Athens  - After shocking the world in 2004 by becoming European Champions, Greece, who had never before won a Euro match, are hoping for an encore this summer in Switzerland and Austria.

But the question remains: can veteran coach Otto Rehhagel keep his team from suffering another anticlimax after failing to reach the 2006 World Cup in Germany?

The German-born, former Werder Bremen and Bayern Munich boss, who recently signed a contract extension to 2010, is already Greece's longest-serving coach ever, and he has found a particularly rich vein of Greek talent to mine.

The Greeks have been drawn into Group D, together with Spain, Sweden and Russia.

After the glory of 2004 and the disappointment of 2006, Rehhagel's rebuilt side got off to a great start in Euro 2008 qualifying, winning their first three matches without conceding a goal. A flame- out at home to heated rivals Turkey (4-1) was followed by seven wins from eight contests.

In the end their 31 points from 12 games were more than any other side in the preliminaries and more than enough for first place ahead of Turkey and Norway.

This consistent form, along with March's 2-1 friendly win over the team they beat in the 2004 final, Portugal, has moved the Greeks to a highest-ever world ranking of eighth.

After that match, veteran Portuguese striker Nuno Gomes captured the Grecian strengths this way: "They're a very experienced team, with a number of veteran players who know how to control a game."

One of the classiest of those players is Georgios Karagounis, who scored two free-kick goals to beat the Lusitanians. The Panathinaikos attacking midfielder's orchestrations will be vital to Greek fortunes this summer.

Bundesliga top-scorer in 2007 with 21 goals, Theofanis Gekas of Bayer Leverkusen, is the primary recipient of Karagounis' play- making.

"I think we have similar goals to the ones we had four years ago," admitted Gekas. "We want to play good football, will take each game as it comes and will always give our best. The goal is to reach the quarter-finals, but to be participating in a second straight European Championship is already a success in itself."

The cultured forward could be partnered with veteran Angelos Charisteas or Eintracht Frankfurt captain Ioannis Amanatidis, while Celtic youngster Georgios Samaras and Nikolaos Lyberopoulos, who has a knack for scoring dramatic goals, are also likely to play a part.

Captain and hero from 2004, Theodoros Zagorakis, has retired, but Angelos Basinas and Konstantinos Katsouranis are proven stalwarts in the midfield holding roles, while Bolton's Stelios Giannakopoulos offers attacking punch.

"We're a well-organized team and we work for each other," observed Giannakopoulos. "Our coach will have a tough task picking a team from what could be the best Greece squad ever."

Nowhere are the Greeks more spoiled for choice than in a defence that allowed only 10 goals in the 12 qualifiers. Sotirios Kyrgiakos, who played every minute of qualifying, is a guaranteed starter alongside Traianos Dellas.

Euro 2004 veteran Giourkas Seitaridis and Greek wunderkind Vassilios Torosidis play as fullbacks to complete the back line ahead of veteran keeper Antonios Nikopolidis.

Behind them are a number of talented domestic-based players that combine to form a resilient side very much like the champions of four years ago. Master tactician Rehhagel has once again built a team that is convinced that they will be difficult to beat in every match.

"We're looking forward to having a good time at Euro 2008," said Georgios Karagounis with the confidence of the defending champions. (dpa)