ATHENS, Sept 8 (AFP) - More than two months have past since Greece surprisingly won the Euro 2004 title.
But three matches on, the Greeks have yet to taste victory.
A 1-1 deadlock in the Czech Republic in a friendly last month, a 2-1 loss at Albania in the first match of the World Cup 2006 Group 2 qualifying round and Wednesday`s scoreless deadlock at home with Turkey in yet another World Cup qualifier, has many concerned here that the party is over.
Turkey spoiled the merrymaking set up at the packed, reconstructed Karaiskaki Stadium where 33,000 fans had gathered to see their heroes for the first time on a Greek pitch since winning the European crown.
The Greeks looked at times disorganized and in no way resembled the squad that German coach Otto Rehhagel took to the highest spot in Europe this summer.
But it`s still early in the World Cup qualifying round, and one should not forget that the Greeks also started poorly in the Euro 2004 competition losing their first two matches before continuing with a string of victories.
"We have had a poor beginning. We do not seem ready and need more matches to play. But we will not give up. In our next match we will give all our strength so that we can qualify for the World Cup," said striker Zisis Vryzas, one of the best players on the pitch Wednesday against Turkey.
Greek defender Michalis Kapsis said the team ran out of gas at the end.
"We showed that we could not put out the full 90 minutes and this is because most of the players have not started playing in league matches yet. We also had bad luck tonight," Kapsis said.
Kapsis said that until Greece`s next match with the Ukraine on October 9 it would try to correct its errors.
"I hope we can win there so that we can cover lost ground," Kapsis said.
Rehhagel said: ""It was a good match of high quality although we had no goals. The Turkish team was constantly in motion chasing the ball and very strong in individual matchups as well as very quick in attack. We had the desire but do not score easily. The score is just for both teams."
As for the next qualifier against the Ukraine, Rehhagel said: "When you want to qualify you have to win matches. This is what we will try in Kiev. We have the capability and we will show this."
Team captain Thodoris Zagorakis, who holds the country`s record caps with 98, said the match with Turkey was quite strange.
"We had chances to win, but we could have also lost the match as well," Zagorakis said. "We have 10 more matches waiting for us in the qualifying round and we will do our best."
Midfielder Stelios Giannakopoulos said: "We believe that we will qualify for the World Cup."
Turkish coach Ersun Yanal said: "Both teams had chances and we managed to control the match. We managed to win a point and it seems this group will be decided down to the final matches.
"If we were calmer, we could have won but Greece is very good in defence as we saw in the Euro 2004 and we couldn`t score."