GREECE'S PATH TO EURO 2004 Results 07.09.02: Spain (h) 0-2 12.10.02: Ukraine (a) 0-2 16.10.02: Armenia (h) 2-0 02.04.03: N Ireland (a) 2-0 07.06.03: Spain (a) 1-0 11.06.03: Ukraine (h) 1-0 06.09.03: Armenia (a) 1-0 11.10.03: N Ireland (h) 1-0 Group Six table

And they managed to claim automatic qualification despite losing their first two games.

Their opening defeat came at home against group favourites Spain.

The Greeks created opportunities, with Angelos Basinas coming closest after his speculative lob rebounded off Iker Casillas' crossbar.

But it was Spain who took all three points thanks to goals from Real Madrid's Raul Gonzalez and Deportivo's Juan Valeron.

Another loss to Ukraine followed four days later to leave coach Otto Rehhagel's men playing serious catch-up.

But Greece finally got a victory under their belts when they beat Armenia at home.

There was a six-month gap before their next qualifier. That came away to Northern Ireland, who had been going through a barren spell in front of goal.

A brace from Angelos Charisteas helped the Greeks to victory in Belfast.

Arguably, their two most important games followed, against Spain and then the Ukraine.

On a memorable night in Saragossa, Stylianos Giannakopoulos' strike just before half-time gave his side victory against the odds.

Buoyed by that success, they went on to beat the Ukraine thanks to more heroics from Charisteas.

A difficult trip to Armenia followed, but they came from there with another 1-0 win and with automatic qualification more than a distinct possibility.

They needed victory at home to Northern Ireland in their last match.

And despite making hard work of it, a Vassilios Tsiartas penalty midway through the second half sent the majority of the Athens crowd into raptures.