...Otto Rehhegal's tactics a Greek tragedy

If Otto Rehhegal does not resign he must surely be sacked by the Greek FA. Needing a win, or at the very least a result against Argentina, he played scandalously negative tactics and Greece were eliminated from the World Cup without so much as a whimper of protest.

Here was a team condemned to their fate, playing damage limitation to Argentina rather than trying to launch the improbable assault that was their only hope of an escape route from group B. Admittedly the odds were stacked against Greece but, as the old adage goes it is better to try and fail than not to try at all.

Knowing that his team needed to score one if not two goals, Greece still played with ten men behind the ball. Their one forward – Georgios Samaras – was faced with the unenviable task of having to win the game on his own against Argentinean defenders fresh from their unemployment. The cameras flitted to Rehhegal with increasing frequency as the minutes ticked by, finding the vacant face of a man who looked like he had forgotten that he alone could change this, that he had the weight of a proud nation on his shoulders.

After the first abject display by his side in this tournament, a 2-0 loss to South Korea, Rehhegal blamed a lack of pace in his side for his static tactics. In that case why did not start with the youthful pace and energy of Panathinaikos’ highly-rated winger Sotiris Ninis, and look to get in behind the suspect Argentinean back line rather than forcing Samaras to toil alone, feeding off scraps with his back to goal?

Perhaps Rehhegal found the ‘inspiration’ for his negative tactics in three places. First and most obviously, Argentina have much better players than Greece. But they were already through and had made seven changes, which included playing two defenders (Nicolás Otamendi and Clemente Juan Rodríguez) who were making their World Cup debuts.

He might also have seen the way Inter Milan beat Barcelona and then Bayern Munich whilst not having possession for long periods. The difference here is that Wesley Sneijder was in constant support of the lone striker and Inter also had pace on the flanks to break with when their opponents eventually slipped up.

Another factor in his decision-making process may have been watching the way North Korea were so soundly beaten by Portugal after trying to make a game of it and pushing for a goal, when they had enjoyed more success when frustrating Brazil with Rehhegal-esque tactics. That said they also lost to Brazil, albeit by one goal rather than seven.

Surely Greece fans would have preferred to have gone out fighting. Getting a drubbing from Messi and co. would not have made for pleasurable viewing, but would surely have been preferable to merely giving in to the inevitable.

When Rehhegal’s Greece won Euro 2004 against all odds, their victory was built on belief and team spirit. True, their tactics were negative then, but then they rarely went behind and so did not face the same test as the team did last night. The best managers have a strong plan B, but it seemed as if the German manager did not have one at all.

Fans do not travel thousands of miles, dress like idiots and put up with the sound of vuvuzelas droning in their ears to see their team give up without a fight. Another adage, this time from General Khan, says “He who attacks must vanquish. He who defends must merely survive.” Needing points last night, survival was not enough for Greece. Rehhagel, knowing this from the start yet failing to act accordingly, saw his side vanquished. Like any honourable General, he must now fall on his sword.