Greece were the surprise winners of the European Championship in 2004 [EPA]

The defensive tactics that helped Greece beat Ukraine in the World Cup playoffs last year are the key for the side to advance past the group stage, according to defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos.

"In every single game we have to play a very tactical game, we have to play smart," the Serie A-based central defender said at their training camp in Austria.

"We have shown we can play this sort of game very well. In the crucial games we have to have a very strong defensive tactic and we can always create chances up front."

Greece stunned hosts Ukraine 1-0 in the second leg, scoring on a quick break, to send them through to the World Cup with a 1-0 aggregate win.

Goalkeepers:

Michalis Sifakis (Aris Salonika), Alexandros Tzorvas (Panathinaikos), Kostas Chalkias (PAOK Salonika).

Defenders:

Giorgos Seitaridis (Panathinaikos), Loukas Vintra (Panathinaikos), Evangelos Moras (Bologna), Socrates Papastathopoulos (Genoa), Sotiris Kyrgiakos (Liverpool), Avraam Papadopoulos (Olympiakos), Vasilis Torosidis (Olympiakos), Nikos Spiropoulos (Panathinaikos), Stelios Malezas (PAOK Salonika).

Midfielders:

Kostas Katsouranis (Panathinaikos), Alexandros Tziolis (Siena), Giorgos Karagounis (Panathinaikos), Sotiris Ninis (Panathinaikos), Christos Patsatzoglou (Omonia), Sakis Prittas (Aris Salonika).

Forwards:

Angelos Charisteas (Nuremberg), Dimitris Salpigidis (Panathinaikos), Pantelis Kapetanos (Steaua Bucharest), Theofanis Gekas (Hertha Berlin), Giorgos Samaras (Celtic).