Greece team

Greece enters its second World Cup determined to erase memories of its dismal performance in 1994 and boasting arguably the best Greek squad compiled by coach Otto Rehhagel (top).

World-Greece return to set the record straight

ATHENS, May 18 (Reuters) - Greece enter their second World Cup determined to avoid a repeat of their appearance in 1994 which ended in complete failure.

The Greeks lost all three group matches against Nigeria, Argentina and Bulgaria, conceding 10 goals and scoring none.

It was mocked as the '4-4-2 system', letting in four goals in the first and second matches and two in the last game.

Fast forward 16 years and Greece are back in a World Cup Group with Argentina and Nigeria. South Korea are their other group opponents.

This time though they are no rookies.

Having stunned the soccer world with their Euro 2004 victory, Greece have managed to qualify for three of the last four major tournaments, all under the guidance of 71-year-old German coach Otto Rehhagel.

Euro 2004 veterans such as Kostas Katsouranis and Giorgos Karagounis are driven by the thought of crowning their international careers with a successful World Cup campaign.

For gifted younger players like Sotiris Ninis and Sokratis Papastathopoulos it is a chance to show their skills on a stage they could only dream of a few years back.

"Our aim is to have a decent display in South Africa," said playmaker Ninis, who is said to be a transfer target for several major European clubs. "But if we can grab a good result in the first game or even the second then the door is open."

The current squad is arguably the best Rehhagel has assembled in Greece. Defensive order has been restored after some two years, with Papastathopoulos and Vangelis Moras emerging as Rehhagel's new "twin towers".

Their midfield, with Karagounis, Katsouranis and Ninis, is brimming with skill and their front line includes Fanis Gekas, the top scorer in all European qualifying groups with 10 goals.

Moving into the next round would be exceeding the country's expectations but ruling out Greece too early has been risky in the past.
Greece Squad - Giourkas Seitaridis And Christos Patsatzoglou Declared Fit
Greece coach Otto Rehhagel has announced his confirmed squad for the 2010 World Cup. The German gaffer cut seven players from his provisional 30-man roster on Tuesday.

Giorgos Tzavellas, Kostas Manolas, Giorgos Galitsios, Stergos Marinos, Grigoris Makos, Lazaros Christodoulopoulos and Kostas Mitroglou all failed to make the final cut and will miss this summer's tournament.

Giourkas Seitaridis and Christos Patsatzoglou have proven their fitness to gain inclusion in the final squad. Rehhagel had concerns over the pair due to their lack of regular first team action this term.

Greece lock horns with Argentina, Nigeria and South Korea in the group phase of the World Cup. They start the tournament with a match against South Korea on June 12.
Goalkeepers    -
Michalis Sifakis    Aris Salonika
Alexandros Tzorvas    Panathinaikos
Kostas Chalkias    PAOK
Defenders    -
Giorgos Seitaridis    Panathinaikos
Loukas Vintra    Panathinaikos
Avraam Papadopoulos    Olympiacos
Stelios Malezas    PAOK
Socrates Papastathopoulos    Genoa
Vangelis Moras    Bologna
Sotirios Kyrgiakos    Liverpool
Vasilis Torosidis    Olympiacos
Nikos Spiropoulos    Panathinaikos
Midfielders    -
Kostas Katsouranis    Panathinaikos
Giorgos Karagounis    Panathinaikos
Alexandros Tziolis    Siena
Sotiris Ninis    Panathinaikos
Christos Patsatzoglou    Omonia
Sakis Prittas    Aris Salonika
Forwards    -
Dimitris Salpigidis    Panathinaikos
Pantelis Kapetanos    Steaua Bucharest
Theofanis Gekas    Bayer Leverkusen
Giorgios Samaras    Celtic
Angelos Charisteas    Nuernberg

World-Factbox on Greece
May 18 (Reuters) - Factbox on Greece who are competing in Group B at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa:

Colours: White shirts, white shorts and white socks.

Nickname: I Ethniki (the National)

Previous World Cup appearances: 1994

Best World Cup performance: Group stage 1994

Coach: Otto Rehhagel

Most capped player: Theodoros Zagorakis 120

Top goalscorer: Nikos Anastopoulos 29

Talking points:

Greece are eager to redeem themselves for a disappointing appearance at the 1994 World Cup, their only other appearance. It could also be coach Otto Rehhagel's last tournament in charge after nine years because the 71-year-old German is rumoured to be leaving after the tournament.

Player to watch:

Greek hopes rest on striker Theofanis Gekas. The former Bundesliga top scorer has been back in form, scoring in a bid to save Hertha Berlin from relegation after switching in mid-season from Bayer Leverkusen. His speed and goal instinct are eye-popping and he was the top scorer in all of the Eurozone's World Cup qualifying groups, with 10 goals.

Roster

Last Updated TBD

Trainer
Otto Rehhagel   
Goalkeeper
1    Kostas Chalkias  
12    Alexandros Tzorvas   
13    Michail Sifakis  
Defender
11    Loukas Vintra  
3    Christos Patsatzoglou   
2    Giorgos Seitaridis  
16    Sotiris Kyrgiakos   
5    Evangelos Moras   
8    Avraam Papadopoulos   
4    Nikos Spiropoulos  
22    Stilianos Malezas  
19    Sokratis Papastathopoulos   
15    Vassilis Torosidis  

Midfielder
10    Giorgios Karagounis   
21    Kostas Katsouranis  
3    Christos Patsatzoglou   
23    Athanasios Prittas   
6    Alexandros Tziolis   
22    Stilianos Malezas   
18    Sotirios Ninis   
Forward
9    Angelos Charisteas   
14    Dimitrios Salpigidis   
7    Georgios Samaras 
20    Pantelis Kapetanos   
17    Theofanis Gekas