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Greece
went into their qualifiers on a high, having ended their World Cup
campaign with a creditable 2-2 draw in England, and started 2002
with a five-game unbeaten run in friendlies, culminating in a 1-0
win in Romania. However, their first group game on 6 September was a
2-0 home loss to Spain that could have been heavier. Things did not
improve on 12 October with a defeat by the same score in Ukraine,
but four days later two Themistoklis Nikolaidis goals saw off
Armenia 2-0, moving Greece into third place. The year ended with a
goalless home friendly against the Republic of Ireland.
Form upturn
Friendly victories against Cyprus and Norway ensured Greece opened
2003 in promising fashion, and the unbeaten run in non-competitive
games continued in late March with a 2-2 draw in Austria. That
upturn was taken into their next qualifier, in Northern Ireland on 2
April, as Angelos Charisteas scored twice and two home players were
sent off in a 2-0 win.
Win in Spain
Another 2-2 friendly draw followed in Slovakia and confidence was
high for the trip to Spain, who were then four points ahead at the
summit. Coach Otto Rehhagel unveiled a new sweeper system which
worked to startling effect, Greece winning 1-0 courtesy of Stylianos
Giannakopoulos's 42nd-minute goal. Four days later unbeaten Ukraine
were also defeated, substitute Charisteas scoring an 86th-minute
winner. Spain's draw with Northern Ireland the same evening left
Greece as the new leaders.
Unbeaten run
A 2-1 win in Sweden in August stretched the unbeaten friendly run to
ten games, and on 6 September Greece travelled to Armenia knowing
that victory would leave them within touching distance of
qualification. Zisis Vryzas headed the only goal for a third
successive 1-0 victory.
Spain Pipped
When they stretched that sequence to four against Northern Ireland
on 11 October, Vassilios Tsiartas converting a penalty in a match in
which the defence kept their sixth clean sheet in succession, Greece
were able to celebrate beating Spain to first place and with it a
berth in the European Championship for only the second time.
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