Greece national football team
The Hellenic Football Federation is controlled The Greece national football team. The name of this confederation is call URFA(Europe). Greece was founded 1926 and 1927 it was entry in FIFA. Greece participated the final tournaments of the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA European Championship, in 1994 and 1980 respectively. Greece have received several distinctions for their triumph and have reached a higher status in international football. Greece made its first appearance in a major tournament at the Euro 1980 in Italy. The first time they Greece participated in to the FIFA World Cup finals 1994. Greece failed to qualify for the Euro 1996 finishing third in the group behind Russia and Scotland. In their 1998 World Cup qualifying tournament the team finished only one point shy of second-placed Croatia as, despite a plethora of missed chances, it was halted to a 0-0 draw by the eventual Group winners, the Danish national football team. As Euro 2004 winners, Greece qualified for the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup in Germany. After winning the Euro 2004, Greece were considered favourites to top their group, in the 2006 World Cup qualifyings. Greece was the highest ranked seed in to the UEFA Euro 2008 in Switzerland. Greece climbed to the 11th place in the FIFA World cup.
Greece Football Assocaiation
 | |
Association | Hellenic Football Federation |
Confederation | UEFA ( |
Head coach | |
Asst coach | |
Captain | Giorgos Karagounis |
Most caps | Theodoros Zagorakis (120) |
Top scorer | Nikos Anastopoulos (29) |
Home stadium | Olympic Stadium |
FIFA code | GRE |
FIFA ranking | 12 |
Highest FIFA ranking | 8 (April 2008 – June 2008) |
Lowest FIFA ranking | 66 (September 1998) |
Elo ranking | 23 |
Highest Elo ranking | 7 (August 2004) |
Lowest Elo ranking | 78 (May 1963 and November 1963) |
History
European Football Championship
European Football Championship
In 1980 Greece made its first appearance in a major tournament at the Euro in Italy after qualifying as first - under the guidance of Alketas Panagoulias- from a group that included USSR and Hungary, both world powers back then. In the final tournament, Greece was drawn into group A with West Germany, the Netherlands, and Czechoslovakia. In Rome three days later Greece played against Czechoslovakia. After halting the Czechoslovakians to a 1-1 at the end the first half, Greece eventually lost 3-1. In their last game, Greece earned a 0-0 draw against eventual winners West Germany culminating what was considered a decent overall performance in the team's maiden presence in a final phase of any football competition.
World Cup
In 1994 FIFA World Cup Greece finished first and undefeated in their qualifying group, surpassing Russia in the final game. In the final tournament Greece were drawn into group D with Nigeria, Bulgaria, and Argentina.In their first game against Argentina, Greece lost 4-0. Four days later Greece suffered another 4-0 blow from Bulgaria and in their final game lost to Nigeria 2-0. In the end, Greece were eliminated in the first round by losing all three games, scoring no goals and conceding 10, thus making one of the worst records inWorld Cup history. In the 2006 World Cup qualification Greece were considered favourites to top their group. The team was drawn into Group 2 along with Ukraine, Turkey, Denmark, Albania, Georgia and Kazakhstan.By way of the November 2007 FIFA World Rankings, Greece was seeded in Pot A for the European zone group stage draw for 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying.
They were drawn into Group 2 with Israel, Switzerland, Moldova, Latvia and Luxembourg. Greece's group stage campaign began and ended with matches against Luxembourg on 6 September 2008 and 14 October 2009. While earning only three clean sheets in ten qualifying games, Greece relied heavily upon the scoring prowess of Theofanis Gekas, who led all Europeans in scoring with 10 goals. Two losses to Switzerland placed the Greeks one point behind the Swiss group winners, leaving Greece's 2010 World Cup hopes to be decided in a play-off with Group 6 runner-up Ukraine. A 0-0 tie in Athens preceded a 0-1 second-leg Greek triumph in Donetsk to secure a spot in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. 
Players record
Most capped players
Years | Name | Caps | Goals |
1994 | Theodoros Zagorakis | 120 | 3 |
1999 | Angelos Basinas | 100 | 7 |
1986 | Stratos Apostolakis | 96 | 5 |
1999 | Antonios Nikopolidis | 90 | 0 |
1999 | Giorgos Karagounis | 91 | 6 |
Top goalscorers
Years | Name | Goals | Caps |
1977 | Nikos Anastopoulos | 29 | 75 |
2001 | Angelos Charisteas | 23 | 81 |
1982 | Dimitris Saravakos | 22 | 78 |
1963 | Mimis Papaioannou | 21 | 61 |
2005 | Theofanis Gekas | 20 | 46 |
