In light of Euro 2004, minnows have hope in 2006

[n00bie deluxe]

In light of the stunning results of 2004, I predict in 2006 we will see a new champion in 2006. In 2002, we saw the beginning of the cracks in the dam, as new teams made the knock out rounds and advanced deep into the tournament, while established countries faltered. 2004 is a warning to the established powers. The minnows are ready to pounce!

[1953 4-2-4]

In light of the stunning results of 2004, I predict in 2006 we will see a new champion in 2006. In 2002, we saw the beginning of the cracks in the dam, as new teams made the knock out rounds and advanced deep into the tournament, while established countries faltered. 2004 is a warning to the established powers. The minnows are ready to pounce!

If winning using negative football continues, our sport is doomed. Seriously. A rebirth of the early 70's 0-0, 1-0 era. This will kill football off for good. People don't pay to see 11 men inside their own penalty area for 90 minutes. They pay to see the nedveds, Figo's and Zidane's.

Dark Dark day for football....

[riverplate]

There are always established countries who fall on their face in every World Cup. Despite the early Cinderella antics of a few squads, it ended up being Germany and Brazil doing the final dance.

I doubt very much 2006 will be any different.

[Gunners11]

If winning using negative football continues, our sport is doomed. Seriously. A rebirth of the early 70's 0-0, 1-0 era. This will kill football off for good. People don't pay to see 11 men inside their own penalty area for 90 minutes. They pay to see the nedveds, Figo's and Zidane's.

Dark Dark day for football....


I see your point, but if you look at the other side of things, I think it was awesome that none of the dominant countries did that great at this tournament. I see what you mean about the low score, but I think it's good for football to have some new names and faces in the game, compared to how we always hear about France, Germany, England, and/or Spain. No offense to those countries or their fans, I just think it's cool that a new side was able to take the trophy.

[Autogolazo]

No, the dark day for football was when Italy decided it didn't want to actually play the sport, but rather harness all its talented stars into catenaccio instead.

Greece's championship run is a triumph of superior coaching, superior fitness, superior teamwork.

[Ilovecolombia redded]

I like the way football is played its more eXciting and by no means a dark day for football I personally am tired of superstars like luis figo and zidan they are overated and underperformed in the eurocup and world cups they are and should be nobodies....

if colombia can prove itself in the copa america I can see it winning depending on its luck in grouc placement playoffs etc..

[n00bie deluxe]

If anything, I think Euro 2004 provided inspiration to countries all over the world. I don't think they'll go into games thinking "We have no chance to win. We should just be happy to be here." At the same time, the giants will no longer or at least should no longer think to themselves, "Oh, we're just playing ____. This should be easy." In int'l football now, if you do not bring your best game, you will go home! This will raise the bar for future competitions.

[sendorange]

Depends on the definition of minnow. Greece have had a strong professional league for years and have always been competitive in Europe, to call them a minnow and at a similar level to the Asian or Concacaf teams is inaccurate, Greece are better than that, they did very poorly in World Cup 1994, but if you'd seen the behind-the-scenes documentary about it there were reasons for it.

UEFA is an exceptionally strong confederation there is always at least one team that unexpectedly emerges each tournament and reaches the final 4 or better. Greece- Euro2004, Turkey- WC 2002, Portugal- 2000, Croatia- 1998, Czech Rep- 1996, Sweden/Bulgaria- 1994, Denmark- 1992.

Reading Greece's win as a new world order is not entirely accurate, although the sport is increasingly competitive, this shows more that big national teams need to do a better job of making sure their top players do not get burnt out from their heavy club schedules by the end of the season and that they make the time to get organised as a team unit.

[bloonhead]

Some important facts about Greece aka the minnows.

*UEFA ranks their domestic league as high as the French ligue 1, German Bundesliga.
*They have 3 spots in the UEFA Champions League (same as France, Germany)
*They have great teams like Panathinaikos, AEK Athens, Olympiakos.
*They won their qualifying group, which included Spain, Ukraine.


Fact is, they aren't minnows.

[Tony Dellbird]

Fact is, they aren't minnows.

I would have never said Greece were minnows really, but IMO they have to have another good tournament for them to truly prove to everyone and not be considered flukes.

[bloonhead]

they did very poorly in World Cup 1994, but if you'd seen the behind-the-scenes documentary about it there were reasons for it.


Ten years ago their domestic league wasn't so highly rated within UEFA. It's their domestic league that has enabled them to improve dramatically. Their clubs performances since then has earned them being classed as one of the major leagues in Europe. To be given the same number of spots for the champions league as Germany and France just shows how far they have come in ten years. That wouldn't of happened in 1994.


I see what you mean about the low score, but I think it's good for football to have some new names and faces in the game, compared to how we always hear about France, Germany, England, and/or Spain. No offense to those countries or their fans, I just think it's cool that a new side was able to take the trophy.


The reason you here about France, Germany, England, Spain is because of their domestic league. Sure it was good to see a new side to take the trophy, but Greece domestic league is given the same amount of spots in CL as France and Germany, which means that UEFA classed their league as the same level.

[bloonhead]

I would have never said Greece were minnows really, but IMO they have to have another good tournament for them to truly prove to everyone and not be considered flukes.

It's happened before with Denmark's shock win, since then Denmark have always been very competative. But Greece have a bigger league than Denmark, they have more potential.

Their team reminded me very much of the German national team, very disciplined. I reckoned if they keep their German coach they could do a good showing at the next world cup, obviously not winning it. But in the future they could really have a great team if their domestic league keeps improving like it has done.

[saabrian]

In light of the stunning results of 2004, I predict in 2006 we will see a new champion in 2006. In 2002, we saw the beginning of the cracks in the dam, as new teams made the knock out rounds and advanced deep into the tournament, while established countries faltered. 2004 is a warning to the established powers. The minnows are ready to pounce!

I think a surprise champion is more likely in 2010 as the venue will favor outsiders.

[Rewinder]

the only thing that concerns me is that smaller teams are going to adopt greek tactics in order to survive. id much rather see england or italy play all out defense because i know that they do pack a powerful attack on occasions. If the game is going to turn into a 90min penalty swarm for every team that cant attack then we are in for a long hard borefest.

[n00bie deluxe]

the only thing that concerns me is that smaller teams are going to adopt greek tactics in order to survive. id much rather see england or italy play all out defense because i know that they do pack a powerful attack on occasions. If the game is going to turn into a 90min penalty swarm for every team that cant attack then we are in for a long hard borefest.

I agree. Greek tactics in 2004 are probably being studied as we speak by several national sides.

[eldiablito]

Greece's championship run is a triumph of superior coaching, superior fitness, superior teamwork.

Exactly!

Rehhagel played the cards he was dealt with the best he could--and it worked out for him.

[vico]

Some important facts about Greece aka the minnows.

*UEFA ranks their domestic league as high as the French ligue 1, German Bundesliga.
*They have 3 spots in the UEFA Champions League (same as France, Germany)
*They have great teams like Panathinaikos, AEK Athens, Olympiakos.
*They won their qualifying group, which included Spain, Ukraine.


Fact is, they aren't minnows.
when was the last time any of these teams did anything worthy of remembering in the champions league or uefa cup?

to rank the greek league alongside the spanish, italian, english or even french or portuguese is a joke,

[Kennethlongneck]

yeah but who wants to watch a match that ends 0-0 or 1-0, look back at euro 2000 and how many goals were scored compared to 2004, thats football people want to watch, after all wat is the aim of a match of football? - to win! and wat do u have to do to win? - SCORE! so y do teams like greece focus more on defence rather than attack and then wait for a set piece or a bad mistake by the oppositions' defence in order to score, the reason is that they fear conceeding goals. if you look back at matchday 3 for greece in euro 2004 wen they played russia, they lost and could have even gone out that nite if it wasnt for a russian missing a sitter, that nite they tried to attack more and they failed because they were 2-0 down after about 20mins i think so this shows that they arent in fact as good as people rate them now just because they won the tournament. There's no way a team will win wc 2006 using the greek strategy of play, because i think teams like italy and spain especially are just about sick of going home early in wc's and euro's and will go all attack and wont give defensive teams that 1 chance they need in order to win by a goal, italy however play defensivly already and this is due to the style of football played in serie A but i think they will change this strategy now in the national side as they have all the talent to win the world cup. My main point is that greece ( or a team with the greek strategy) will not win the wc in 2006 and i also dont think greece even deserved the euro in 2004, in fact as much as it hurts to say (as an england fan) i think portugal deserved it the most.