Greece remained
composed on Sunday as its national team achieved no miracle and was eliminated
as holder after just two games at Euro 2008.
"We will not throw ourselves into the sea as some may believe. Football
never ends," said one cafe owner who did not want to be identified.
The Goalnews sports paper summed up the mood by saying: "Elimination has
come, but not a catastrophe - Don't cry and don't be sad."
Greece started into the tournament in Austria and Switzerland with a 2-0
defeat against Sweden and Saturday's 1-0 loss to Russia sealed the fate of Otto
Rehhagel's team which four years earlier created one of the biggest upsets in
football history by winning the Euro title.
The 2004 matches created a national frenzy in Greece, while the atmosphere
remained quiet from the outset this time around. As a result, there was also no
despair on Sunday.
"There is hardly any depression. If someone doesn't feel good he goes to
the next tavern and drinks an ouzo, that's it," said teacher Kostas Dimou.
The German Rehhagel himself left it open whether he will continue as coach
while goalkeeper Antonios Nikopolidis and defender Paraskevas Antzas will play
their last Greece game in the final group match Spain.
Nikopolidis, 37, blundered on Sunday which allowed Russia to win the game and
send Greece packing.
He is one of the old guard which the Greek media now expects to give way for a
new generation - and a bright future.
"The young generation should not carry the burden of 2004 and feel
condemned to win," said Nikopolidis on Sunday.
The Prassini paper said: "The baton is passed on to the younger generation
which grow up in the shadow of the big players from 2004." Sports paper
Exedra struck a similar line, saying: "End of an era, the next generation
comes."
Televion reports and newspapers agreed that the qualifying session for the 2010
World Cup in South Africa offered the chance to form a new team as opponents such
as Switzerland and Israel were no major threats.
"Get up boys! Bring us to the World Cup in South Africa," said
Sportday, according to dpa.