WFI‘s Adam Brandon counts down to Russia 2018 with 90 World Cup goals in 90 days, scored in the minute corresponding to the day in the countdown.
Context
Greece were jubilant at qualifying for the World Cup in South Africa, it gave them a chance to improve on their World Cup history.
Their surprise victory in the European Championships in 2004 really lifted Greek football and gave them the confidence to compete with the best.
Previously, they had qualified for the World Cup in the USA in 1994, but that was at the thirteenth time of asking, and when they got there it went terribly wrong as they fell to defeats in all their group games.
The 2010 World Cup started ominously as they lost to South Korea in their opening game, and then faced Nigeria who coincidentally were also in their group in 1994.
Nigeria beat them 2-0 that time around, so the Greeks were determined not to go out again to the Super Eagles.
The match started badly for the Greeks and the West Africans were soon a goal up.
In the 30th minute Nigeria were reduced to ten men which boosted the Europeans. Greece took control of the game and just before half time they pulled themselves level.
The Goal
Greece then took full advantage of having the extra man, with Torosidis winning the game with just under twenty minutes remaining:
What Happened Next?
Both teams went out in the group stage. Greece lost to Argentina in their next game and South Korea finished second.
Greece dramatically made it out of their group in 2014 before eventually losing to Costa Rica in the last 16. They have failed to qualify for Russia 2018.
Torosidis left Olympiakos for Roma in 2013 and after three years he moved on to Bologna where he currently plays his football at 32 years of age.
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