'Greeks have already won tonight'
Helena Smith in Athens
Sunday July 4, 2004
The Observer
Few events have united Greeks as much, or produced such a paroxysm of pride and euphoria, as their team's performance in Euro 2004.
Stunned disbelief has been mixed with wild jubilation as the championship's rank outsiders have ousted opponents as formidable as France. '2004: Greece's summer, Greece's year' is the refrain in Athens. 'What could bode better for a fantastic Olympics?'
Whether their '11 gods' clinch the cup today is almost irrelevant. Before Portugal, Greece had not won a single match at any major competition. Just reaching the summit of European soccer, less than six weeks before the Olympics return to their birthplace, has been achievement enough.
'We were the outsiders, we have already won,' the team's no-nonsense German coach, Otto Rehhagel, told Greek TV on Friday.
Yesterday, as some 40 charter planes flew fans and much of the country's political leadership to Lisbon, many said they were going to witness the culmination of a dream.
'Our team, the team of all Greeks, has turned a dream into a reality,' enthused the new Prime Minister, Costas Karamanlis. 'It has proved that, where there is faith, method and joint effort, everything is possible.'
From Australia to America, London to Cape Town, Greeks have poured on to the streets to celebrate their team's success.
With even the Turkish press congratulating Greece, it is hoped the feelgood factor from Portugal will boost next month's Games.
Recently, organisers admitted that about two thirds of tickets have yet to be sold. As the first summer Games since the 11 September atrocities in New York and Washington, Athens has been forced to spend more than any other host on security.
'The footballers and their coach are our best possible ambassadors for the Games,' said chief Olympics organiser Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki.
--------------------
Greek Singles - Omogenia Singles Join now for Free
http://www.omogeniasingles.com
|
Previous
Index
Next
Flat
'Greeks have already won tonight'
Edit
Reply
Quote
