Greece national football team facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Greece

Nickname(s)	Ethniki (The National) Galanolefki (The Azure & White) Piratiko (The Pirate Ship)
Association	Hellenic Football Federation (HFF) (Ελληνική Ποδοσφαιρική Ομοσπονδία – ΕΠΟ)
Confederation	UEFA (Europe)
Head coach	Ivan Jovanović
Captain	Anastasios Bakasetas
Most caps	Giorgos Karagounis (139)
Top scorer	Nikos Anastopoulos (29)
Home stadium	Karaiskakis Stadium Athens Olympic Stadium
FIFA code	GRE
First colours Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current	45 2 (7 February 2019)
Highest	8 (April 2008, October 2011)
Lowest	66 (September 1998)
Elo ranking
Current	55 6 (3 March 2019)
Highest	7 (August 2004)
Lowest	78 (May 1963, November 1963)
First international
Greece 1–4 Italy  (Piraeus, Greece; 7 April 1927)
Biggest win
Greece 8–0 Syria  (Athens, Greece; 25 November 1949)
Biggest defeat
Hungary 11–1 Greece  (Budapest, Hungary; 25 March 1938)
World Cup
Appearances	3 (first in 1994)
Best result	Round of 16 (2014)
European Championship
Appearances	4 (first in 1980)
Best result	Champions (2004)
Olympic Games
Appearances	3 (first in 1920)
Best result	Group stage (2004)
Confederations Cup
Appearances	1 (first in 2005)
Best result	Group stage (2005)
Medal record Men's football UEFA European Championship Gold 2004 Portugal Team Mediterranean Games Gold 1951 Alexandria Team Gold 1991 Athens Team Bronze 1997 Bari Team Mediterranean Cup Silver 1950–53 Mediterranean Cup Balkan Cup Silver 1934–35 Balkan Cup Bronze 1929–31 Balkan Cup Bronze 1935 Balkan Cup Bronze 1936 Balkan Cup
Website	epo.gr

The Greece national football team represents Greece in international football games. It is controlled by the Hellenic Football Federation, which is the main group for football in Greece. Greece is one of only ten national teams to have won the UEFA European Championship.

Greece first played in a big tournament at UEFA Euro 1980. They were knocked out early in the group stage. This placed them among the top eight European football nations that year. They did not qualify for another major tournament until the 1994 FIFA World Cup. After a great qualifying round, they did not perform well in the finals. They lost all three group matches without scoring any goals.

The UEFA Euro 2004 was the best moment in Greece's football history. They won the tournament, even though most people thought they had no chance. Greece beat strong teams like defending champions France and host country Portugal twice. They defeated Portugal in the opening game and again in the final. This big win earned them a spot in the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup.

In the ten years after their 2004 victory, Greece qualified for almost every major competition. They reached the quarter-finals at UEFA Euro 2012 and the round of 16 at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. During this time, they were often in the top 20 of the FIFA Men's World Rankings. They even reached their highest rank ever, eighth in the world, in April 2008 and October 2011. Since 2014, Greece has not played in the finals of any major tournament.

History of Greek Football

Early Games and First Steps

The national team for the Inter-Allied Games in Paris, 1919

Greece squad for the 1920 Olympics

The first unofficial game for a Greek team was in 1896. A team from Athens played against a team from Denmark during the 1896 Olympic Games. They lost badly. In 1906, Greece hosted the Olympics and played against a Danish club team again. They lost and left the game at halftime.

Thirteen years later, in 1919, Greece played in the Inter-Allied Games in Paris. They lost their first two games by a lot of goals. But they managed to beat Romania 3–2 in their last match. The next year, in 1920, Greece played in the Antwerp Summer Games. They lost 9–0 to Sweden. This game is recognized by FIFA as their first official match.

Greece's first official goal was scored by Alberto Nahmias on April 7, 1929. This was in a 1–4 loss to Italy B.

Balkan and Mediterranean Cups

From 1929 to 1936, Greece played in six Balkan Cups. Their best result was finishing second in the 1934–35 Balkan Cup. They were just one point behind Yugoslavia. Kostas Choumis was a key player, scoring 7 goals in the Balkan Cup.

In the 1950s, Greece played in three Mediterranean Cups. They finished second in the 1950–53 Mediterranean Cup. Georgios Darivas was the top scorer in that tournament with 4 goals. In 1951, Greece won the first Mediterranean Games men's football tournament in Alexandria, Egypt. They beat Syria and Egypt. Nikos Lekatsas was the star, scoring 4 goals.

Close Calls in the 1970s

After World War II, Greece faced economic challenges. This made it hard for the national team to grow. Even so, Greece almost qualified for the FIFA World Cup twice. They nearly made it in 1970 and 1978. They had talented players like Mimis Domazos and Giorgos Koudas.

First Major Tournament: Euro 1980

Alketas Panagoulias led Greece to the Euro 1980 and 1994 FIFA World Cup.

Under coach Alketas Panagoulias, Greece played in their first major tournament, the Euro 1980 in Italy. They qualified by finishing first in a tough group. In the tournament, they were in a group with West Germany, the Netherlands, and Czechoslovakia. They lost 1–0 to the Netherlands and 3–1 to Czechoslovakia. They managed a 0–0 draw against West Germany, who later won the tournament. This was seen as a good first showing for Greece.

The 1994 World Cup Experience

Greece qualified for the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the United States. This was their first time reaching the World Cup finals. They finished first in their qualifying group without losing a game. In the finals, Greece was in a tough group with Nigeria, Bulgaria, and Argentina.

Sadly, the tournament was very disappointing for Greece. They lost all three games. They lost 4–0 to Argentina, 4–0 to Bulgaria, and 2–0 to Nigeria. They did not score any goals and let in ten. This was a tough learning experience for the team.

Becoming European Champions: Euro 2004

Greece line-up in Euro 2004

Theodoros Zagorakis, captain of the national team and "player of the tournament" in Euro 2004

Road to Glory

Greece started their UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying badly. They lost their first two games. But then, they won all their next six games, including a 1–0 away win against Spain. This amazing comeback earned them a spot in the European Championship finals. It was their first time in 24 years.

Surprising the World

Before the tournament, Greece was not expected to win. They were seen as huge underdogs. They were in a tough group with hosts Portugal, Spain, and Russia. Very few people thought Greece would even get past the group stage.

Group Stage Success

In their first match, Greece shocked everyone by beating hosts Portugal 2–1. This earned them the nickname "pirate ship" (Το Πειρατικό). They scored with a long shot by Giorgos Karagounis and a penalty by Angelos Basinas. Four days later, they drew 1–1 with Spain. In their last group game, they lost 2–0 to Russia. But they scored one goal through Zisis Vryzas, which was enough to move them to the next round. They qualified ahead of Spain because they scored more goals.

Knockout Stage Victories

In the quarter-finals, Greece faced the strong defending champions France. Angelos Charisteas scored with a header in the 65th minute. Greece held on to win 1–0, knocking France out. They were the first team ever to beat both the hosts and the defending champions in the same tournament.

In the semi-finals, Greece played against the Czech Republic. The Czechs had won all their games so far and were favorites. The game was very tight and went into extra time. In the last minute of the first half of extra time, Traianos Dellas scored a "silver goal" with a header from a corner kick. This sent Greece to the final!

Winning the Final

Angelos Charisteas scoring Greece's winning goal in the Euro 2004 final

The final was a rematch against Portugal. In the 57th minute, Angelos Charisteas scored with a header from a corner by Angelos Basinas. Portugal tried hard to score, but Greece's defense was too strong. Greece held on to win 1–0. This was one of the biggest upsets in football history. Greece captain Theodoros Zagorakis was named the best player of the tournament.

After the Win

Greece's victory made them jump from 35th to 14th in the FIFA World Rankings in just one month. This was a huge achievement for the country. The team was celebrated like heroes. They received awards and were named "World Team of the Year" in 2005.

After the Euro 2004 Triumph

After their big win, Greece played in the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup in Germany. They were in a group with Brazil, Japan, and Mexico. They lost to Brazil and Japan, and drew with Mexico, finishing last in their group.

Greece qualified for UEFA Euro 2008 as the top seed. They won their qualifying group with an impressive 31 points. However, in the main tournament, they lost all three games and scored only one goal. They became the first defending champions to not earn a single point in the next European Championship.

Greece qualified for the 2010 FIFA World Cup after beating Ukraine in a play-off. In the World Cup, they were grouped with Argentina, Nigeria, and South Korea. They lost their first game to South Korea. But in their second game, they beat Nigeria 2–1, scoring their first-ever World Cup goals. Dimitris Salpingidis scored the first goal, and Vasilis Torosidis scored the winner. They lost to Argentina in their final group game and did not advance.

Under new coach Fernando Santos, Greece went on an amazing 17-game unbeaten streak. They qualified for UEFA Euro 2012 without losing a single game. In the tournament, they drew 1–1 with hosts Poland and lost 2–1 to the Czech Republic. But they pulled off a 1–0 win against Russia to reach the quarter-finals. There, they lost 4–2 to Germany.

Greece also qualified for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. They finished second in their qualifying group and won a play-off against Romania. In the World Cup, they were in a group with Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire, and Japan. They lost to Colombia, drew with Japan, and then beat Ivory Coast 2–1 with a last-minute penalty from Georgios Samaras. This meant they reached the Round of 16 for the first time! In the Round of 16, they played Costa Rica. The game ended 1–1 after extra time, but Greece lost 5–3 in a penalty shootout.

Recent Years

After 2014, Greece had some tough times. They failed to qualify for UEFA Euro 2016 and the 2018 FIFA World Cup. They finished third in their UEFA Nations League group. For UEFA Euro 2020 qualifiers, a younger Greek team showed improvement in their playing style. They finished third in their group but still did not qualify.

In the 2020–21 Nations League, Greece remained unbeaten but failed to get promoted to a higher league. They also did not qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Under coach Gus Poyet, Greece had a good run in the 2022–23 Nations League. They won their group and earned promotion to League B. This also gave them a play-off spot for UEFA Euro 2024. They won their semi-final play-off against Kazakhstan 5–0. However, they lost the final play-off to Georgia in a penalty shootout after a 0–0 draw.

Recently, under new coach Ivan Jovanović, Greece has started their 2024–25 Nations League campaign well. They even upset England 2–1 at Wembley Stadium in October 2024.

Home Stadiums

The Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus, home of Greece from 2004 to 2017

Greece has played its home games in many different stadiums over the years. Most of these stadiums are in or near Athens. From 2004 to 2017, their main home ground was the Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus.

Their first home stadium was the Leoforos Alexandras Stadium, used from 1929 for over 30 years. Later, the Athens Olympic Stadium became their primary home in the 1980s and 1990s. After 2004, the Karaiskakis Stadium was used most often. In 2018, Greece returned to the Olympic Stadium.

In 2023, the new Agia Sophia Stadium in Athens was announced as the national team's new home. However, for the 2024 Nations League, Greece returned to the Karaiskakis Stadium.

Team Look

Greece's traditional colors are blue and white, just like the Greek flag. While blue was the main home color for a long time, white became the primary home color after their Euro 2004 win. Their kits often feature stripes, crosses, or other designs.

Since 2013, Nike has been Greece's official kit supplier. The team's crest, called εθνόσημο (national sign), is the official emblem on their jerseys.

Kit Sponsors

Supplier	Period
Asics	1980–1981
Puma	1982–1987
Adidas	1988–1989
Asics	1989–1991
Diadora	1991–1998
Lotto	1998–2001
Le Coq Sportif	2001–2003
Adidas	2004–2013
Nike	2013–present

Team Nicknames

Flag of Greece held by fans

The Greece team is often called Ethniki (Εθνική) in Greek, which simply means 'National'. They are also known as Galanolefki (Sky blue-white) because of their kit colors, which match the Greek flag.

After their surprising win at UEFA Euro 2004, they earned a new nickname: Piratiko, meaning 'Pirate ship'. This came from a Greek sports journalist who said they should "become pirates and steal the victory" after seeing a pirate ship during the opening ceremony. When Greece won, the nickname stuck!

Rivalries

Greece has a long-standing football rivalry with Turkey. Matches between them are often very intense due to historical reasons. They have played 13 matches, with Greece winning three and Turkey winning seven.

Greece also has a rivalry with Romania. They have played 36 matches, with Romania winning 18 and Greece winning 8.

Coaching the Team

The current manager of the Greece national football team is Ivan Jovanović. He started in 2024.

Manager Otto Rehhagel, who led Greece to become European champions in 2004

Alketas Panagoulias, who led Greece to their first European Championship (1980) and World Cup (1994)

Many coaches have led the Greek team over the years. Two of the most famous are Alketas Panagoulias, who led them to their first Euro and World Cup appearances, and Otto Rehhagel, who guided them to their incredible Euro 2004 victory.

Player Records

These are some of the top players in Greece's history.

Most Games Played

Giorgos Karagounis is Greece's most capped player with 139 appearances.

The player with the most appearances for Greece is Giorgos Karagounis, who played 139 games from 1999 to 2014. He was a key midfielder and captain. Other players with over 100 caps include Theodoros Zagorakis (120), Kostas Katsouranis (116), Vasilis Torosidis (101), and Angelos Basinas (100).

Top Goal Scorers

Nikos Anastopoulos is Greece's top scorer with 29 goals.

The all-time leading goal scorer for Greece is Nikos Anastopoulos, who scored 29 goals in 74 games between 1977 and 1988. Other top scorers include Angelos Charisteas (25 goals), Theofanis Gekas (24 goals), and Dimitris Saravakos (22 goals). Current captain Anastasios Bakasetas is also among the top scorers with 17 goals.

Team Captains

The captain of the team is a very important role. Some notable captains include Giorgos Koudas, who was the first captain in a major competition (Euro 1980). Tasos Mitropoulos was the first captain in a World Cup (1994). Theodoros Zagorakis led the team to their historic Euro 2004 win. The current captain is Anastasios Bakasetas.

Achievements

Major Competitions

• UEFA European Championship
  • Champions (1): 2004

The Greece national team at the UEFA Euro 2004 trophy ceremony

Regional Competitions

• Mediterranean Games
  • Gold medal (1): 1951
• Mediterranean Cup
  • Runners-up (1): 1950–53
• Balkan Cup
  • Runners-up (1): 1934–35
  • Third place (3): 1929–31, 1935, 1936

Awards and Recognition

• World Soccer (magazine) – Men's World Team of the Year
  • Winners (1): 2004
• Laureus World Sports Award for Team of the Year
  • Winners (1): 2005

Images for kids

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  Vasilios Tsiartas

See also

In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Grecia para niños

• List of Greece international footballers
• Greece national under-23 football team (Greece Olympic team)
• Greece national under-21 football team
• Greece national under-20 football team
• Greece national under-19 football team
• Greece national under-17 football team
• Greece–Turkey football rivalry