EURO 2008 Preview: Greece vs. Russia

السبت، 14 يونيو 2008 - 12:43

كتب : Omar AbdelAziz

Last chance for Rehhagel's men

Greece and Russia know there is no room for mistakes when they meet in Salzburg, following respective defeats in the first round.

The Russians were the only team to beat holders Greece in Portugal 2004, but this time a defeat will see Otto Rehhagel's team crashing out.

Head-to-head:

Greece win: 1

Russia win: 4

Draw: 3

Greece

"The Russians have a very young team and once they get going it is very difficult to stop them, so that is why we have to disrupt their stride," said Rehhagel.

Team News: Full-backs Giourkas Seitaridis and Paraskevas Antzas are both doubtful with groin and calf injuries respectively.

Reserve goalkeeper Kostas Chalkias is set to miss the rest of the group stage with a hand injury.

Probable Line-up: Nikopolidis-Patsatzoglou, Goumas, Dellas, Kyrgiakos- Torosidis, Karagounis, Basinas, Katsouranis- Amanatidis, Charisteas.

Russia

"It's like a final and I'm curious to see how our players manage, not just tactically but mentally and emotionally," said Guus Hiddink.

"We are two outsiders – let's be honest and face the facts. The one who is the most lucky or the better team has a chance to play the last game with an opportunity to get into the next round."

Team News: Hiddink faces a headache in attack as first-choice striker Roman Pavlyuchenko is doubtful after injuring himself in training.

Andrei Arshavin completes a two-match ban, following a red card in Russia's last qualifying game.

Probable Line-up: Akinfeev- Kolodin, Anyukov, Ignashevich- Zyrianov, Torbinsky, Semak, Bilyaletdinov, Zhirkov- Pavlyuchenko, Sychev.

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