Greece vs. Nigeria (17.06.2010)

On June 17, 2010, soccer fans witnessed a thrilling match between Greece and Nigeria, marking a historic event for the Greek team. The Group B encounter at the 2010 FIFA World Cup saw Nigeria take an early lead before a determined Greek side turned the game around to secure their first-ever World Cup victory.

Nigeria opened the scoring in the 16th minute through a well-executed strike from Kalu Uche. The African team's jubilation, however, was curtailed when Greece began to gain momentum as they searched for an equalizer.

Greece made their first substitution in the 37th minute, bringing on Sotiris Papastathopoulos to reinforce their lineup. This tactical change laid the groundwork for Greece's comeback. Just before halftime, in the 44th minute, Dimitris Salpingidis found the back of the net, scoring Greece's first World Cup goal in history and leveling the match at 1-1.

Nigeria made their first substitution right after halftime, introducing Peter Odemwingie to the fray. In the 55th minute, they made their second change, with Taye Taiwo coming on. These changes, however, could not stem the growing Greek tide.

The decisive moment came in the 71st minute when Vasilis Torosidis capitalized on a Nigerian defensive error, putting Greece ahead for the first time in the game. Following their second goal, Greece made another substitution in the 79th minute, opting for Theofanis Gekas to come on.

As the final minutes ticked away, Nigeria made their third and final substitution by bringing in Elderson Echiejile in the 77th minute. Despite the fresh legs, Nigeria could not find an equalizer, and the match ended with a historic 2-1 victory for Greece.

The match was not only a testament to the Greeks' resilience but also a demonstration of how quickly fortunes can change in the world of soccer. With this result, Greece secured crucial points, reviving their hopes in the tournament, while Nigeria faced an uphill battle to advance from the group stage.

Lineup Greece

Lineup Nigeria

Substitutes Greece

Substitutes Nigeria

Greece

Greek national football team made its mark in the history of European football in 2004, when it dominated the entire EURO. They became champions in their second participation in the European Championship. They have also experienced the atmosphere of the World Cup and here their best result is the eighth-final in 2014. The Greeks wear white jerseys for home matches, blue for away matches.

Nigeria

Nigerian national football team has long been quite successful at the World Cup, where its players have managed to finish in the top 16 three times. They played in the eighth finals in 1994, 1998 and 2014. On the other occasions, they finished in the group stage. They have won the Africa Cup of Nations three times so far, as well as four silver medals and eight silver medals.

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