Lucky draw for the Greek football team in Euro 2016

We may be a few months from the World Cup finals held in Brazil, but the Greek national football team is certainly taking a peek at their opponents in the upcoming Euro 2016 group stage. It will be the next challenge for Greek football's enfants terribles, who will be playing in Rio this summer.

The draw was quite favorable to the Greek team on Sunday. They will be leading the 6th Group, playing against Romania, Hungary, Finland, Northern Ireland and Faroe Islands. As the group's leaders, Greece avoided the contest's strongest sides, including Spain, Germany, France, Italy and England.

Greece's chances are quite strong, given that Romania is the most dangerous side in the group. Interestingly enough, Romania were Greece's opponents in the play-off stage for the World Cup a few months ago, with Greece coming away with a win in Athens and a draw in Bucharest.

The rest of the teams are not expected to be particularly competitive in the group. Hungary are a good side, but not as strong as Greece, while Finland, Northern Ireland and the Faroe Islands should be no problem for a team which has beaten far more formidable opponents in the recent past.

Basketball may be traditionally the most successful team sport for Greece internationally, but football has had plenty of glory days since the Euro 2004 triumph in Portugal. They have never lost an international tournament since, and in 2010 they had their first win ever in a World Cup.

As usual, it will be a long contest with sporadic games (due to national championships and Champions League club matches) from September 2014 to October 2015. If the Greeks are up to their usual standard, with killer defense and blitzkrieg strikes in the offense, they should have the qualification for the final stage held in France, in the bag.