The Hellenic Navy (HN) (Greek: Πολεμικό Ναυτικό, Polemikó Naftikó, abbreviated ΠΝ) is the naval force of Greece, part of the Greek Armed Forces. The modern Greek navy has its roots in the naval forces of various Aegean Islands, which fought in the Greek War of Independence. During the periods of monarchy (1833–1924 and 1936–1973) it was known as the Royal Navy (Βασιλικόν Ναυτικόν, Vasilikón Naftikón, abbreviated ΒΝ).The total displacement of all the navy's vessels is approximately 150,000 tons.The motto of the Hellenic Navy is "Μέγα το της Θαλάσσης Κράτος" from Thucydides' account of Pericles' oration on the eve of the Peloponnesian War. This has been roughly translated as "Great is the country that controls the sea". The Hellenic Navy's emblem consists of an anchor in front of a crossed Christian cross and trident, with the cross symbolizing Greek Orthodoxy, and the trident symbolizing Poseidon, the god of the sea in Greek mythology. Pericles' words are written across the top of the emblem. "The navy, as it represents a necessary weapon for Greece, should only be created for war and aim to victory."...............The Hellenic Merchant Marine refers to the Merchant Marine of Greece, engaged in commerce and transportation of goods and services universally. It consists of the merchant vessels owned by Greek civilians, flying either the Greek flag or a flag of convenience. Greece is a maritime nation by tradition, as shipping is arguably the oldest form of occupation of the Greeks and a key element of Greek economic activity since the ancient times. Nowadays, Greece has the largest merchant fleet in the world, which is the second largest contributor to the national economy after tourism and forms the backbone of world shipping. The Greek fleet flies a variety of flags, however some Greek shipowners gradually return to Greece following the changes to the legislative framework governing their operations and the improvement of infrastructure.Blogger Tips and Tricks
This is a bilingual blog in English and / or Greek and you can translate any post to any language by pressing on the appropriate flag....Note that there is provided below a scrolling text with the 30 recent posts...Αυτό είναι ένα δίγλωσσο blog στα Αγγλικά η/και στα Ελληνικά και μπορείτε να μεταφράσετε οποιοδήποτε ποστ σε οποιαδήποτε γλώσσα κάνοντας κλικ στη σχετική σημαία. Σημειωτέον ότι παρακάτω παρέχεται και ένα κινούμενο κείμενο με τα 30 πρόσφατα ποστς....This is a bilingual blog in English and / or Greek and you can translate any post to any language by pressing on the appropriate flag....Note that there is provided below a scrolling text with the 30 recent posts...Αυτό είναι ένα δίγλωσσο blog στα Αγγλικά η/και στα Ελληνικά και μπορείτε να μεταφράσετε οποιοδήποτε ποστ σε οποιαδήποτε γλώσσα κάνοντας κλικ στη σχετική σημαία. Σημειωτέον ότι παρακάτω παρέχεται και ένα κινούμενο κείμενο με τα 30 πρόσφατα ποστς.........

Thursday, June 12, 2014

World Cup 2014: tournament - day one..[ 4056 ]


World Cup 2014: Today at the tournament - day one
BBC.,11 June 2014 Last updated at 23:01 GMT
The waiting is finally over.
Football's showpiece event begins in Brazil on Thursday and you will not miss a kick with Today at the World Cup, our new daily feature.
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Darren Bett looks at conditions in Sao Paulo for the first match of the World Cup
With up to four games per day, around-the-clock coverage and hundreds of unfamiliar players, we will ensure you know what is happening, how to follow all the action and who to watch out for.
Packed with predictions, key timings, nostalgia and with an added dash of Brazilian flavour, this is your one place to find out everything you need to start your World Cup day.
You can also follow all the latest news from Brazil throughout the day via World Cup Sportsday.

Who is playing - and who will win?


Brazil v Croatia
Brazil v Croatia
21:00 BST, Arena de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo
BBC Sport's Mark Lawrenson: "Brazil are the hosts and a lot of people's favourites but the pressure and expectation they will have to put up with is massive. I think they will go very close to winning the tournament but it will not be easy for them.
"They will get through their first game without any problems, though. This Croatia side is nowhere near as strong as their teams from previous tournaments."
Lawro's prediction: Brazil 2-0 Croatia
How to follow: Watch live on ITV, listen on BBC Radio 5 live, live text commentary on BBC Sport website. Highlights on BBC One.

One to watch


Thiago Silva
Strong in the air and composed in possession, Brazil captain Thiago Silva was the only defender shortlisted for the 2013 Fifa Ballon d'Or. He is worthy of a place in the great 1970 World Cup-winning Brazil side, according to Rivelino, who played in that team.
Silva, who plays for French champions Paris St-Germain, has struck up a particularly strong partnership with Chelsea defender David Luiz at the heart of the Brazil defence.
During coach Luiz Felipe Scolari's time in charge, the Selecao have won 84.61% of the games in which Silva and Luiz have both played. It is little wonder, then, that Silva's club are keen to pair them together at the Parc des Princes.

The key battle

Believe the hype; Neymar is pivotal to Brazil. Full of energy and tricks and able to dribble at incredible speed, he is the player most capable of changing a game for Scolari's side. The Barcelona forward was - as he so often is - the star of the show in the recent World Cup warm-up match against Panama, scoring one goal and having a hand in the others as Brazil won 4-0, taking his tally to 31 goals in 48 appearances.
Brazil striker Fred has said that if all else fails, get the ball to Neymar, such is his ability to make something out of nothing.

Neymar celebrates
The hopes of the Brazilian nation have been pinned largely on Neymar, the face of the 2014 World Cup
The same could be said of Luka Modric for Croatia. The former Tottenham playmaker, 28, excelled in a deep-lying role for Real Madrid this season and his passing accuracy of 89.73% was the highest by a non-Barcelona player in La Liga. His intelligence could be key to unlocking the Brazil defence and causing an upset.



Caps Goals World Cup appearances World Cup goals
Neymar 48 31 0 0
Luka Modric 74 8 2 0

Must-see moment

From the day in October 2007 that Brazil was awarded the World Cup, the South American country has been under the spotlight.
There have been widespread protests from Brazilians against staging the tournament, while doubts have persisted about whether stadiums and infrastructure will be completed in time.

A Brazil flag hangs from a window
"Cup for whom?" Some Brazilians have protested against the World Cup
Is Brazil ready? Or will this be a tournament marred by organisational problems and demonstrations from a sceptical public?
The answer to those questions should largely be answered at 19:15 BST, when the opening ceremony gets under way at the Arena de Sao Paulo, making that a must-see moment before a ball has even been kicked.


Planning your World Cup day

When What Where
06:00 - 09:00 BST World Cup Breakfast BBC Radio 5 live
07:00 - 18:00 BST World Cup Sportsday BBC Sport website
13:30 - 15:00 BST Rio Report BBC Radio 5 live
18:00 - 00:00 BST Text/audio: Brazil v Croatia BBC Sport website
19:00 -23:30 BST Listen: Brazil v Croatia BBC Radio 5 live
19:00 - 23:15 BST Watch: Brazil v Croatia ITV1
23:20 - 00:00 BST Match of the Day BBC Two

Stats of the day

The host nation has never lost their first World Cup game, with the 20 previous hosts winning 14 and drawing six of their openers.
Eight of the last 12 opening matches at World Cups have produced one goal or less.
Croatia have conceded only 11 goals in 13 World Cup games (0.85/game). It's the best ratio among the 32 teams taking part in 2014.
Brazil won their one previous competitive meeting with Croatia 1-0 in the 2006 World Cup; Kaka scored the winner in Berlin that day.

World Cup nostalgia


Cameroon beat Argentina in 1990
Argentina had been expected to ease past an unfancied Cameroon side in 1990
Brazil - you have been warned. The opening day at two of the last six World Cups has produced shocks far bigger than a Croatia win over the hosts would be this time around.
Senegal's 1-0 defeat of defending champions France in the first match of the 2002 tournament - courtesy of a breakaway Papa Bouba Diop goal - was the start of a miserable campaign for the French as they finished bottom of their group.
Twelve years earlier, holders Argentina, led by Diego Maradona, were stunned as Francois Omam-Biyik's header saw Cameroon open the tournament with a 1-0 win over the favourites in Milan. An abiding memory of that game is Argentina forward Claudio Caniggia being taken out by Benjamin Massing's flying horizontal body check.

Today's Brazilian lesson


A plate of coxinha
The literal translation of coxinha is 'little thigh' as it resembles a chicken drumstick
Sao Paulo's residents - or Paulistanos - often claim to make the best pizza in the world, as well as the best Japanese food. But one thing they are famous for is "coxinha" - the deep-fried battered chicken snacks of national fame.

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