One intriguing scenario that is rarely considered is, what if the Assyrian Empire had focused more energy on the conquest of Anatolia, and as a result, has ended up in control of the region, by 700 BC. Assyria begins to meddle with the Greek city states of Ionia, who, as they did in OTL when oppressed by Persia, call on their mainland cousins for aid. King Sennacherib of Assyria is thus faced with the same problem faced by Kings Darius I and Xerxes of Persia...what to do with these troublesome Greeks?
The Assyrian army was at the height of it's power at this time, and Assyria is ruled by one of it's most capable rulers. Greece, on the other hand, is a set of small city states, still ruled by kings or oligarchies. Militarily, they are still in transition between the old tactics of the Dark Age period and the Classical phalanx.
What do you think Greece's chances are against the Assyrian juggernaut?