Czech is not not going to be a new one cuz they got it once before in 1976 against germany and i think it was by penalties and i really love to see them getting it again
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QF 2 | France - Greece (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Slagathor
- Start date
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I had a feeling about Greece before this tournament. Should have placed a wager. Oh well. Anyway, every match is in every major tournament recrntly just continues to prove to me that so called powerhouse nations are nowhere near as good as they used to be (relative to the less traditional football powers anyway). This doesn't suprise me at all.
Santini rues France defeat
FRANCE 0-1 GREECE
Coach Jacques Santini was left devastated after France's shock 1-0 quarter-final defeat by Greece.
"It is a big disappointment because the adventure has come to an end when we hoped to go all the way," he said.
"We weren't thinking clearly towards the end of the match. We were just rushing forwards and that was not the best way to go about it.
"In the first half, the Greeks deserved to score but after half-time the reverse was true."
Santini added: "Once we went behind, we seemed to want to play as fast as possible.
"There was too much wasted technique, and at the end of the game we lacked lucidity.
"We came up against a very tightly-knit defence.
"Our adventure has come to an end, even though, like the other seven teams in the quarter-finals we could have gone all the way to the final."
Winger Robert Pires admitted: "I don't know what went wrong, there are no words to explain it."
Reflecting on Santini's imminent departure, he added: "It's the end of an era.
"Now we have to think of other things, mainly the 2006 World Cup which is coming up on the horizon."
FRANCE 0-1 GREECE
Coach Jacques Santini was left devastated after France's shock 1-0 quarter-final defeat by Greece.
"It is a big disappointment because the adventure has come to an end when we hoped to go all the way," he said.
"We weren't thinking clearly towards the end of the match. We were just rushing forwards and that was not the best way to go about it.
"In the first half, the Greeks deserved to score but after half-time the reverse was true."
Santini added: "Once we went behind, we seemed to want to play as fast as possible.
"There was too much wasted technique, and at the end of the game we lacked lucidity.
"We came up against a very tightly-knit defence.
"Our adventure has come to an end, even though, like the other seven teams in the quarter-finals we could have gone all the way to the final."
Winger Robert Pires admitted: "I don't know what went wrong, there are no words to explain it."
Reflecting on Santini's imminent departure, he added: "It's the end of an era.
"Now we have to think of other things, mainly the 2006 World Cup which is coming up on the horizon."
From the BBC (above too):-
Charisteas hails Greek win
FRANCE 0-1 GREECE
Greece's matchwinner Angelos Charisteas was jubilant after his side's shock victory over France booked their place in the semi-finals of Euro 2004.
"This is the greatest moment in Greek football," Charisteas said. "We put in a great effort against a great team.
"We proved, particularly to those that have come from Greece to watch us, that it was because of our effort that we're here and not because of luck.
"Now that we have reached this point, everything is possible."
Greek coach Otto Rehhagel saluted his side after they saw off the holders.
"This story will go around the world," said Rehhagel.
"I want to congratulate my players for this unbelievable victory which was delivered with passion.
"They kept with the strategy that we had agreed and we won this game. Now we must regroup and are looking forward to the next game with great joy."
Charisteas hails Greek win
FRANCE 0-1 GREECE
Greece's matchwinner Angelos Charisteas was jubilant after his side's shock victory over France booked their place in the semi-finals of Euro 2004.
"This is the greatest moment in Greek football," Charisteas said. "We put in a great effort against a great team.
"We proved, particularly to those that have come from Greece to watch us, that it was because of our effort that we're here and not because of luck.
"Now that we have reached this point, everything is possible."
Greek coach Otto Rehhagel saluted his side after they saw off the holders.
"This story will go around the world," said Rehhagel.
"I want to congratulate my players for this unbelievable victory which was delivered with passion.
"They kept with the strategy that we had agreed and we won this game. Now we must regroup and are looking forward to the next game with great joy."
Can't say I appreciate the outright hatred for any team that I like, whether it's now or any other time. So it's nice when people hold back a little. 
I should work on that myself. :redface:
Yeah rebuilding would be good but it's the end of an era IMO. It's easy to say they have much talent and lots of potential but to really build a strong team there are so many things that have to come together, sheer luck is one of them. Had this team been unlucky against Paraguay in 98, we wouldn't be talking about them today in this light. Coincidence is a big player, no matter what you try to prepare for. So I'm faced with the reality that this team is probably gone and we won't see a French team this strong in possibly decades. :frown:
I should work on that myself. :redface:
Yeah rebuilding would be good but it's the end of an era IMO. It's easy to say they have much talent and lots of potential but to really build a strong team there are so many things that have to come together, sheer luck is one of them. Had this team been unlucky against Paraguay in 98, we wouldn't be talking about them today in this light. Coincidence is a big player, no matter what you try to prepare for. So I'm faced with the reality that this team is probably gone and we won't see a French team this strong in possibly decades. :frown:
And it's not even that they're too old, many of these players just peaked very young. Henry was a star at 20, he's not too old to put on a show but somehow he doesn't have it in him now. Maybe he's accomplished too much, not hungry enough, not willing to fight as hard. Maybe the other teams have finally "figured" France out, despite winning all the matches in the qualifying, scoring the most goals and conceding the least. Or maybe it is in fact Santini, whom I suspect the most. But either way, time is ticking and this was probably Zidane's last tournament. Henry's age group can still make a couple, but will they ever be as successful as they once were?
Well, all good things come to an end mate, and this is no exception I fear. This squad is one of the best I've ever seen since I started following football and I have to say that I think I'm lucky to have been able to witness them in action. The footballing world has been graced by a number of world-beaters such as Pele and Maradona, and I feel extremely thankful and lucky to have seen a magician such as Zinedine Zidane in his prime. Merci les bleus
