AFTER his country failed to qualify for the World Cup finals in Germany next year, Dimitrios Konstantopoulos believes an international call-up is within his giant grasp.

The Hartlepool United goalkeeper's name has been mentioned among those who could be called into Otto Rehhagel's squad as the national coach revamps his squad.

Despite winning Euro 2004, the Greeks finished fourth in Group Two of the qualifying stages for Germany 2006.

And the need to change the squad on the back of the failure to qualify could open the door for Konstantopoulos to become the first Pool player to earn international honours since Ambrose Fogarty represented the Republic of Ireland in the 60s.

Konstantopoulos, who has nine under-21 caps for his country and will keep goal for Pool at troubled Gillingham this afternoon, revealed: "I've heard that I was going to get a call-up now Greece have been knocked out of the World Cup and didn't qualify for Germany, but I don't know for definite.

"I know my name has been mentioned. A journalist who is involved with the national team called me to tell me I had been talked about.

"My name has been mentioned, but I haven't heard directly from Otto Rehhagel.

"He is still in charge of the national side despite failing to qualify and he has just signed a new contract.''

Greek shocked the football world last summer when they lifted the trophy in Portugal. Keeper Antonis Nikopolidis played a pivotal role in the triumph, but Konstantopoulos is confident of proving himself capable of making the step-up if called upon.

"I am playing regular football here now and that can only help me.

"Maybe I will get the call-up, I hope so,'' he said.

"It is a different standard to play for your country and I have played for the under-21 team in the past, so they know what I am capable of.

"I think I deserve a chance, but you have to have confidence and believe in yourself.

"Antonis Nikopolidis is the goalkeeper now, he's been there for a few years and he is a good goalkeeper, very steady.

"But he is playing for Panathanaikos and he is not doing very well right now, so hopefully I will get a call.

"I have heard that another lad who used to be my deputy for the under-21 team is also being mentioned because he is playing regular football as well.

"All I have to do is keep playing well for Hartlepool. I have friends and family in Greece who are keeping watching their results back home and letting me know how he is doing. He is not in his best form, so you never know.''

Former Pool boss Neale Cooper quit as Gills' boss this week, just a day before chairman Paul Scally revealed the club is in debt to the tune of £9.5m.

Administration has been avoided, but Konstantopoulos and Pool are hoping to heap more woe on the club.

After winning four successive games, Pool lost to Brentford at Victoria Park last week.

But the big keeper is sure his side can put last week's below-par display in the past.

"I wouldn't say last week brought us back to earth after four wins. I think if we played our normal game against Brentford it would have been enough for a win,'' he said.

"We know we didn't play very well, we can play a lot better. But we know our away form is good, better than our home form, and we are going to Gillingham fairly confident.

"If we had won last week we could have been level on points with Brentford, so it's disappointing that we didn't catch them up and move higher up the table into the top few places.

"But there are still a lot of games to come and in my opinion we will make the top six - I know there is a lot more to come from this team and a lot more points to come our way.

"We have won four in a row and look at the difference that makes. We have moved right up the table and now it's time to start another run.

"Away from home we are playing much better and we are a bit more relaxed to enjoy our football.

"Last time away from home at Port Vale was very good. Our division is very tight and any team can beat anyone. We have nothing to fear.''

Pool beat Gillingham 3-1 at Victoria Park almost three weeks ago and Konstantopoulos said: "We played really well against them, so we take that confidence with us.

"I think we were the better team against Gillingham and now we have to go out and prove it all again.

"It will be tough, despite their problems, but we go there to win.''

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