PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis met with the 2004 European Champions to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their historic victory against Portugal

The players presented the Prime Minister with a commemorative shirt bearing their signatures and invited him to a friendly match against the UEFA All-Stars in Essen, Germany, Rehhagel’s birthplace, on July 11, marking the 20th anniversary of Greece’s triumph.

Mitsotakis emphasized the influential role the 2004 champions can play in educating and inspiring the new generation on various important issues. “We can do much more on many levels, both for football and for promoting healthy living and other values. Teaching children about teamwork, sharing roles, and contributing to the greater good are lessons that transcend football,” he stated.

The players, now part of the “Legends 2004” team, agreed to participate in campaigns addressing issues relevant to young people. Nikos Dabizas, speaking on behalf of the players, highlighted the importance of using their experiences to guide and inspire children, not just to become footballers but also to become better individuals through the sport.

The discussion also touched on the current state of Greek football and efforts to curb fan violence. Mitsotakis noted the government’s significant efforts to address violence in stadiums and the positive impact of these measures. “We made difficult decisions, including closing stadiums, but the return to the stands has been under improved conditions,” he observed.

Mitsotakis also discussed infrastructure improvements in the country’s sports centers, particularly OAKA, and reiterated the government’s proposal to hold the Football Cup final at OAKA permanently, with fans present. The players noted that many European countries host their cup finals in iconic stadiums in their capitals.

Veteran players such as Antonis Nikopolidis, Giourkas Seitaridis, Takis Fyssas, Kostas Katsouranis, Angelos Karagounis, Stelios Giannakopoulos, Vassilis Tsiartas, Nikos Dambizas, Dimitris Papadopoulos, Kostas Chalkias, Yiannis Goumas, Stelios Venetidis, Vassilis Lakis, and Fanis Katergiannakis were in attendance.

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