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The beauty of the World Cup is its uncertainty. It is true that World Cup winners have tended to be the usual suspects, the soccer giants of Europe and Latin America. But for the avid fan, the World Cup is not just about the final game; it is the road that leads to the finals that matters. And in soccer, this road is full of surprises.
For Greeks, surprise became reality in the 2004 Euros, when we won that cup beyond all expectations. Greeks described this moment as the time when “God fell asleep.” The night of the final, the streets of Athens were flooded with people in what was probably the largest demonstration of public happiness seen in the country. Euphoria lasted for weeks, months, for some even years after and the positive spirit transcended into other sporting events.
Ten years later and with Fernando Santos succeeding Otto Rehhagel as manager, the Greek team religiously sticks to its effective, yet widely criticized, strategy of 2004: a resolute defense and the hope of nicking decisive goals. This strategy did not pay off in South Africa last time, but under Santos the team has gone unbeaten in his first seventeen matches as manager. Greece is also in the top 10 of FIFA World rankings.
But while the Greek team’s game has not drastically changed, Greece as a country has. The Euro crisis hit the country the hardest and erased the last remains of euphoria surrounding the 2004 win. The constant fear of collapse, massive unemployment rates and deteriorating economic conditions, once again brought Greece into the international spotlight. This time, though, not as the brilliant soccer outsider, but as the poster-child for public debt, fiscal crisis and economic mismanagement. Undoubtedly, the crisis also affected Greek soccer: major domestic clubs witnessed economic hardships, some even faced bankruptcy while the most talented players left the country to play in leagues abroad.
Perhaps the longest-lasting effect of the crisis has been on the nation’s capacity for optimism. Fear for the future continues to be prevalent amongst Greeks. The recent polarized elections and the rise of the far-right party Golden Dawn is another manifestation of such extreme emotions. Can a successful World Cup performance subdue such feelings? If, as Paul Auster once wrote, “Countries now wage their battles on the soccer field with surrogate armies in short pants” then Brazil 2014 represents a new battle for Greece. One that at a time of crisis carries an importance that transcends beyond the limits of the soccer field; one that can transform fear and pessimism back into hope and enthusiasm, two of the elements that pushed the underdogs of Euro 2004 into becoming champions.
