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.........

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Sunday, July 6, 2014

Netherlands replaced the keeper and won the shootout 4-3...[ 4221 ]


World Cup 2014: Louis van Gaal reveals why he sent on Tim Krul

Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal

BBC Sports || 6 July 2014 Last updated at 07:30 GMT

Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal says Tim Krul's greater height and reach was the reason he sent the Newcastle keeper on for the World Cup quarter-final penalty shootout win over Costa Rica. 
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Krul, who is 6ft 4in (1.93m), replaced the 6ft 2in (1.87m) Jasper Cillessen with seconds remaining in the 0-0 draw.

'Man Utd fans will be buzzing'

"I like all that gamesmanship from Tim Krul. I like my goalkeeper to do that, to try to put them off, it puts a bit of edge to it. Man United fans will be buzzing and thinking 'What a manager we have got'." 
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Krul then saved two spot-kicks as the Dutch won the shootout 4-3.
"We all thought Tim was the best keeper to stop penalties," said Van Gaal. "He is taller and has a longer reach."
The Manchester United manager added: "It worked out. That was beautiful. I'm a bit proud of that." 
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The Netherlands, the only team in the final four not to have won the tournament, will play Argentina in Sao Paulo on Wednesday for a place in the final. 
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Brazil will face Germany in the first semi-final on Tuesday.
Van Gaal, who will take over at Manchester United after the World Cup, did not tell first-choice keeper Cillessen he might be taken off if the game went to a shootout after extra time.
However, Krul was informed he might be called upon.

Substitute goalkeeper Tim Krul celebrates
Tim Krul saves Michael Umana penalty as Dutch progress
Krul, whose saves from Bryan Ruiz and Michael Umana were his only two touches of the ball, told BBC Sport: "I psyched them out. You try to do everything you can without being too aggressive. I tried to get in their minds. 
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"It is something I have dreamed about since I was a little boy - to have that moment when you make the crucial save and then all the boys are running towards you."
Despite Krul's match-winning saves he will be back on the bench for the semi-final, with Ajax's Cillessen in goal. 
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"There is no question about who will start the next game, it will be Cillessen, but we felt Krul was the better choice here," said Van Gaal.
Costa Rica midfielder Celso Borges said of the goalkeeping change: "I never saw something like that. But they were right, he did his job."
Krul tried to speak to the Costa Rica players before they took their penalties, indicating he knew where the ball would go, and the goalkeeper dived the right way for each spot-kick, saving two of the five efforts he faced.
Tim Krul 
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Unheralded Costa Rica, playing in the World Cup finals for only the fourth time, had finished top of a group that included Uruguay, Italy and England before beating Greece on penalties in the last 16 to reach the quarter-finals for the first time. 
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"I am very proud that we shocked the world," said Ruiz, the Fulham striker who ended last season on loan at PSV Eindhoven. "We did not lose in the World Cup and we go back to Costa Rica with our heads up."