Dethroned champions look to leave Euro '08
Thursday, 19 June 2008
SALZBURG, Austria, June 18 (AFP): Reigning European champions Greece will be aiming to bow out of Euro 2008 Wednesday by salvaging some pride against Group D winners Spain.
Greece's dreams of repeating their improbable run to the title in Portugal four years ago were quickly blown away this time around as Otto Rehhagel's defensive tactics failed to produce the same results.
The Greeks lost 2-0 to Sweden before a 1-0 reverse against Russia eliminated them from the competition.
Their form has been poor in those two games but their chances of snatching a consolation victory against the Spaniards are actually quite high.
Just as Switzerland took advantage of a weakened and already qualified Portugal on Sunday to earn their first win of the tournament, Greece will be hoping to do likewise against the impressive Spaniards.
Spanish central defender Raul Albiol said that whoever lined up against the Greeks, it would not diminish the intensity of the match as he and the other players were keen to show coach Luis Aragones they could do as good a job as his preferred first choice team.
"If I play against Greece, even if we go out there with a different line-up from the usual one, we will still be right up for it. We want to finish with nine points in the group. You must never relax," said Albiol, who could well play an influential role in the tournament as veteran Carles Puyol is struggling with a sole injury.
Aragones, who has been linked with coaching Fenerbahce after he steps down following the tournament, could even change his entire starting XI - mind you he will still be able to call on the likes of Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas and Liverpool's Xabi Alonso to run their midfield.
It will be no easy task for Greece, although four years ago they held Spain to a draw in the group stages before finishing above them to squeeze into the knock-out rounds.
Greece's dreams of repeating their improbable run to the title in Portugal four years ago were quickly blown away this time around as Otto Rehhagel's defensive tactics failed to produce the same results.
The Greeks lost 2-0 to Sweden before a 1-0 reverse against Russia eliminated them from the competition.
Their form has been poor in those two games but their chances of snatching a consolation victory against the Spaniards are actually quite high.
Just as Switzerland took advantage of a weakened and already qualified Portugal on Sunday to earn their first win of the tournament, Greece will be hoping to do likewise against the impressive Spaniards.
Spanish central defender Raul Albiol said that whoever lined up against the Greeks, it would not diminish the intensity of the match as he and the other players were keen to show coach Luis Aragones they could do as good a job as his preferred first choice team.
"If I play against Greece, even if we go out there with a different line-up from the usual one, we will still be right up for it. We want to finish with nine points in the group. You must never relax," said Albiol, who could well play an influential role in the tournament as veteran Carles Puyol is struggling with a sole injury.
Aragones, who has been linked with coaching Fenerbahce after he steps down following the tournament, could even change his entire starting XI - mind you he will still be able to call on the likes of Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas and Liverpool's Xabi Alonso to run their midfield.
It will be no easy task for Greece, although four years ago they held Spain to a draw in the group stages before finishing above them to squeeze into the knock-out rounds.