Greece's status as a European powerhouse is greatly in jeopardy as they prepare to face Ukraine in the World Cup qualifying playoff match. Though they took home the European championship in 2004, the Greeks have failed to make the World Cup since 1994, their only appearance ever.
The two game aggregate series will start in Athens on November 14th and end with the second leg on the 18th in Donetsk. Most agree that this is the most intriguing of the four European playoffs.
Ukraine, who shocked the world by making the quarterfinals in 2006, and lost to the eventual champions Italy, hope to devastate the Greeks again. They were the only team to beat England in qualifying, who they eventually finished second to in Uefa's qualifying group 6.
Already a winner of pressure games, after beating Croatia to jump into the runner's-up position, Ukraine expects a great performance again. An excellent run at the end of qualifying allowed them to maintain their playoff position.
Greece, on the other hand, was expected to come out on top of their group, Uefa qualifying group 2. Despite a phenomenal performance by Striker Theofonis Gekas, who led European qualifying with ten goals, the Greeks came in second behind Switzerland who is heading to South Africa next summer.
Greece, who is managed by Head Coach Otto Rehhegal, is currently 16th in the Fifa world rankings. In order for them to come away with the aggregate victory Gekas will have to continue his prolific scoring.
Ukraine is led by their captain, world class player and one of the greatest goal scorers of his era, Andriy Shevchenko, who recently signed a new two year contract with his former club team, Dynamo Kyiv. Shevchenko led Greece with six goals in qualifying.
Serhiy Nazarenko also put five in the back of the net from the midfield. Ukraine will rely on Shevchenko, Nazarenko, and Liverpool's Andriy Voronin who has been consistently under-performing for his club team, leaving the Liverpool faithful questioning his ability.
Club teams aside, expect a fierce battle, with an outcome leaving one nation euphoric and the other in despair.
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