Georgios Samaras insists Greece will go into this summer's World Cup free from the pressure of emulating the heroes of Euro 2004.
Under the tutelage of German coach Otto Rehhagel, Greece were shock winners of the European Championships six years ago, beating hosts Portugal 1-0 in the final having also beaten the same opponents in the tournament's opening game.
It is an achievement considered by many to be the biggest football upset in the history of the international game and made legends of the entire team.
Rehhagel, who has been in the post for nine years, guided Greece to South Africa with a two-legged play-off win over Ukraine, another unlikely achievement and his side have been drawn in Group B alongside Argentina, Nigeria and South Korea.
However, the Celtic striker will focus on reaching the last 16 in South Africa, rather than harking back to what happened in 2004.
"The lads did something amazing in 2004 and that is written in our history with golden letters," Samaras told Press Association Sport.
"But the manager has told people around the team not to compare that generation with the new generation.
"We are a new generation but with the same manager.
"The only thing to do is support us and we will try to do our best.
"The Greek people are positive. We have talent, we have a good team and we are going to fight for second place with South Korea and Nigeria because I think Argentina can easily finish with nine points.
"I just hope everyone stays fit for the pre-tournament games in Switzerland before our three group games in South Africa."
Despite their famous European Championship success, it is only the second time that Greece have qualified for the finals of the World Cup.
They reached the finals in 1994 in the USA only to finish at the bottom of Group D after losing 4-0 to both Bulgaria and Argentina and 2-0 to Nigeria.
Samaras was only a child when his heroes faced players like Gabriel Batistuta and Diego Maradona, but he remembers it well.
"We are all excited, for the second time in our history we have got to the finals," he said.
"It is the biggest thing in the world.
"The first time was in 1994 in the USA and everyone was excited about it.
"I was nine years old and I remember the game against Argentina.
"They had a great team with players like Batistuta, Maradona, (Claudio) Caniggia and (Fernando) Redondo, some of the best players in the world, and it was a pleasure to watch them play football.
"So for small countries like Greece to be part of a World Cup again is great."
It is an achievement considered by many to be the biggest football upset in the history of the international game and made legends of the entire team.
Rehhagel, who has been in the post for nine years, guided Greece to South Africa with a two-legged play-off win over Ukraine, another unlikely achievement and his side have been drawn in Group B alongside Argentina, Nigeria and South Korea.
However, the Celtic striker will focus on reaching the last 16 in South Africa, rather than harking back to what happened in 2004.
"The lads did something amazing in 2004 and that is written in our history with golden letters," Samaras told Press Association Sport.
"But the manager has told people around the team not to compare that generation with the new generation.
"We are a new generation but with the same manager.
"The only thing to do is support us and we will try to do our best.
"The Greek people are positive. We have talent, we have a good team and we are going to fight for second place with South Korea and Nigeria because I think Argentina can easily finish with nine points.
"I just hope everyone stays fit for the pre-tournament games in Switzerland before our three group games in South Africa."
Despite their famous European Championship success, it is only the second time that Greece have qualified for the finals of the World Cup.
They reached the finals in 1994 in the USA only to finish at the bottom of Group D after losing 4-0 to both Bulgaria and Argentina and 2-0 to Nigeria.
Samaras was only a child when his heroes faced players like Gabriel Batistuta and Diego Maradona, but he remembers it well.
"We are all excited, for the second time in our history we have got to the finals," he said.
"It is the biggest thing in the world.
"The first time was in 1994 in the USA and everyone was excited about it.
"I was nine years old and I remember the game against Argentina.
"They had a great team with players like Batistuta, Maradona, (Claudio) Caniggia and (Fernando) Redondo, some of the best players in the world, and it was a pleasure to watch them play football.
"So for small countries like Greece to be part of a World Cup again is great."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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