After securing 1st World Cup win, Greece sets sights on Argentina

After 1st World Cup win, Greece eyes Argentina

BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa — Now that Greece has earned its first World Cup win, the 2004 European champions are setting their sights on a greater challenge — beating Argentina.

Greece coach Otto Rehhagel holds no illusions about how difficult taking a point from Diego Maradona’s squad will be.

“Argentina is a top-class team, far superior to Greece,” the veteran German coach said. “We’ll see how we face this game. But everyone knows how many high-quality players they have.”

Do they ever. There’s Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain and Carlos Tevez — and that’s just the Argentina attack.

But Greece’s stay in South Africa received a confidence boost Thursday when it beat Nigeria 2-1 with goals from striker Dimitris Salpingidis and midfielder Vassillis Torosidis. It was Greece’s first victory at the World Cup, and the first goals the Greeks have scored in five matches. They lost all three games in 1994 by shutout, including a 4-0 rout by Argentina.

The South American team’s current coach, Diego Maradona, played for the Albiceleste in that 1994 match, and scored one of the goals.

In South Africa, Greece and Argentina play in their final Group B match in Polokwane on Tuesday. Depending on the results of the other group match between South Korea and Nigeria, a draw against Argentina may be enough for the Greeks to squeak through to the knockout round.

But even taking a point from Maradona’s talented team, which won its first two matches by a combined 5-1, will be a tough task for Greece.

And while the Greeks know it, they are relishing the opportunity.

“Argentina is of course the big favorite, and is a very difficult opponent for any team,” Greece midfielder Costas Katsouranis said. “But we will fight and do what we can as long as we have a chance to progress.”