Northern Ireland v Greece (02/06/2022)

WORDS: LIAM BLACKBURN

FACT FILE: GREECE

• Greece then recorded 1-0 victories over France, Czech Republic and Portugal to win the tournament in what remains one of the biggest shocks in modern football . • That was the start of the golden era of Greek football as they made it to three successive European Championships between 2004 and 2012, as well as back-to-back World Cups in 2010 and 2014. • Rehhagel’s team stormed through qualifying for Euro 2008, gaining 31 points – more than any other nation during the preliminary stage – but the defending champions were eliminated without picking up a single point in the finals. • Greece beat Ukraine in a play-off to make the World Cup in South Africa, which was only their second appearance at the tournament after 1994, when they lost all three games and didn’t score a single goal . At the 2010 World Cup, Greece recorded their first ever win at the finals over Nigeria, but defeats to South Korea and Argentina meant they bowed out at the group phase. • Rehhagel stepped away from his post after that tournament and was replaced by Fernando Santos, who would later lead Portugal to glory at Euro 2016 and in the 2019 Nations League. • Santos presided over a record 17-match unbeaten run at the start of his reign and guided the country to eighth in the FIFA World Rankings, the joint highest position in their history. • Under Santos, Greece reached the quarter- finals at Euro 2012 and the last 16 at the 2014 World Cup, after which the coach left for his native Portugal . The 2014 World Cup remains the most recent tournament they have qualified for. • Claudio Ranieri replaced Santos but was sacked after just four games in charge, with the final straw proving to be a 1-0 home loss to Faroe Islands. • Billy Bingham also coached Greece, between 1971 and 1973, shortly after his first spell in charge of the Northern Ireland national team and Linfield.

INTERNATIONAL • As was the case when Hungary came to Belfast back in March, the visit of Greece will evoke happy memories for the Green and White Army given the two countries’ most recent meetings in Euro 2016 qualifiers. • A 2-0 victory in Greece in October 2014 meant Northern Ireland began a qualification campaign with three successive victories for the first time ever. Jamie Ward and Kyle Lafferty were on target that day in a win over a side ranked 14th in the world at the time. • But the joy of that night in Athens was nothing compared to the emotions experienced in Belfast a year later, with a famous 3-1 victory at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park securing Northern Ireland’s spot at Euro 2016. Steven Davis scored a brace against the Greeks before Josh Magennis netted his first international goal on an unforgettable night . • Greece and Northern Ireland had previously met in the qualifiers for Euro 2004 – a tournament that is fondly remembered by those of a Greek persuasion. • The Greeks lost their opening two games in that group, against Spain and Ukraine, but won the next six, not conceding a goal in the process, to finish top ahead of La Roja. • James Quinn and Keith Gillespie were both sent off in a 2-0 loss to Greece in Belfast , while George McCartney saw red in a 1-0 defeat in Athens on the final matchday. That victory ensured Greece qualified for the Euro 2004 finals in Portugal . • Placed in a group with the hosts, Spain and Russia, Greece kicked off the tournament with a 2-1 victory over Portugal before drawing 1-1 with Spain. Despite losing 2-1 to Russia in their third group game, Otto Rehhagel’s team went through having scored more goals than Spain.

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NIR V GRE