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Euro 2008 Pre-match Analysis: Greece vs Russia Live Online

June 13, 2008

European Championship, Group D, Match-day 2
Teams: Greece vs. Russia
Date and Time: Saturday, June 14, 2008, 20:45 CET
Venue: Wals-Siezenheim, Austria
Match Official: Roberto Rosett

Ties between the two nations have traditionally been strong, mostly on terms of history and religion. But mutual respect and appreciation will be put aside in this Euro 2008 encounter, as either Greece or Russia will be out of the tournament with another defeat.

Defending Champions Disappointing

The Greeks won Euro 2004 by defeating host Portugal in the final and France in the quarter final stages both by the same score line 1-0, but Euro 2008 has been a very disappointing attempt to defend their title.

With a defeat in their opening game against Sweden, the defending champions are really up against it and the added pressure of their fans who expects another Cinderella tournament will be bitterly disappointed at their showing so far. Victory is a must for the defending champions in a game that will be very decisive.

A Look at the teams

Greece

Rehhagel is tipped to change his line-up, but nothing dramatic is expected. He will certainly have to do without the injured Kostas Halkias, who’s just completed a rare move across town from Aris Thessalonikis to bitter rivals PAOK. Alexandros Tzorvas, on loan from Panathinaikos to OFI, will be the stand-in goalkeeper, with Nikopolidis once again between the sticks.

The three-man midfield will most likely to remain unchanged; some alterations are anticipated in defense though. Paraskevas Antzas, who was the surprise inclusion in the starting XI against the Swedes, is highly doubtful with a calf strain and Yourkas Seitaridis is struggling to shake off a groin injury. Versatile Hristos Patsatzoglou of Olympiakos Pirea could replace either of them if deemed necessary.

Possible Starting XI (4-3-3): Nikopolidis – Seitaridis (Patsatzoglou / Loukas Vyntra), Sotiris Kyrgiakos, Traianos Dellas, Vasilis Torosidis – Kostas Katsouranis, Basinas, Yorgos Karagounis – Angelos Haristeas, Nikos Lyberopoulos (Salpiggidis / Fanis Gekas), Yorgos Samaras (Amanatidis).

Russia

Deprived of the UEFA Cup joint top scorer Pavel Pogrebnyak even before the final phase began, Hiddink may now have to do without his replacement Roman Pavlyuchenko, the Spartak Moscow’s centre forward, who scored in all three of his last international appearances; is a major doubt due to a leg injury.

Possible Starting XI (4-3-3): Akinfeev – Aleksandr Anyukov, Aleksei Berezutskiy (Ignashevich), Vasily Berezutskiy, Yuri Zhirkov – Sergey Semak, Konstantin Zyryanov, Igor Semshov – Dmitri Sychev, Diniyar Bilyatletdinov, Pavlyuchenko (Roman Adamov).

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Greece – Angelos Haristeas

One of the most well known Greek footballers, and not only for scoring three invaluable goals in the 2004 final phase, including that headed winner in the final against Portugal. The former Aris Thessalonikis youth graduate has been playin abroad for the past six years, enjoying considerable success in both Germany and Holland.

He has scored more times on international level than any other active Greek player, 18 in 66 caps, and at 28 he has every chance of breaking the all-time high of 29 goals scored by Nikos Anastopoulos.

Russia – Yuri Zhirkov

Perhaps Russia’s MVP against Spain, he’s expected to put Greece’s right -sided players to the test on Saturday. Fast and skillful, he’s playing as a defender with the national side, although actually a left midfielder – if not a winger. At 24 he’s already tasted success in the UEFA Cup with CSKA Moscow, scoring the all-important second goal in the 3-1 2004-’05 final victory over Sporting Lisbon. He also won the award for the best European Champions League goal of the 2006-’07 campaign, when he netted in a 3-2 loss at HSV.
PREDICTIONS

Both teams will be cautious following their opening day losses and this game promises tension and drama, as only a victory will do for either of them. Russia seems to be favorites, as it remains uncertain whether the defending champions will have sufficient time to regroup after a disastrous showing against Sweden.

Greece – Russia 1-2

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