THERE was one song missing from the Greek fans' repertoire as they cheered their underdog heroes on to Euro 2004 glory.

"Bolton, it's just like watching Bolton," would have summed up the Greek success.

Their coach Otto Rehhagel did nothing Sam Allardyce has not done for the last three seasons to continually pull off surprise results and establish the Reebok club in the Premiership.

One up front, soaking up pressure with heroes in defence, and counter attacking to devastating effect.

Greece and Bolton have mastered a game plan which might not be pretty, but is a recipe for success.

When teams like Greece and Bolton do not possess players of the same quality as their rivals, they have to play to their strengths.

And their greatest strength is to nurture a team ethic that the top teams cannot match because of the inflated egos which invariably come with great talent and which usually prevent such gifted players from putting the team before themselves.

It is why Bolton beat Manchester United twice at Old Trafford, cost Arsenal the title two seasons ago by fighting back from two goals down to draw and why they overcame enormous odds to win at Chelsea last season.

It is also why rank outsiders Porto won last season's Champions League and why unfancied French sides Monaco and Marseille reached the finals of the Champions League and Uefa Cup respectively.

The successful coaches are wising up to the notion that the team is more important than individuals.

Two other teams which proved that theory during Euro 2004, for contrasting reasons, were Portugal and England.

Portugal coach Luis Felipe Scholari showed no favouritism towards his big name players as he dropped or substituted them one after another until he got the balance and commitment he was looking for. The result was a place in the final.

His England counterpart, Sven-Goran Eriksson, stubbornly refused to take players like David James, David Beckham, Paul Scholes and Michael Owen out of the firing line, even though it was crystal clear they were struggling. The result was under achievement.

Those four players, in particular, are in the comfort zone which comes with knowing they are going to be automatic selections regardless of how badly they play.

Had Scolari been in charge of the England squad, he would not have stood for the lack of commitment and balance in midfield.

Scholes would have been released from his left-sided hell and either stuck on the bench or moved to his specialist attacking central position, in which the top Italian and Spanish players repeatedly salute him as world class.

In would have come Wayne Bridge or Kieron Dyer, and either Dyer or Owen Hargreaves would have been given the right sided role in which the half-hearted Beckham would not have lasted two minutes under Scolari.

Neither would the lethargic James, who would have made way for Paul Robinson, while Owen would have paid for his two opening non-performances by relinquishing his place to Darius Vassell.

The balance and energy of the side would have been given an instant boost and Beckham, James and Owen would have been given the kick up the backside.