Greece, Russia both fighting to avoid early Euro 2008 exit
Saturday, 14 June 2008
SALZBURG, June 13 (AP): Greece is only one match into the European Championship and already close to surrendering the title it won four years ago. After losing to Sweden 2-0 in its Group D opener, the Greeks need a positive result against Russia in Salzburg Saturday.
And to make things tougher, Russia is in a similar position. "It is a final," Russia coach Guus Hiddink said Friday. "I'm curious to see how our players manage. Not just technically, but also mentally, emotionally to play a final." Greece striker Dimitris Salpingidis agreed. "It's a very important game. If we lose we're out. Everyone knows that," he said. "We will do everything possible for victory in the next game."
A defeat at the Wals-Siezenheim stadium could also end Russia's chances of qualifying for the quarterfinals and bring to a close Hiddink's record of reaching the knockout rounds of every international tournament he has coached at. Russia could go into the match without his top three forwards. Striker Pavel Pogrebnyak has been ruled out of Euro 2008 with a left knee injury and attacking midfielder Andrei Arshavin is suspended for the Greece game. On Thursday, Hiddink said replacement striker Roman Pavlyuchenko had a leg muscle injury and it was unclear if he would be fit for Saturday.
Hiddink said Pavlyuchenko had treatment Friday and would test the injury at training later in the day. The Russia coach conceded his team is missing Arshavin, who had a hand in both Zenit St. Petersburg goals when the club beat Rangers in the UEFA Cup final. "In order to implement a good concept you need a number of players helping. He is one of those players and obviously he will be sorely missed," Hiddink said. "But I told my very young team we will not use that as an excuse."
Greece appeared content to play for a draw and offered virtually nothing in attack against Sweden, with coach Otto Rehhagel widely criticized for fielding a lineup that included five defenders and seven players from the team that won Euro 2004. Hiddink, meanwhile, has called his players naive and lambasted them for handing Spain a 4-1 win with basic errors.
And to make things tougher, Russia is in a similar position. "It is a final," Russia coach Guus Hiddink said Friday. "I'm curious to see how our players manage. Not just technically, but also mentally, emotionally to play a final." Greece striker Dimitris Salpingidis agreed. "It's a very important game. If we lose we're out. Everyone knows that," he said. "We will do everything possible for victory in the next game."
A defeat at the Wals-Siezenheim stadium could also end Russia's chances of qualifying for the quarterfinals and bring to a close Hiddink's record of reaching the knockout rounds of every international tournament he has coached at. Russia could go into the match without his top three forwards. Striker Pavel Pogrebnyak has been ruled out of Euro 2008 with a left knee injury and attacking midfielder Andrei Arshavin is suspended for the Greece game. On Thursday, Hiddink said replacement striker Roman Pavlyuchenko had a leg muscle injury and it was unclear if he would be fit for Saturday.
Hiddink said Pavlyuchenko had treatment Friday and would test the injury at training later in the day. The Russia coach conceded his team is missing Arshavin, who had a hand in both Zenit St. Petersburg goals when the club beat Rangers in the UEFA Cup final. "In order to implement a good concept you need a number of players helping. He is one of those players and obviously he will be sorely missed," Hiddink said. "But I told my very young team we will not use that as an excuse."
Greece appeared content to play for a draw and offered virtually nothing in attack against Sweden, with coach Otto Rehhagel widely criticized for fielding a lineup that included five defenders and seven players from the team that won Euro 2004. Hiddink, meanwhile, has called his players naive and lambasted them for handing Spain a 4-1 win with basic errors.