟空影视大全免费影视 | 久久精品国产一区 | 免费人成年短视频在线观看网站 | 精品国产欧美精品v | 国产精品久草 | 在线免费公开视频 | 日本一级做人免费视频 | 国产欧美一区二区三区视频 | 亚洲欧美专区精品久久 | 精品久久久久亚洲 | 高清亚洲 |