Giorgos Karagounis

Full name: Giorgos Karagounis

Date of birth: 6 March 1977 (age 35)

Place of birth: Pyrgos, Greece

Playing position: Midfielder

Current club: Panathinaikos F.C. (Greece)

Giorgos Karagounis knows what it is like to be part of a miracle, when Greece overcame long odds and doubtful pundits to win the 2004 European championships in Portugal.

Now 35, the compact Panathinaikos midfielder is hoping for an unprecedented repeat of that success in Poland and Ukraine -- or at least a good run in the tournament to give some cheer to a nation in a deep political and financial crisis.

"Certainly it is not easy and such repetitions do not happen often. Even countries with great potential have failed to win a second Euro in such a short time," he said in emailed comments to AFP.

"Even more so if you consider that here the infrastructure as well as the domestic league are not the best. But we have faith and passion on the team and this overrides any disadvantages."

With 115 caps for Greece, second only to Euro 2004 captain Theodoros Zagorakis, Karagounis is used more sparingly now by Greece coach Fernando Santos but is still seen as the spark that can inspire the team as well as younger generation of players.

Karagounis is hoping that even with a change in manager since "King" Otto Rehhagel, Greece still has the ability to make an impact on the tournament and build on their unbeaten record in qualifying, when they finished top of their group.

"The team spirit which distinguishes us as well is the faith in the team and in ourselves with the belief that we can achieve something good," he explained.

"Also unique is our passion for achievement while wearing the national emblem and for representing our country, something that makes us perform our best and to give it all in order to qualify for the next round."

Karagounis says defending champions Spain, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands will be the teams to watch but warned that surprise package Greece could not be written off.

"We also have ambitions," he insisted. "We want first to be able to qualify from the group and then we'll see. Most importantly, we are for the third consecutive time in the finals of the Euro -- and that says a lot."

Greece have been drawn against co-hosts Poland, Russia and the Czech Republic, with pundits suggesting the outcome of the group is anyone's guess.

"All are good teams," he added but said Greece had the advantage.

"We, if you look at the past decade, are more stable in our course and our successes than the rest. I think that if we're in proper form at the appropriate time we can achieve a lot."

Now in the twilight of his career, Karagounis speaks like a man who knows his best footballing days are behind him but said he has many good memories.

They include joining Panathinaikos at aged 18, going on to win two domestic titles and the Greek cup with the Athens club, an Italian cup with Inter Milan or scoring goals against Manchester United and Arsenal in the Champions League.

But winning Euro 2004, where he scored the first goal in the Greeks' first match against Portugal with a stunning long-range effort, is the stand-out moment alongside qualification for the World Cup two years ago, he says.

"That match was a great opportunity, perhaps the last for many on the team, to play in a World Cup finals competition," he said.

"We fought against many odds, but at the end we played with nine players and achieved a great victory, one of the most significant in the history of our national team and one more important qualification that gave us the ticket to South Africa."