Veteran Greece coach Otto Rehhagel's wait to lead a side out into World Cup battle will finally come to an end tomorrow.
The 71-year-old German has achieved much in his distinguished managerial career and sent shockwaves around Europe when he guided the Greeks to their stunning Euro 2004 triumph against all the odds.
Six years on, he will at last get a chance to ply his trade on the biggest stage of all having missed out in 2006, and he is looking forward to the challenge, which starts with tomorrow afternoon's Group B opener against South Korea in Port Elizabeth.
Rehhagel said: "Some things take their time. I am pleased to take on such a huge challenge. Everything comes in due course."
The Greece coach is nothing if not philosophical and knows a repeat of his team's surprise European Championship triumph is unlikely in South Africa.
Indeed, he has warned his players they can take nothing for granted against South Korea in the opening match of what will be a tough group in which Argentina and Nigeria are the leading lights.
Rehhagel said: "Things don't repeat themselves. We have a saying in Greece: 'Ta panta ri' - everything flows.
"In 1962, as far back as that, we travelled through Asia and played against Asian teams and won 6-0, 7-0 or even more.
"But that is long past. The Asian teams have come on massively. They run like panthers and they are very clever when it comes to tactics as well.
"The Asian teams are very disciplined and I told my team this morning 'If you think for a fraction of a second that you can afford not to pay attention, you will be badly punished."
Both Greece and South Korea head into their first game of the finals knowing victory is a must if they are to progress.
But while the opening goal might prove crucial, Rehhagel insists that conceding it would not necessarily be fatal.
He said: "You can't say that. I think about Liverpool [against AC Milan in the 2005 Champions League final]. They were 3-0 down at one point and still lifted the trophy at the end.
"In football matches, everybody can achieve the unthinkable. Football is unpredictable and, sometimes, miracles happen.
"We don't know what is going to happen tomorrow. We just have to hope for ourselves, and the Koreans will do the same. That's the way it is."
Skipper Georgios Karagounis was part of the side which went all the way in Portugal in 2004, perhaps one of those miracles to which his coach was referring.
However, he knows that history will count for little this time around.
The 33-year-old Panathinaikos midfielder said: "I really believe in this team, we have proved that this is a great team.
"But of course, the past is the past. Tomorrow's game is very important and we have to prove our qualities.
"We are a very ambitious team. Thanks to our ambition, we qualified.
"We are here, we are very ambitious and I really believe we are more than ready, and we are ready to show this on the pitch tomorrow."
Like his captain, striker Angelos Charisteas was part of the success at Euro 2004, and he has warned his team-mates to be wary of South Korea's collective spirit.
Asked to identify potential dangermen, the 30-year-old said: "South Korea does not rely on one or two players, it's a team, it's a real team, and that is their strength.
"They have developed their game as a team, their tactics involve all the players and they work perfectly as a team."