Who else from BeNeGaf keeps thinking about Jan Boskamp when they see Miguel Herrera?
This is starting to get annoying.
Maybe that's why Suarez bit Chiellini and now the guy is wiring Suarez his cut of the money. /tinfoilhatAccording to spiegel.de, a Swedish guy bet on Suarez biting someone during the WC and has now received 175 times of his bet money. Well played. :,)
I wasn't in Greece unfortunately but I remember that time. My schoolmates in Germany made fun of the Greek team before the Euro Cup began, until Germany got eliminated. What happened next was the most of my classmates rooted for the hosting nation, Portugal. We had a Portuguese boy in our class who, quite ironically, was my best friend at the time. When Greece won we all went to the Greek corners of Hamburg and celebrated all night long. I didn't rub Greek's win under the nose of my friend though, that would be just mean.
Euro Cup, Olympia, Eurovision, man, those were the days.
I was in Greece visiting family in 2004 when they won the Euro Cup. Haven't been back since, though I am finally going again in August! What I remember most was how electric the atmosphere was. My very first day there, I was jet-lagged and sleepily watched a Greek team that had somehow gotten through a group that featured Spain, Russia, and hosts Portugal go up against the defending Euro 2000 champions, France. 1-0. The cafe I was in in Argos, and all of Argos, exploded. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joALQQIgVDg
At that point, everyone was just fucking thrilled to have the team get that far. Just watching the Euro semifinal was a party, I don't think people would have even been too down if they had lost. But they didn't- just as double overtime was ending: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tg8T1VY-fu0
Then finally Portugal. This is all anecdotal, but at this point the nation was not just "happy to be there", they were hungry. And they had already upset host Portugal 2-1 in the opening match of the group stage. And yet after all these defeated odds, they remained the underdog. But then: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1P7PZIf2RU
What great times. I can't sit here with a straight face and predict Greece will win the World Cup, or even that they can beat Costa Rica, who has been playing stupid good football. But I am thankful to the team for bringing a little bit of much-needed joy to a country that has had a hellish few years. And though they remain longshots, I am reminded of the most appropriate use of Adidas' old slogan back in 2004:
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doesn't matter, it is already fixed
So Greece decides to play attacking soccer for only 15 minutes out of 270+ minutes of group play, and they deserve to advance? That's such horse-shit.
This still didn't score one legit goal all tournament. The first was a gift card from the IC defender's blunder. A 12-year-old youth player could have capitalized off that blunder. And the second was a penalty kick from a modest foul at best.
The couple of times they hit the goal post were from random solo hopefully efforts that got lucky, not from a sustained offense or built up attacks. Their style of soccer needs to be burnt with fire. Smaller countries like Costa Rica, Ghana, and Chili have shown that small soccer powers or underdogs don't need to park the bus to get results.
I hope Costa Rica can put Greece down in the second round because they have no business whatsoever being in the quarterfinals. Disgraceful.
Uruguay and Greece are the two teams I hope get humiliated in the second round.
Greece were very lucky. Ivory Coast didn't manage the game well enough at all. At 1-1 they gave the ball away to cheaply.
I still maintain that there really isn't enough quality in the Greek side to do anything of note. They managed to escape the group..fair play to them. But they'll have to up their game to do anything significant.
So Greece decides to play attacking soccer for only 15 minutes out of 270+ minutes of group play, and they deserve to advance? That's such horse-shit.
This still didn't score one legit goal all tournament. The first was a gift card from the IC defender's blunder. A 12-year-old youth player could have capitalized off that blunder. And the second was a penalty kick from a modest foul at best.
The couple of times they hit the goal post were from random solo hopefully efforts that got lucky, not from a sustained offense or built up attacks. Their style of soccer needs to be burnt with fire. Smaller countries like Costa Rica, Ghana, and Chili have shown that small soccer powers or underdogs don't need to park the bus to get results.
I hope Costa Rica can put Greece down in the second round because they have no business whatsoever being in the quarterfinals. Disgraceful.
Uruguay and Greece are the two teams I hope get humiliated in the second round.
Lucky? The score shoulda been 3-1 or 4-1 with all the damn shots hitting posts. They created more opportunities and outplayed Ivory Coast quite clearly.
I agree that they are certainly a longshot, and even if they manage to top Costa Rica it will only get much tougher versus their most likely opponent in the following match, the Netherlands.
But, I think the same criticism about how much "Quality" they had could have been made in 2004. Talent is hugely important yes, but don't EVER count out heart. And god damn, this team proved today finally that they may have some of that.
WAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH.
You got beat because like Portugal, France, and Czech Republic before you, you underestimated the Greeks. I'll be the first to admit that we will never be favorites or the most talented, but those who count us out do so at their own risk.
And you are fucking lucky you didn't lose 4-1. A couple shots not hitting posts, and that woulda been the score.
Not that these stats mean anything to me, but greece is ranked 12th in the world.
http://www.fifa.com/worldranking/
I dont know exactly how it gets calculated, just saying. We cant be THAT bad, can we?
Not that these stats mean anything to me, but greece is ranked 12th in the world.
http://www.fifa.com/worldranking/
I dont know exactly how it gets calculated, just saying. We cant be THAT bad, can we?
Lo, now that you mention it.
Heart? In the World CUP? We go through this every 4 years. When we get to the business end of the competition let's take a look at where Greece are at. Greece are not going to win the World Cup. That's pure fantasy.
Ivory Coast were naive, at 1-1 the game should have been over. Most teams would have managed the game leaving Greece nothing to sniff at..that's were Greece were lucky..they were given several chances that in all honesty they should not have had.
Credit for Greece for keeping the faith but Ivory Coast handed them a gift on both goals.
Spain at 1 Portugal at 4 England at 10? Lol.
So answer me this. If this were ten years ago, would you not have said the same exact thing about Greece making it to the second round of Euro 2004 and heading into a match vs France?
Sure, it isn't the World Cup of course, so a lot of the titans of the game aren't involved. But they still got through France, the Czech Republic, and Portugal (twice). Would you have predicted that back then?
I am not saying Greece isn't a total longshot, they absolutely are. But how can you look at that history and pretend heart does not matter in these competitions? Greece was absolutely no where near the talent level of any of those teams, or Spain (who they played to a 1-1 upset draw in the group stage granting them a point that helped them get through). They did what they did on fucking sheer force of will and heart. Yes, it's an intangible, but a god damn powerful one.
Can Miracles happen sure. But mostly the don't. Too many good teams in this competition for Greece to win it. That's just the reality of the situation. Now if they change their approach and can pick up goal scoring from somewhere - perhaps they can spring a few shocks. But that's a big if.
The list of World Cup winners is exclusive. Coming from only 2 regions. If I were to gamble you'd go with one of the past winners ( Brazil / Germany / France / Argentina ).
For a new country - Holland or Colombia.
Miracle town for anybody else. Sorry.
Αχ να 'ξερες τι δύναμη,
μου δίνει το αλάτι σου.
Αχ να 'ξερες τι δύναμη,
μου δίνει το αλάτι σου.
That is what everyone is practically demanding they do. The guy who is salty about Ivory Coast losing said their style should be killed with fire or something.
If they do what you and so many others say and change up their game, they go from slim chance to ZERO chance. Greece is not going to win any shootouts vs the Netherlands or Germany or Brazil, or even maybe Costa Rica. They just don't have the talent for that, it is what it is.
Their only shot, the way they won in 2004, the way they have consistently qualified in Euro Cups and World Cups since then (which for other countries is nothing but for Greece is still a big deal), the way they made it to the 2nd round now, is to play lock-down defense and score on the counterattack. Period. Otto Rehhagel's system has led Greece to its most successful decade of Football ever, and it should not be abandoned.
Anyone demanding they change their style is really saying "I don't approve of Greece's defensive style, it isn't the 'right' way to play and creates the chance of upsets against my favored team(s). They should play more offensively, not be able to keep up, and lose like they are supposed to."
Argentina will absolutely destroy Nigeria
oi malakes den tha mas paroune pote sovara.
It's ok though, their tears are yummy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48H34ukFe8g
and their 2004 team was the N64Guys, guys.
Guys.
What if Greece is the Nintendo (of the modern era) of football nations?
Agrentina will absolutely destroy Bosnia!How can anyone make statements like this?
Have you not been paying attention this year?
That is what everyone is practically demanding they do. The guy who is salty about Ivory Coast losing said their style should be killed with fire or something.
If they do what you and so many others say and change up their game, they go from slim chance to ZERO chance. Greece is not going to win any shootouts vs the Netherlands or Germany or Brazil, or even maybe Costa Rica. They just don't have the talent for that, it is what it is.
Their only shot, the way they won in 2004, the way they have consistently qualified in Euro Cups and World Cups since then (which for other countries is nothing but for Greece is still a big deal), the way they made it to the 2nd round now, is to play lock-down defense and score on the counterattack. Period. Otto Rehhagel's system has led Greece to its most successful decade of Football ever, and it should not be abandoned.
Anyone demanding they change their style is really saying "I don't approve of Greece's defensive style, it isn't the 'right' way to play and creates the chance of upsets against my favored team(s). They should play more offensively, not be able to keep up, and lose like they are supposed to."