The Greeks, currently at the thirteenth place in the ranking, will participate in the European Championship for the fourth time. So far, they even managed to win the whole event in a fantastic game in 2004 on the fields of Portugal. But since then, if they managed to qualify for the competition, they ended in the group stage.
In the qualifying games to the Polish Ukrainian tournament the Greeks did not suffer a defeat scoring seven wins and three draws, getting ahead of the Croats, who were second, by two points.
In the group phase in the main event the Greeks will play with our representation, and with the Czechs and Russians. The star of the tournament in the ranks of Greece at the Euro may be Joan Fetfatzidis, very young and dainty midfielder, who at the age 21 makes a furore in the Greek league. One can not forget the experienced players such as Jorgos Karagunis, Vassili Torosidis, Angelos Charisteas, Theofanis Gekas, or a Celtic player, Georgios Samaras.
It is difficult to assess the chance of the Greeks to leave the group. However, this team has potential and is probably the best since 2004. We can be sure that the Greeks will not win the European Championship. After all, miracles do not happen twice…
Greece Euro 2012 Squad
Goalkeepers: Kostas Chalkias (PAOK FC), Michalis Sifakis (Aris Thessaloniki FC), Alexandros Tzorvas (US Città di Palermo).
Defenders: Vassilis Torossidis (Olympiacos FC), Kyriakos Papadopoulos (FC Schalke 04), Sokratis Papastathopoulos (SV Werder Bremen), Avraam Papadopoulos (Olympiacos FC), José Holebas (Olympiacos FC), Giorgos Tzavellas (AS Monaco FC), Stelios Malezas (PAOK FC).
Midfielders: Kostas Katsouranis (Panathinaikos FC), Giorgos Karagounis (Panathinaikos FC), Giannis Maniatis (Olympiacos FC), Giorgos Fotakis (PAOK FC), Grigoris Makos (AEK Athens FC), Giannis Fetfatzidis (Olympiacos FC), Sotiris Ninis (Panathinaikos FC), Kostas Fortounis (1. FC Kaiserslautern).
Forwards: Dimitris Salpingidis (PAOK FC), Giorgos Samaras (Celtic FC), Fanis Gekas (Samsunspor), Nikos Liberopoulos (AEK Athens FC), Kostas Mitroglou (Atromitos FC).
Greece Group Matches
Friday, June 8, 2012 Poland v Greece (18:00 CET in Warsaw)
Tuesday, June 12, 2012 Greece v Czech Republic (18:00 CET in Wroclaw)
Saturday, June 16, 2012 Greece v Russia (20:45 CET in Warsaw)
Greece Quick Facts
- Best World Cup Result: First Round (1994)
- Best European Championship Result: Winners (2004)
- Record Scorer: Nikos Anastopoulos (29 goals in 74 games between 1977 and 1988)
- Most Capped Player: Theodoros Zagorakis (120 caps between 1994 and 2007)
- Coach: Fernando Santos
- Captain: Giorgos Karagounis
