Greece - Team Fact Sheet

10 Groovy Facts about the Greek Football Squad

When you think of Greece, you think of beautiful islands, rugged coastlines, deep philosophers, democratic impulses, the Parthenon, great myths, tough Spartans, hardy mariners, the Olympics, and a place where you could easily see yourself retiring too, overlooking the shimmering Aegean.

But Greece is more than just grand history and breathtaking beauty. This nation of 11 million produces some of the scrappiest and most resourceful football players in Europe. And now, after an absence of 16 years from the World Cup, Greece is back, ready for action.

So here's the top 10 facts you need to know about the Greek football team:

10. The Greek national team is nicknamed The Pirate Ship (based on what a TV commentator said about the Greek's needing to be like a pirate ship that raids the other team - something like that) and Galanoleyki (which is their word for Hellenic, we think, but don't quote us).

9. Greece has made only one previous trip to the World Cup, in 1994 when they crashed out in the First Round under humiliating circumstances. The USA crushed Greece 4-0. Then Bulgaria spanked them again 4-0. And then Nigeria dismissed them 2-0. They're not going to want a repeat of that this time!

8. Greece's coach is the German Otto Rehhagel. A former defender in the Bundesliga, Rehhagel has been the Greek coach since 2001, a long time by international standards. He's lead them to some famous improbable wins (see fact number 1).

7. Giorgos Karagounis captains the Greek squad. A midfielder with Panathinaikos, he's been on the national squad since 1999. One commentator calls him "one of the most underrated players in the world."

6. Greece has played in one Confederations Cup in 2005, but was sent packing after the First Round. Brazil skunked them 3-0, Japan slapped them around 1-0 and then they played footsie with Mexico 0-0. We bet they wish they could re-do that tourney. Or just forget about it altogether.

5. Nikos Anastopoulos is Greece's top scorer with 29 goals. A striker on the team from 1977-1988, he's coached a number of Greek clubs over the last decade.

4. Theodoros Zagorakis boasts the most caps for Greece with 120. He played on the team from 1994-2007 as a defensive midfielder.

3. FIFA ranked Greece 12th before the 2010 World Cup, which is a slight drop from their highest number 8 ranking in 2008. No mind, though - the Greeks are on form. They beat Ukraine (in Ukraine) to win a spot at the World Cup. Pirate ships indeed!

2. Eight members of the Greek squad play for the Greek club Panathinaikos, an Athens-based team. Their symbol is a shamrock, so maybe they're lucky. Who knows?

1. In one of the most improbable scenarios imaginable, Greece beat the Portuguese team (twice!) in Portugal to become European Champions in 2004. This is their greatest achievement. Time should have just stopped right then. But now they're keen to prove their win wasn't just a fluke. A good showing at the World Cup would do a lot to shore up their credentials.