The Greeks' epic voyage to the Euro 2004 final strangely began three years ago in the unlikely surroundings of Old Trafford.
England were striding confidently towards the 2002 World Cup after their 5-1 hammering of Germany earlier in the qualification schedule.
Greece were a feud-riven shambles handed over to authoritarian German coach Otto Rehhagel to knock into shape after any chance of travelling to the Far East the following summer had gone.
But an England side containing Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand, Ashley Cole, David Beckham, Steven Gerrard and Emile Heskey found Rehhagel's new-look side not the cannon fodder everyone had built them up to be.
Dominating the 90 minutes during another inept England display, only the agility of Nigel Martyn when twice faced one-on-one with Georgios Karagounis kept England in the game at 2-1 down into injury-time.
Then only a harshly-awarded free kick, Beckham's sweetly-struck dead ball and keeper Antonios Nikopolidis' curiously lame attempt to keep it out was the difference between misery that day and a World Cup odyssey for England eight months later.
In the deafening hype that surrounded Sven-Goran Eriksson's side in the aftermath, everyone forgot what a fine performance the Greeks had given in difficult circumstances.
Four players that started that qualifier at Old Trafford helped Greece into Sunday's showpiece final after their 1-0 victory over the Czech Republic in Porto yet the team has constantly been bracketed as also-rans since the start of the tournament.
This in spite of topping their Euro 2004 qualifying group at the expense of Spain who were turned over on their own soil during that campaign.
This in spite of beating hosts and leading fancies Portugal in their opening game here.
This in spite of repeating their previous heroics by holding a star-studded Spain 1-1 in their next outing.
This in spite of ousting favourites France on merit in their quarter-final.
Yet bookmakers price Portugal as 1-3 favourites to win Sunday's final.
What more do the Greeks have to do to convince everyone they are worthy finalists?
Bolton fans may be surprised that their perennial sub Stelios Giannakopoulos will be in Sunday's final.
And Sheffield United fans will certainly be bemused that Greece's semi-final goal hero Traianos Dellas spent two seasons at Bramall Lane where he made a mere 17 starts.
The cool and assured sweeper is not surprisingly now on AS Roma's books after proving himself one of the competition's best defenders.
One place faith in the quality of their players remains supreme is in their homeland.
Just wander in any shops or bars in Athens to see walls dressed in the green of Panathinaikos or the red of Olympiakos.
The Greek people eat and drink football and at last on Sunday, they will have their very own banquet.
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