Greece has made dramatic strides on the international soccer stage since German Otto Rehhagel took over as manager in 2001. Prior to that, Greece had made only two appearances in the finals of a major tournament: the 1980 European championships and the 1994 World Cup (eliminated in the first round without scoring a goal). However, Rehhagel, who is expected to retire after the 2010 World Cup, changed the team's style and attitude. Under his watch, the Greeks won the 2004 European championship, which is considered the greatest feat in the country's soccer history. Greece then made it back to the European championship for the third time four years later. Greece's previous World Cup history was not a pleasant one, as it lost two games 4-0 and the other 2-0.http://www.goal.com/en/news/1863/world-cup-2010/2009/12/02/1660137/world-cup-2010-greece-profile

Greece qualified for the 2010 World Cup by finishing second in Group B of the UEFA zone behind Switzerland, which defeated Greece twice. Greece needed to beat Ukraine in a two-legged play-off to qualify for the final 32-team World Cup field. The teams played to a scoreless draw in Athens in the first leg, but a goal by Dimitris Salpingidis gave Greece a 1-0 win in Donetsk and a trip South Africa. Star striker Theofanis Gekas was the top scorer in UEFA qualifying with 10 goals, Greece is criticized for playing a boring style of soccer as they generally sit back waiting for counterattack opportunities. Midfielder and captain Giorgos Karagounis is the leader of the team while defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos, who plays for Liverpool in the English league, and midfielder Sotiris Ninis are other players to watch. For the 2010 World Cup, Greece is in Group B with Nigeria, Argentina and South Korea.

The teams play a round robin within the group with the top two finishers advancing to the next stage. Greece opens against South Korea on June 12 in Port Elizabeth. On June 17, it faces Nigeria in Bloemfontein, then completes first-round play June 22 against Argentina in Polokwane.http://www.goal.com/en/news/1863/world- cup-2010/2009/12/02/1660137/world-cup-2010-greece-profile