World Cup Record: Groups Stage 1994
Manager: Otto Rehhagel
Key Player: Theofanis Gekas
Qualified: 2nd Group 2 Europe, Play-offs
Odds: 66/1

Making only their second appearance at the World Cup finals, Greece will be looking for their first World Cup points having lost all three games in their only appearance at the tournament in USA 1994. Having narrowly lost out to Switzerland in European qualifying group 2, Greece pulled off an impressive play-off victory against Ukraine, winning the away leg in Donestk 1-0 following a goalless draw in Athens. Their greatest triumph came in 2004, when against all odds they won the European Championships, beating hosts Portugal in the final. They started that tournament as rank outsiders at 150/1 and are likely to be similarly priced for South Africa 2010.

Thoefanis Gekas

Age: 29
Position: Centre Forward
Club: Bayer Leverkusen (Germany – Bundesliga)
Caps: 45 (20 goals)

Gekas’ ten goals during Greece’s qualification campaign effectively kept the 2004 European Champions in contention for Group 2 (although ultimately they fell short and were forced to play-off with Ukraine for the place) and the Leverkusen front-man ended the campaign as the leading goalscorer in Europe. Endured a difficult loan period at Portsmouth early in 2009. Having been brought in by manager Tony Adams, Gekas fell out of favour almost immediately when Adams was sacked and replace by Paul Hart. Eventually Gekas returned to Leverkusen in May 2009. Greece will be relying heavily on their striker if they are to break their World Cup duck and gain a first victory.