Thursday Sep 29 2005 11:54
Winger Stylianos Giannakopoulos has hailed the impact of German coach Otto Rehhagel on the Greece national team squad.
The veteran coach has guided Greece to the Euro 2004 finals, where they are well placed to reach the last eight after beating hosts Portugal 2-1 and drawing 1-1 with Spain.
Giannakopoulos admitted to the official UEFA Euro 2004 website: "We Greeks are not disciplined, that is not in our nature, but Rehhagel has changed that.
"We have very good talent and technique, but all that is wasted if you don't have discipline.
"Even a smaller team can beat you because you are not focused and it can lead to anarchy in the dressing room.
"But Mr Rehhagel has brought German discipline to the Greek character. It is a perfect mix.
"The fact that he has guided the national team back to the finals of the European Championship after 24 years and ten years after our last World Cup shows his value. He is the A and the Z of this squad.
"There is harmony in the camp and that served us well in our qualifying campaign. I am very excited about what lies ahead."
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