Galery

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Although somewhat expected the loss of Greece by the team of Argentina found strong resonance in Greek media. In a brief assessment of the play of the national team they did not loose the occasion to highlight the efforts of Greece to stop its dangerous opponent on the field and the strength and class of Argentina on the other hand. “With a goal of Martin Demichelis and Martin Palermo Argentina broke the very strong and zeal nationals and sent them back to Greece,” comments the loss the sports www.sport24.gr. “The players of the national team of Greece played with more passion and a lot of courage. They believed in a miracle, didn’t dazzle by the many stars of Argentina but failed to prevent the loss at the end… Our national team including the very good play of Tzorvas, Papasthatopoulos and Samaras, fought to the 77^th minute and restrict Messi and his company. A little lack of luck (3 imperative changes to the 55^th minute) and some weak play in two phases, brought 2:0 to the team of Maradona. The loss was expected more or less, but the play during the game allows Rehhagel’s team to leave South Africa proud with head held high.”

”It lost fighting with head held high,” commented another Greek sports site www.sport.gr. Kathimerini newspaper did said: “Greece fell fighting.” Here’s how Kathimerini commented the loss of the team: “The journey of the national team of Greece in the “magic world” of the World Cup championship in South Africa ended this evening at the Peter Mokaba stadium in Polokwane. Our representatives looked into the eyes of the global superpower Argentina, worked as hard as they could against some of the biggest stars in the world of football, but fell 2:0 with a goal by Demichelis in the 77^th minute and Palermo in the 89^th .”

Loss of Greece did not disappoint particularly foreign media. Neither it shattered anyone’s dreams. The media focus more on the victory of the superpower Argentina than on the end of the Greek dreams for further classification. “Argentine beats Greece, Advances to World Cup Knockout Stage” is the title of The New York Times. “Even with more reserve players the team of Argentina looks good” says the article. The newspaper mentions that Rehhagel commented the victory of Argentina as well deserved and not subjected to doubt. “We wanted to avoid an early goal, we managed to do that, but of course Argentina has more class and that earned them the win... The team played with its heart and with excitement. But it was just not enough to cause Argentina much troubles.”

”Argentina’s Two Late Goals Send Greece Packing” is the title of Guardian. The newspaper refers quite critical of the tactics of ultra-protection, which the team used. “Despite dominating possession, Argentina struggled to find a path through the labyrinths laid down by Greece's niggly, nine-men-behind-the-ball defence. Even Lionel Messi, named man of the match, struggled to wriggle free of the attentions of his man-marker, Avraam Papastathopoulos.” – ironically commented Guardian. It stated the words of Diego Maradona that there should be fair play game. “If every time Messi gets the ball the Greek players bring him down you should award a yellow or red card and it's over. I mean the Greeks were just pushing Messi.”

The position of the BBC to the football, which the Greek nationals played, is extremely critical. In an article entitled “Argentine Beauty Overcomes the Greek Beast” the media criticizes the purely defensive football, which Greece showed. “In other circumstances,  Greece's Sokratis Papastathopoulos might have been arrested for harassment. Like a faithful dog following his master, he shadowed Lionel Messi to every corner of the Peter Mokaba Stadium… It was all part of a familiar ploy by Greece manager Otto Rehhagel, who makes no apology for the negative tactics that he adopts against superior opposition. Rehhagel’s strategy is simple – pack the defence and midfield, stymie the opposition and try to strike from set-pieces or on the counter attack. Alas, it is a strategy that often ruins the contest as a spectacle. Beauty felled the beast - but Argentina will face much better-looking opponents before this increasingly intriguing tournament is finished.”

 “Colourful” are the comments of some Bulgarian media. “Otto’s fortress fell, Argentina triumphed,” reports 24 hours Newspaper. “The football world took a breath – the super defensive Greece of Otto Rehhagel dropped from further participation at the World Cup in South Africa.” “Our southern neighbors fell 0:2 from Diego Maradona’s Argentina in group “B” and this were the least by which they could escape.” “Argentina scored twice to Greece and missed a dozen more hits because of the excellent play of the net guard of Panathinaikos – Tzorvas.”  

”Argentina Sent Greece Home” is the title of the Bulgarian www.sport.bg. “...The team of Diego Maradona discarded the Hellenes from the World Cup. The first goal was scored in the 78^th  minute and was made by the defender of Beyern (Munich) Martin Demichelis. Minutes before the end the bench veteran Martin Palermo entered the field and put an end to the dispute. Argentina’s superstar Lionel Messi failed to score, but made a strong game hitting the beam, which was the heart of Palermo’s goal.”