No, you didn’t dream it, Greece really did win Euro 2004. Yet since missing out on the past two editions, it would be unthinkable for the Ethniki not to be in Germany for the 20th anniversary of their finest football moment, according to gaffer Gus Poyet.
Two years ago, Poyet took charge of a team that hadn’t qualified for a tournament since the 2014 World Cup, swiftly steering them to top spot in their Nations League group and securing a play-off place for the Euros. Just as well, given the horror qualifying group they subsequently found themselves in.
“When we saw we’d been drawn with both France and the Netherlands, it was lucky we’d already won our Nations League group and had the second option,” Poyet told FourFourTwo.
GEORGIA vs LUXEMBOURG How Luxembourg, Europe's whipping boys, are genuine contenders to reach Euro 2024
BOSNIA vs UKRAINE Why Ukraine are still favourites to reach the Euros, despite being unable to play at home since 2021
ISRAEL vs ICELAND Has Israel's best chance of reaching the Euros come at the most awkward time possible?
POLAND vs ESTONIA Why Estonia had the easiest route ever to reach a play-off for the Euros
WALES vs FINLAND Without Gareth Bale to finish, can Wales beat the Finnish?
Greece did draw 2-2 with France, however, also defeating the Republic of Ireland home and away, to confirm themselves as play-off favourites.
“Managing at international level was all new for me, but I can’t complain with how it’s gone so far – things are moving in the right direction,” said the former Brighton and Sunderland manager, who’d previously worked in Greece as coach of AEK Athens.
“The main objective has been to qualify for the Euros and bring people to the stadium – Greece had lost the connection with the people, but for our last game it was pretty much full, which was fantastic.”
There’s been much discussion about the need to be there this summer, as a fitting way of marking the anniversary of 2004.
“People have been talking a lot about that, and obviously it will be so important,” says the Uruguayan. “Greece need to go to a big competition – from 2014, there have been no World Cups, no Euros. It’s been 10 years.”
Their play-off semi-final foes in Athens are surprise package Kazakhstan, in with a shot of making a major tournament for the first time since joining UEFA back in 2002, despite being situated in Asia – capital city Astana is six hours ahead of UK time.
The Hawks even came within one game of reaching this summer’s event automatically. Having beaten Northern Ireland twice, to add to a 3-2 defeat of Denmark, they needed a victory in their last qualifier against Slovenia, only for the hosts to pinch it in the 86th minute.
“The pressure on us to beat Kazakhstan is massive – it’s a must-win and there are no excuses,” said Poyet. If they triumph, they are away to Georgia or Luxembourg in the final. “That would be tough,” he conceded.
“You play the semi-final on the Thursday night and don’t know where you’re heading next, only five days later. The trip, the travel, it’s complicated, but the main one is Kazakhstan. I’ve watched their games and have my notes on them.”
There’s another incentive for Greece to get through, too. At the Euros, they’d play rivals Turkey first up in Dortmund – their maiden meeting at a major tournament.
“That draw gives us a little something extra,” said Poyet, whose current contract is due to expire on March 31. “Knowing that if we qualify, we’d play Turkey, that’s amazing. Starting a Euros with that derby? Imagine it...”
Dortmund’s police force have already been imagining it. Anyone know what the German for ‘Come on Kazakhstan’ is?
More Euro 2024 stories
Every Euro 2024 squad: All the teams previewed
Euro 2024: Everything you need to know about the little car
The England Euro 2024 home kit is out and Nike have experimented with a fresh new colour scheme
