Beating Latvia and Luxembourg on the final two matchdays of preliminary play in Europe was not enough to book a direct ticket to South Africa, despite a 0-0 draw for the Swiss against Israel.

So play-offs is the route we must take, a slight detour from the once thought direct passage to South Africa. Last Friday’s release of the October FIFA World Rankings confirmed Greece’s spot as one of the four seeded teams in Monday’s draw in Zurich.

We were joined by France, Portugal, and Russia as the four seeded teams, while Ukraine, the Republic of Ireland, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Slovenia were placed in the unseeded pot.

Although it is obviously a great benefit to have been a seeded team in the draw – eg. we avoid Russia, France, Portugal (we kick their ass every time) – the way the draw results worked out it still seems like Greece is an unseeded team. Not because Ukraine is our opponent, but the fact that some bullshit manoeuvre by FIFA sees Greece host the first match on 14 November, and play visitor in the second leg four days later.

Like seriously, what kind of bullshit move is that? We were ranked as a seeded team, so in my opinion, and traditionally UEFA’s as well, we should have home advantage on the second matchday. That’s what they use for the UEFA Champions League, it was used for the UEFA Cup, and it will be used again for the UEFA Europa League. So why the fuck does it not apply for international competitions? Beats the fuck out of me.

Anyway, I’m not going to complain too much about that. I have the utmost confidence in the national team to beat a really solid Ukraine team. In all fairness to Ukraine, but from the most objective perspective I can take, Greece is the more complete team in this tie – despite the whole Shevchenko factor (who, might I add, is NOT the only Ukrainian player I know).

There are many Ukrainians which pose a threat, and Greece has encountered this threat in recent qualifying campaigns – notably during their bid to reach the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Greece tied Ukraine in the first fixture in Kiev, before slipping to defeat in Piraeus – thanks to that schmuck Basinas.

The draw in Ukraine, the more admirable of the results leads me back to some vintage Greek videos. The clip below is Greece’s strike from ex-footballers Vassilis Tsiartas, who AEK Athens FC fans know as their clutch free-kick taker.

That right there is a GOLARA my friends.

Author’s Note: It’s obvious after yesterday’s post by offside.com and worldcupblog.org blogger Chris on the main page that Greece is not taken seriously on this website, and that’s fine by me – Greeks will take the underdog ranking any day.

FIFA or UEFA rankings for us mean absolutely nothing. They’re never accurate so when Greece is ranked highly all you’ll hear – from a general standpoint – is a “meh”. We only care about being ranked above our bitter rivals/thorns in our side “nations” – eg. Turkey, Albania, Bulgaria, FYROM (the parentheses around nation refers directly to the last named chunk of land we in Greece refer to as Skopia) Note: Lack of political correctness…awesome

Strong results withAfter sealing first place in their EURO 2008 qualifying group, the Greeks, who entered the continental finals as defending champions, failed to reproduce the magical run from Portugal four years ago. The Greeks miserably lost all three of their group games to finish bottom of Group D.

After a horrific EURO 2008, Greece initiated its bid to reach South Africa in 2010 with their qualifying campaign kicking off in September. A bright start to their World Cup campaign began to heal the wounds from their miserable performances in Austria and Switzerland.

Unfortunately the Greeks failed to carry perfection into the New Year, as Otto Rehhagel’s side ended their competitive year with a 2-1 loss at home to Switzerland. Greece transformed from a titan, to a disappointment in a matter of twelve months; and attendance issues in Athens have now sparked the issue of little support for the ‘Galanoleuki’.

The next chance for the remaining loyal fans to sheer on the Greek National will be in February, when Greece hosts Denmark in an international friendly. Their first taste of a competitive match comes a month later in Israel, as the top two sides in World Cup Qualifying Group B meet in Tel Aviv.

1. (1) Spain
2. (2) Germany
3. (4) Netherlands
4. (3) Italy
5. (5) Brazil
6. (6) Argentina
7. (7) Croatia
8. (10) England
9. (8) Russia
10. (13) Turkey
11= (12) France
11= (10) Portugal
11= (9) Czech Republic
14. (14) Cameroon
15. (20) Ukraine
16. (21) Egypt
17. (17) Paraguay
18. (15) Israel
19. (22) Nigeria
20. (18) Greece

As for the rest of the World Rankings, Spain continues to hold down top spot but is closely followed by the side they defeated at EURO 2008: Germany. Italy and Netherlands continue to lead South American giants Brazil and Argentina; while Croatia drifts a few points behind. Russia and the Czech Republic continue to hold down their spots in the top ten; however, England returns to the top ten for the first time since June but their presence is plagued by a tie with rivals Portugal.

As for the members in Greece’s qualifying group, Israel continues to lead the Greeks with their fifteen placed rankings. Meanwhile, Switzerland is now ranked twenty-seventh after rising eighteen spots. Latvia slipped one place to sixty fifth, and Moldova slipped eleven spots to seventy-sixth. Luxembourg still has the lowest ranking the group, as the side that enjoyed September success over the Swiss is now ranked one hundred and twenty-seventh.

With Greece’s Qualifying campaign on pause until March, Otto Rehhagel’s men have their sights on a friendly encounter in Athens next Wednesday. World Champions Italy makes its way across the Adriatic Sea, as two of the Mediterranean’s most cultured nations are scheduled to meet in the Greek Capital.

FIFA Rankings – Top 20:
1. Spain 1657
2. Germany 1413
3. Italy 1356
4. Netherlands 1306
5. Brazil 1286
6. Argentina 1181
7. Croatia 1158
8. Russia 1079
9. Czech Republic 1062
10. Portugal 1058
10. England 1058
12. France 1035
13. Turkey 1032
14. Cameroon 1013
15. Israel 1004
16. Bulgaria 951
17. Paraguay 934
18. Greece 907
19. Romania 892
20. Ukraine 883

The top 10 seems miles away for Greece, especially with traditional powerhouses back to their winning ways. However, if Greece can continue to pull victories, the side that finished atop the EURO 2008 qualifying rankings could surely return to the top half of the top twenty.

Reputation seems to be on the mend for Greece. Recent performances to commence their World Cup Qualifying campaign proved the team that shocked the world four years ago is no pushover. Criticized heavily for their placement in the qualifiers, Greece’s National Team gets little respect with foreigners. With Moldova and Switzerland occupying the EURO 2004 winners for the next seven days, Greece is expected to come away with another six points to add to double their current tally.

FIFA Rankings:
1. Spain 1643
2. Italy 1365
3. Germany 1336
4. Brazil 1280
5. Netherlands 1258
6. Croatia 1223
7. Argentina 1200
8. Czech Republic 1111
9. Russia 1076
10. Portugal 1075
11. France 1035
12. Cameroon 1027
13. Turkey 1021
14. England 982
15. Bulgaria 969
16. Israel 961
17. Greece 945
18. Romania 927
19. Ukraine 893
20. Uruguay 887

With a 63 point dip, the Greeks are now only ten points ahead of EURO 2008 absentees, England. However, Greece’s slip still saw them cut the gap between them and France by one point, to ten. The rankings will definitely change by the time July hits, but Greece’s ranking will depend on their success in Austria and Switzerland this month.

1	Argentina	1559
2	Brazil	1513
3	Italy	1424
4	Spain	1303
5	Germany	1274
6	Czech Republic	1246
7	France	1143
8	Greece	1133
9	England	1123
10	Netherlands	1111