Greece will face Argentina, Nigeria and South Korea in the soccer World Cup in South Africa next year, following yesterday’s draw in Cape Town.
Two of the three teams in Group B, Argentina and Nigeria, were also in Greece’s group the only other time it has qualified for a World Cup, in the USA in 1994. Greece will meet at least one familiar face, Argentinean superstar Maradona, who scored against the national side in the USA but who is now coaching his country’s national team.
After being drawn against two-time world champions Argentina, Nigeria and South Korea in Friday’s draw for next year’s World Cup finals, Greece coach Otto Rehhagel said that he was looking to finish second. “Argentina is the overwhelming favourite in our group, but I think the other three teams have a chance to play for second place. All our games will be very difficult.”
The 71-year-old German said that if Greece finished second in the group they would have advanced to the next round, which would be a big achievement.
“We do not have to win the group to go through, if we are second we will also stay in South Africa, so that would be great.”
Rehhagel, whose side qualified for the finals after beating Ukraine in the play-offs, said that his greatest concern ahead of the World Cup is ensuring that all his players are fit for the tournament.
“This is my biggest worry. I only have a very small pool of players. Greece is not like Brazil, who have millions and millions of players at their disposal.”
Rehhagel, who sensationally won the 2004 European championships with Greece, beating hosts Portugal in the final, said he did not want to talk about the 1994 World Cup finals, when the team was also paired with Nigeria and Argentina.
At the time the Greeks were eliminated after losing all three of their group games, conceding 10 goals in the process.
“That was 1994, next year it will be 2010. That is what counts. Even from the side that won the Euro in 2004, there are only four players left, so it does not make sense to compare times then.”
GROUP A: South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay, France
GROUP B: Argentina, Nigeria, South Korea, Greece
GROUP C: England, USA, Algeria, Slovenia
GROUP D: Germany, Australia, Serbia, Ghana
GROUP E: Holland, Denmark, Japan, Cameroon
GROUP F: Italy, Paraguay, New Zealand, Slovakia
GROUP G: Brazil, North Korea, Ivory Coast, Portugal
GROUP H: Spain, Switzerland, Honduras, Chile
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