Greece!?!?!

[Tony Dellbird]

Am i the only one pleasantly surprised by the performance of the Greeks in their opening 2 matches at first i was thinking it was luck but they never gave up against Spain and clawed back the draw. Now it looks as though they can qualify with a win or draw against Russia, their weakest opponent.

Also if Portugal beat Spain and Greece beat Russia. Greece would finish top and Portugal finish second. Which means England as it looks as though the best we can do will be second, we'll come up against Greece.

[Antonio Driver-Guide]

My previsions are:
Russia - 2 x Greece - 0
Portugal - 1 x Spain - 0
- Portugal will be first and Spain second!!!!!

[beltwayrob]

I tell ya one thing, I was at a bar in suburban Washington DC for a fundraiser for DC United, and there were a lot of upset Spaniards! As a Greek-American, I couldn't have been happier! From what I have seen of Euro2004 so far I'm thinking Greece may actually stand a chance at defeating Russia. Maybe their Olympic hopes have them playing with fervor. :D

[Dwbakke]

I've seen a lot of Greece bashing on a lot of the forums, but I've got to hand it to them. They're getting the most out of what they've got, which is all you can really ask of a team. They convert on their opportunities and play exceptional defense. A little bit of luck helps at times, but even if the breaks go against them they've still proven they can play at this level and should be given more credit than the Spain and Portugal fans are giving them.

[Arisrules]

Listen all you hear is that Spain and Portugal played poorly. Why doesn't anyone give props to the Greeks, especially in the game against Portugal, whose coach was completely out-maneuvered by Rechangel.

What I love about the Portugese and the Spanish fans is that their teams have won absolutely NOTHING in the national team tournaments, yet they should be seen in the same light as the Italians or Brazilians. That's bull. From now on people will want Portugal and Spain in their draw, because if you work hard against them, and frustrate them, they will buckle and give up.

[Dwbakke]

Listen all you hear is that Spain and Portugal played poorly. Why doesn't anyone give props to the Greeks, especially in the game against Portugal, whose coach was completely out-maneuvered by Rechangel.

What I love about the Portugese and the Spanish fans is that their teams have won absolutely NOTHING in the national team tournaments, yet they should be seen in the same light as the Italians or Brazilians. That's bull. From now on people will want Portugal and Spain in their draw, because if you work hard against them, and frustrate them, they will buckle and give up.

No argument here about Greece. Although I wouldn't go so far as to say I'd want Spain in my draw. Maybe I'd rather have them than France, but they still usually do well enough to qualify from the group stage before they crash in the knockout rounds. They don't do well enough to satisfy their own fans or justify their expectations, maybe, but I can name a lot of teams I'd rather have in my draw before Spain.

[Arisrules]

No argument here about Greece. Although I wouldn't go so far as to say I'd want Spain in my draw. Maybe I'd rather have them than France, but they still usually do well enough to qualify from the group stage before they crash in the knockout rounds. They don't do well enough to satisfy their own fans or justify their expectations, maybe, but I can name a lot of teams I'd rather have in my draw before Spain.


Obviously I was exagerrating in my statements. But I am making a point. The arrogance of the Spanish fans, and in particular those of Portugal is ridiculous. Both sides went into these games fully expecting to beat Greece, not by a 1-0 score, but by 4 or 5 goals. What were they thinking? Greece beat Spain in the qualifiers, that alone should have been enough to make both teams be very focused for the matches. Yet they weren't. Spain only scored from a horrendous mistake in the Greek backline, and Ronaldo's goal was in the third minute of extra time, after the game had been over. How can I compare these two sides to the best national teams in the world? You cannot, because both teams have shown they aren't willing to do what it takes to win. Who knows, maybe the Greek games will serve as a wake up call, with one of these two sides putting aside their arrogance to play winning soccer in this tournament. Unless that occurs, neither of these two teams will win this tournament.

[Prenn]

The Greeks are a really good team and very solid as a definsive unit. I hope they beat Russia and win the group.

[Spiro_In_San_Jose]

Finally people have seen the light. Greece has not gotten results in the past year because of luck. Their football talent is for real now.

[Iberian]

Listen all you hear is that Spain and Portugal played poorly. Why doesn't anyone give props to the Greeks, especially in the game against Portugal, whose coach was completely out-maneuvered by Rechangel.

What I love about the Portugese and the Spanish fans is that their teams have won absolutely NOTHING in the national team tournaments, yet they should be seen in the same light as the Italians or Brazilians. That's bull. From now on people will want Portugal and Spain in their draw, because if you work hard against them, and frustrate them, they will buckle and give up.

Arg. Portugal played a bad game, Spain did not, even though we could have done better. Greece actually had a poor game against Spain, in spite of scoring with their only real chance. The only thing to praise about Greece is how the control the score of a game, and their ability to convert the only chances they get. However, defending, having no real control of the field, or even possesion and sinking in the only shot you have does not make you deserving of high praises. Nobody can say that Greece plays an entertaining game, or that they show ability and skill. They are just very effective, but still only a B team with very little future.

Have fun. This luck streaks don't usually last too long. :rolleyes:

[Oscar]

Somebody from the US who talks about Spanish supporter's arrogance.

I'll go to the rivalries board now and look at the much more sense making "USA is the third best team if you combine CONCACAF & CONMEBOL", or even better, I'll look up one of those "USA will be world champion in 2010" threads. :D

¿By the by, can you give a link where a Spanish supporter said we're in the same category as the Brasilians?
¿Or was that part of the bullshít package that was your entire message? :)

[Arisrules]

Arg. Portugal played a bad game, Spain did not, even though we could have done better. Greece actually had a poor game against Spain, in spite of scoring with their only real chance. The only thing to praise about Greece is how the control the score of a game, and their ability to convert the only chances they get. However, defending, having no real control of the field, or even possesion and sinking in the only shot you have does not make you deserving of high praises. Nobody can say that Greece plays an entertaining game, or that they show ability and skill. They are just very effective, but still only a B team with very little future.

Have fun. This luck streaks don't usually last too long. :rolleyes:


See this is exactly what I am talking about. How arrogant are you? You guys haven't won anything, yet you are strutting around as if you have won the past 5 Euro championships and 4 consecutive World Cups. A dose of humility would do you well. Did we outmatch, outplay, and outsmart Portugal? Of course. Did Greece play well against Spain? No. Did we get the result? Yes, and that's all that matters my friend. I don't care if you think Spain and Portugal have some sort of spiritual mandate from God to play wonderful soccer, in the end of the day the score is all that matters. Plus I love how you constantly use that term one chance for the Greeks. What about the Spanish? Your only goal came after a disastrous mistake by Greece's central defender. Compare that to the class of the pass by Tsiartas and the finish of Charisteas. So quit giving me this bull about the better side, it's your team's fault for their uninspired showing.

Anyway, I'm torn right now. I don't know what I hate more, the blind arrogance of Portugese or the stupid pride of the Spanish. Both sides are dismal in national team tournaments. Yet the people of both countries compare themselves favorably to the Germanys, Italys, and Brazils of the world. No, there is no such disillusionment my friend with Greece. All we recognize is that we have a scrappy team, that plays with pride, and heart. We get results because we earn them, not because we should have them.

[Cozmosis]

I am so excited for Greece. Beat weak Russia and claim yourselves a place in the QF, you earned it!

[Oscar]

Man, I can't believe the arrogance of the Greek! They win their first ever game in ALL the tournaments they've ever played in, and suddenly the people from that country compare themselves favorably to the Switserlands and the Austrias of the world. The humanity!

[Icarus_222]

Man, I can't believe the arrogance of the Greek! They win their first ever game in ALL the tournaments they've ever played in, and suddenly the people from that country compare themselves favorably to the Switserlands and the Austrias of the world. The humanity!

Spain scored on their only shot of the 1st half. Greece did not.

So I suggest you get off it because Raul's big talk about revenge came to N-O-T-H-I-N-G for you all.

[Icarus_222]

Yet the people of both countries compare themselves favorably to the Germanys, Italys, and Brazils of the world. No, there is no such disillusionment my friend with Greece. All we recognize is that we have a scrappy team, that plays with pride, and heart. We get results because we earn them, not because we should have them.

Exactly. As if. Somebody should tell them they haven't won anything near to the level of Germany, France, Italy or Brazil and that they should take it easy.

You said it though, the Spanish and Portuguese believe that they and they alone have a mandate to play football and talk smack on top of it. Frankly it's tiresome.

[Tony Dellbird]

Jesus man just give the Greeks some credit they drew with you and beat Portugal, 1 game would have been fluke but 2? Against 2 of the better sides. That's an amazing achievement! I think the Portuguese and Spanish forgot to be told, that besides what you think there is no easy games in european championships.
Czech Republic found that out against Latvia aswell and had to actually work to beat them 2-1.

I just hope Greece can beat Russia and claim a place in the Quarter Finals! I would rather see Greece go up 1st and Portugal 2nd just to see this arrogant Spanish poster hit the ground with a hefty bump when he realises him and his team aren't much in the scheme of things and aren't in the same league of the Italy's Germany's and Brazil's of the world.

[Iberian]

See this is exactly what I am talking about. How arrogant are you? You guys haven't won anything, yet you are strutting around as if you have won the past 5 Euro championships and 4 consecutive World Cups. A dose of humility would do you well. Did we outmatch, outplay, and outsmart Portugal? Of course. Did Greece play well against Spain? No. Did we get the result? Yes, and that's all that matters my friend. I don't care if you think Spain and Portugal have some sort of spiritual mandate from God to play wonderful soccer, in the end of the day the score is all that matters. Plus I love how you constantly use that term one chance for the Greeks. What about the Spanish? Your only goal came after a disastrous mistake by Greece's central defender. Compare that to the class of the pass by Tsiartas and the finish of Charisteas. So quit giving me this bull about the better side, it's your team's fault for their uninspired showing.

Anyway, I'm torn right now. I don't know what I hate more, the blind arrogance of Portugese or the stupid pride of the Spanish. Both sides are dismal in national team tournaments. Yet the people of both countries compare themselves favorably to the Germanys, Italys, and Brazils of the world. No, there is no such disillusionment my friend with Greece. All we recognize is that we have a scrappy team, that plays with pride, and heart. We get results because we earn them, not because we should have them.

You are the one who doesn't get it. If Spain has not won anything (well, one EC), what's going to take you to get to where we are now? You get a result in a couple of games, without showing anything to be really so happy about, and start complaining because nobody praises you. Do I have to refresh your memory that you have gone to only one WC, and managed to loose every single game without scoring a single goal? If you were Italian, German, French, I'd shut my mouth, but we are talking about the greatness of Greek soccer?!. When people just hit you on the reality that you have very little of it, you inmediately jump calling them stupid or arrogant. Of course, it has to piss me off, because in what respects to soccer, we have nothing to talk about. As I said, enjoy it while it lasts, every dog has his day.

Also, in no way have I said that Greece didn't earn their 4 points, they very well did, but it sounds ridiculous to go around saying that you are the cream of the cream, and that the rest are just stupid.

How little you know of this, no greek defender made a mistake against Spain. The pass that Raul pulled is going to be in the video of the best goals of this EC. No Greek has in his boots half of that pass from his. You see, now your players are better too!, why don't you just admit that you have never seen in your own team a Joaquin or a Vicente?, or that Raul played all your defence like fools with the best assist seen yet in this Cup? No, it was our "disastrous" mistake...cut it out, you are in way over your head, you had no way of winning that game, and were never even close to it. You should be really happy with the tie, and have a little bit more modesty. Instead, you just show off what you don't have, and probably never will, and everybody else is stupid and arrogant! :confused:

[Icarus_222]

You get a result in a couple of games, without showing anything to be really so happy about,

Why cannot we be happy with our team? As if Spain rattled 12 goal posts and cross bars in their game with Greece. As if Portugal had all the chances in the world to bury 20+ goals vs Greece.

We made our goal against Spain out of nothing. Yours came from a mistake on our part. Not much more to say about that.

Do I have to refresh your memory that you have gone to only one WC, and managed to loose every single game without scoring a single goal? If you were Italian, German, French, I'd shut my mouth, but we are talking about the greatness of Greek soccer?!. When people just hit you on the reality that you have very little of it, you inmediately jump calling them stupid or arrogant. Of course, it has to piss me off, because in what respects to soccer, we have nothing to talk about. As I said, enjoy it while it lasts, every dog has his day.

Let me remind you this is 2004 and not 1994, and that you and your Iberian smack talking brothers are in a fight for your lives against one another BECAUSE of a team which has "nothing to talk about".

Arrogant poofter. One is nice to you, NOTHING is thrown back. It seems only rudeness is the only language you speak.

but it sounds ridiculous to go around saying that you are the cream of the cream, and that the rest are just stupid.

Who said we were?


How little you know of this, no greek defender made a mistake against Spain.

You are kidding me right?

The pass that Raul pulled is going to be in the video of the best goals of this EC.

And HOW did Raul come to have the ball?

why don't you just admit that you have never seen in your own team a Joaquin or a Vicente?

We haven't. Our boys also lack the massive ego's that go with such things.

or that Raul played all your defence like fools with the best assist seen yet in this Cup?

:D

No, it was our "disastrous" mistake...cut it out, you are in way over your head, you had no way of winning that game, and were never even close to it. You should be really happy with the tie, and have a little bit more modesty. Instead, you just show off what you don't have, and probably never will, and everybody else is stupid and arrogant!

Again I will reiterate that Spain relied on a mistake on the part of the Greek defence to score a goal. A goal with THEIR ONLY SHOT IN THE HALF.

While Greece pulled a goal out of NOTHING.

Yes we enjoyed it my Spanish friend.

The question is, when does Greece's play become the mark of a very god side, and not simply a "fluke"?

Have fun against the hosts whom you were supposed to walk away with the group at the beggining. :cool:

[Iberian]

Exactly. As if. Somebody should tell them they haven't won anything near to the level of Germany, France, Italy or Brazil and that they should take it easy.

You said it though, the Spanish and Portuguese believe that they and they alone have a mandate to play football and talk smack on top of it. Frankly it's tiresome.

Don't take it out of context. We are talking about Greeks taking crap here because they managed to get a tie or beat Portugal. I am not discussing anything here with a French, a German, an Italian, a Brazilian or even a Portuguese. This Aris guy has called me arrogant from before the game for simply saying that Spain "should" win the game because it was merely logical, in spite of them beating Portugal. I am not the arrogant one here. Believe me, in Spain had been playing against one of the other teams you mention, I wouldn't have talked in this terms, or I would have been really stupid. Please, we were playing Greece, what the hell is wrong with you people?.
Is it arrogance to claim that the favourite one is to win a game? That's how it all started, but even know, is it also arrogance to say that Spain plays better than Greece and has better players and soccer, or that Greece should just be very happy with getting a tie?. I just hope that when you get to the second round, be it against England or France, you don't get the beating that you deserve, and I talk for you fools, not for your players, who come out to the field with modesty, to make good the only system and the only way they have of playing with their limited resources, and manage to get a good result so the rest of you can sound like you are high or something.