Greece to face ghosts of the past

Greece will face Argentina, Nigeria and South Korea in the World Cup in South Africa next year, following Friday’s draw. O

tto Rehhagel ear-marked Argentina as the clear favourite, but said second spot was open for each of the other three challengers.

Meanwhile, Australia could be heading for an early exit after being drawn in a deceptively tough group.

The Aussies will face three-time champions Germany in their opening game.

In a coincidence, two of the three teams, Argentina and Nigeria, in Group B were also in Greece’s group the only other time it has qualified for a World Cup, in the USA in 1994.

Then, in a disastrous campaign, Greece had lost 4-0 to Argentina, 2-0 to Nigeria and 4-0 to semi-finalists Bulgaria.

Greece will encounter at least one familiar face, Argentinean superstar Maradona, who scored against the national side in the USA but who is now coaching his country’s national team.

“Argentina are the favourites,” said Greece coach Otto Rehhagel. “But we must not forget that Nigeria will also be playing on African soil and are a good side as well.”

The German sought to play down expectations of Greece being one of the two sides that would qualify from the group for the knockout round of the last 16.

“We can qualify from the group if all the players are fit and we play well but all that is six months away and to say anything else now would be pure speculation,” he said before reminding Greeks that reaching South Africa after a play-off against Ukraine was an achievement in itself.

“We should not forget that we should be happy to have qualified for the World Cup at the last minute,” he said.

Rehhagel continued, “Argentina will be the clear favourites in our group, they are number one. They are a very good and dangerous side, I think all the teams in the group will struggle against them.

“I think it is only fair to say that the three other teams will be aiming for second. So it is up to all of us to fight for the second spot and I think we all have an equal chance of getting to the second round,” the 2004 European Cup winning coach said.

“We have to start well and work hard to stay in South Africa for the knockout stages - that will be our main aim. Once you are in the knockout stages, then anything is possible,” Rehhagel said.

“I don’t want to make any predictions, I’m not good at that. From here, we need to study our opponents and plan ahead,” he concluded.

Rehhagel’s men will begin their campaign against South Korea in Port Elizabeth on June 12.

Greece will play Nigeria in Bloemfontein on June 17, and their last group game will be against Argentina in Polokwane on June 22.

Australians awoke to the news of the draw, which pits 21st-ranked Australia against Germany, Ghana and Serbia in South Africa 2010.

Only African powerhouses Ghana are ranked below Australia on the FIFA world rankings at 37 and the most Australian football fans believe it is one of the hardest groups in the tournament.

But Schwarzer, whose parents are German and played his early European football with Dynamo Dresden and Kaiserslautern, is relishing the challenge against Germany in Durban on June 13.