Greece hurt by World Cup exit, eye Euro 2008

ATHENS, May 31: Greece, 2004 European champions, are heartbroken not to feature at the World Cup finals, having failed to go through after a lacklustre qualifying campaign.

But they say they are already drawing up their battle plans for the European championship qualifiers starting in September, leaving as little as possible to chance and determined to defend their crown in Austria and Switzerland in 2008.

''Our heart is bleeding by the fact that we are not in Germany, we are saddened not to have gone through,'' said coach Otto Rehhagel, who wanted to make a triumphant return to his home country as Greece coach.

''But we are carefully planning our work for September which is very near,'' he said in Australia ahead of a friendly match with the Socceroos. ''This friendly is the start of preparations for 2008.'' For decades, Greece languished in the mediocrity of European soccer until stunning the world with their surprise victory at the 2004 European championships in Portugal.

Beating the hosts twice, as well as France and the Czech Republic in the quarterfinal and the seminfinal, unfancied Greece became the first team in a major tournament to go through three knock-out rounds without conceding a goal.

Since then, Greece have considerably grown in confidence, Rehhagel extended his contract until 2008 and dozens of players have emigrated to compete in better football leagues.

''I want to take advantage of this friendly to find the starting team in our opening qualifier against Moldova,'' said Rehhagel, who has gradually brought in younger players, including Manchester City's recent record signing Giorgos Samaras and keeper Michalis Sifakis, targeted by Marseille.

This is a far cry from preparations for the 2006 World Cup campaign that started two months after the European championships.

Still reeling in delight from their Euro glory in July and with most players only just back from their holidays, Greece started their World Cup qualifiers with a spectacular 2-1 defeat against Albania in September 2004.

After that, things never really improved for Greece, who were left trailing group leaders Ukraine and fighting it out until the last match with Turkey and Denmark for the group's second spot.

They ended up in fourth place, their hopes of a second World Cup participation after 1994 dashed.

''We are seriously preparing for September and we will work as hard as necessary to qualify,'' midfielder Stelios Giannakopoulos said. ''We don't want to miss out on this event as well because we are the reigning champions.'' Greece are drawn in Group C with Moldova, Hungary, Malta, Norway, Turkey and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

REUTERS