Rehhagel thanks the gods for Greece's World Cup ticket

By Karolos Grohmann

DONETSK, Ukraine (Reuters) - Greece coach Otto Rehhagel thanked the gods after their 1-0 win in Ukraine on Wednesday sent them through to next year's World Cup.

"Our boys were rewarded today for an unbelievable passion and fighting spirit. We said that no road should be too far and before you have success you have to have the gods sweating for you," he told reporters.

Greece, who had come as underdogs following their 0-0 draw in the first leg of the European playoff in Athens four days ago, stunned the hosts with a first-half goal from Dimitris Salpigidis.

The German coach was under mounting pressure following Greece's second-place group finish after losing both matches against Switzerland to miss out on automatic qualification for the finals in South Africa.

Despite stinging media criticism following their lacklustre performance in the first leg where Greece fielded five defenders, he stuck to his guns and again flooded his back line.

"We will play exciting football when we have (Lionel) Messi, Kaka, (Andres) Iniesta and Xavi on the team," Rehhagel said jokingly.

"The Ukrainians had very good combinations but we knew we would play with counter-attacks anyway and one was a success."

Rehhagel, who took charge of Greece in 2001, has now steered the 2004 European champions to one World Cup and two European championships in his eight years at the helm.