By Richard Pedler // 10pt ML l/c

By Richard Pedler // 10pt ML l/c

JAKARTA (JP): Their official mascot, Penelope the fox, could
symbolize the fate of Greece in this, their first World Cup
Finals appearance. With organization, wit and foresight, they
should reach the second round. That would mean the deification of
coach Alketas Panagoulias.

Alketas has been a national hero since taking Greece to the
European Championships back in 1980. Having also taken his
American hosts to the 1984 Olympics, this year he enters the
record books with a unique hat-trick as the only man to take a
national team to all three major tournaments.

However, with no world-class players (few have even played
abroad), Greece will depend on huge local support from the ethnic
Greek community to get them through, as well as the air of
confidence spilling out of their coach's mouth.

Greece lines up with the best, led by a man in self-confessed
Dreamland. "The 1994 World Cup will be the moment for the smaller
footballing nations.... I am not saying that we have any super
players. What we have is a winner's mentality.... You see we are
on a road of glory."

Veterans and youth

The squad is a mix of veterans & youth, typified by 36-year-
old Anastassios Mitropoulos, whose goal in Moscow clinched
qualification, and youngest squad member Nikos Machlas, who will
turn 21 on the eve of the Finals, whose strike won the return
match in Athens.

While commentators around the world will be hoping for a
speedy exit, Greece is unlikely to oblige. In their eight
qualifying games only 12 goals were scored in total. The defense
is the meanest of all the USA '94 participants, conceding a goal
once every four games.

The tough and resilient back four and an able keeper are
shielded by a five-man midfield who press back their opposite
numbers, stifling creativity. Mitropoulos is one of several 30-
somethings hanging on for their chance to go out on top.

Lonely striker

Two-footed and good in the air, Vassilis Dimitriadis, recently
out of form, will probably get the vote to be the lonely striker.
He will depend on Nikos Noblias, the most influential and
effective midfielder at Greece's disposal (Player of the Year in
1993), for a chance to show the finishing power which brought him
33 goals in 1992/3 for Champions AEK Athens, but only two at
international level.

There will be no thrills attached to Greece's performances.
Do not expect any carefree attacking football from a side whose
1980 European Championship results speak for themselves: Greece 0
West Germany 0, Greece 0 Holland 1. One goal should be enough to
satisfy the honor and reach the knockout stage. So, two games to
avoid, but do not miss the `Balkan Derby'!

10pt bold Tomorrow: Double Dutch