Greece v Spain - PREVIEW
Torres expecting no favours from Greeks
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| Spanish football player Fernando Torres kicks the ball during a training session at Falperra Hotel 14 June 2004 where Spain team prepare their Euro 2004 nations championships against Greece. AFP PHOTO/ Javier SORIANO. |
Spain and Greece will both be looking to build on their winning starts in Group A when they meet in Group A on Wednesday.
Spain edged a dogged Russian side 1-0, while the Greeks upset hosts Portugal 2-1 in the first match of the 16-team tournament.
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| This combo shows recent pictures of Greek forward Demis Nikolaidis (L) and Spanish forward and captain Raul. Spain will play Greece 12 June 2004 in their second Euro 2004 group A match in Porto . AFP PHOTO FILES |
Portugal's defeat may have come as a surprise to many, but not Atletico Madrid striker Fernando Torres whose Spanish side finished second behind the Greeks in their qualifying group after losing 1-0 at home to Otto Rehhagel's men last June.
"There are no gifts at this tournament," said the exciting forward who is on the wish list of many European coaches this summer.
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| Spanish midfielder Juan Carlos Valeron (C) is congratulated by his teammate midfielder Vicente (R) after scoring a goal against Russia, 12 June 2004 at Faro stadium during their opening match at the European Nations football championships. Spain and Russia are competing in Group A with Greece and host Portugal. AFP PHOTO / YURI KADOBNOV |
"We have got three important points and nothing else. It would be wrong to think we will win the group just because we won our first match."
Juan Carlos Valeron, scorer of Spain's goal against the Russians within 36 seconds after coming off the substitutes' bench, insisted there was still much to do if his side were to reach the quarter-finals.
"We won a match, not the tournament, so we can't get too excited - there is a long way to go," said the Deportivo La Coruna marksman.
Hard work cure for Greeks
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| Greece's coach, German Otto Rehhagel (L) gives advices to his players during a training session at the Rio Ave stadium, in Vila Do Conde, 10 June 2004, two days before the opening ceremony of the European Nations Championship. Greece will face Portugal in the Euro 2004 opening game. |
Under Rehhagel, Greece have develped into a well-organised, hard-working outfit and now have a great chance at making it through to the knockout stages of an international competition for the first time.
His ability to mould a team despite a lack of star quality has made the German coach something of a national treasure back in Athens - and he's not complaining.
"When I walk around Athens people salute me and now I must be the only person allowed to drive in the bus lanes!"
Greece's captain, Theodiris Zagorakis praised Rehhagel's ability to squeeze the most out of his modest squad.
"He makes us work very hard, and now we're seeing the benefit of that as the results are coming," he said.
Probable teams
Greece: Nikopolidis - Seitaridis, Dellas (or Goumas), Kapsis, Fyssas - Basinas, Zagorakis (capt) - Karagounis, Giannakopoulos - Vryzas, Charisteas.
Coach: Otto Rehhagel
Spain:: Casillas - Puyol, Marchena, I. Helguera, Raul Bravo - Albelda, Xabi Alonso - Etxeberria, Raul (capt), Vicente - Fernando Torres.
Coach: Inaki Saez
Referee: M. Michel (SVQ)