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World Cup 2010 Know Your Rivals: Group B Golden Moment – Greece
Qualifying for the World Cup is Greece's greatest distinction...
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Apr 1, 2010 3:30:00 PM
By Peter Katsiris
Welcome to Goal.com - Know Your Rivals for the World Cup 2010!
In this special series we bring you the local knowledge of the world's leading football tournament. With our worldwide team of experts, each one based in the country in question - from Brazil to North Korea - you'll hear first-hand the latest team news, exclusive interviews, and fan opinions of your World Cup opponents.
With the World Cup fast approaching, the Goal.com Know Your Rivals experts decided to take a trip down memory lane to profile a golden moment in the history of the 32 countries taking part in this year’s showpiece event.
The highlight of Greece's history in the World Cup is actually the qualifying campaign that led up to the World Cup finals in 1994. Alketas Panagoulias' side caused pandemonium in the streets of Athens and Thessaloniki as Greece qualified for their first-ever World Cup after beating Russia to top spot in the group on the final day of qualification.
In a group originally consisting of Yugoslavia, Russia, Hungary, Iceland and Luxembourg, the Greeks weren't expected to qualify. Everything changed, however, when FIFA exercised its governing power to employ UN Sanctions - as a direct result of the Yugoslav Wars of the early nineties - to suspend Yugoslavia from all competitions.
Greece's chances immediately improved, but still many preferred the Hungarians as potential group winners, while Russia - competing as an independent nation for the first time since the Soviet Union dissolved - were favoured to finish second.
Nevertheless, Greece's chances of reaching the final 24 were boosted, and got off to the right start as they opened their campaign with back-to-back wins over Iceland. The first real test for the Greeks came on the third matchday as Hungary posed a a difficult task; however, a scoreless stalemate in Thessaloniki suggested the Greeks were a candidate to reach the finals tournament.
Luxembourg were then defeated, before the return match with Hungary in Budapest resulted in yet another Greek victory. Winners of four of their five opening matches, the Greeks were on a roll as a date with Russia in loomed. Despite taking the lead in Moscow, Greece were dealt a blow, as a late equaliser from the Russians assured the race for top spot was still on.
The result assured the inevitable, as another win for Greece over Luxembourg set up a climactic finish to the group's schedule as the Russians and Greeks met in Athens with top spot and a place in the finals on the line in the Greek capital.
A Nikos Machlas strike 20 minutes from time gave the home side the win, with the Greeks on hand at the Olympic Stadium in Athens lighting up the Athenian with one of the most extraordinary displays of flares in the history of Greek football.
Both the Greeks and the Russians qualified for the finals, with both sides making their debut in the competition at USA 1994.
Become a fan of Goal.com International on Facebook! Just click onto Facebook.com/Goal to join the beautiful game's leading fan community...
In this special series we bring you the local knowledge of the world's leading football tournament. With our worldwide team of experts, each one based in the country in question - from Brazil to North Korea - you'll hear first-hand the latest team news, exclusive interviews, and fan opinions of your World Cup opponents.
With the World Cup fast approaching, the Goal.com Know Your Rivals experts decided to take a trip down memory lane to profile a golden moment in the history of the 32 countries taking part in this year’s showpiece event.
The highlight of Greece's history in the World Cup is actually the qualifying campaign that led up to the World Cup finals in 1994. Alketas Panagoulias' side caused pandemonium in the streets of Athens and Thessaloniki as Greece qualified for their first-ever World Cup after beating Russia to top spot in the group on the final day of qualification.
In a group originally consisting of Yugoslavia, Russia, Hungary, Iceland and Luxembourg, the Greeks weren't expected to qualify. Everything changed, however, when FIFA exercised its governing power to employ UN Sanctions - as a direct result of the Yugoslav Wars of the early nineties - to suspend Yugoslavia from all competitions.
Greece's chances immediately improved, but still many preferred the Hungarians as potential group winners, while Russia - competing as an independent nation for the first time since the Soviet Union dissolved - were favoured to finish second.
Nevertheless, Greece's chances of reaching the final 24 were boosted, and got off to the right start as they opened their campaign with back-to-back wins over Iceland. The first real test for the Greeks came on the third matchday as Hungary posed a a difficult task; however, a scoreless stalemate in Thessaloniki suggested the Greeks were a candidate to reach the finals tournament.
Luxembourg were then defeated, before the return match with Hungary in Budapest resulted in yet another Greek victory. Winners of four of their five opening matches, the Greeks were on a roll as a date with Russia in loomed. Despite taking the lead in Moscow, Greece were dealt a blow, as a late equaliser from the Russians assured the race for top spot was still on.
The result assured the inevitable, as another win for Greece over Luxembourg set up a climactic finish to the group's schedule as the Russians and Greeks met in Athens with top spot and a place in the finals on the line in the Greek capital.
A Nikos Machlas strike 20 minutes from time gave the home side the win, with the Greeks on hand at the Olympic Stadium in Athens lighting up the Athenian with one of the most extraordinary displays of flares in the history of Greek football.
Both the Greeks and the Russians qualified for the finals, with both sides making their debut in the competition at USA 1994.
Become a fan of Goal.com International on Facebook! Just click onto Facebook.com/Goal to join the beautiful game's leading fan community...
| Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game |
|
| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £100 in free bets! |
|
| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
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