France v Greece - PREVIEW
France to defend Achilles heel
|
| Greece's midfielder Georgios Karagounis (foreground) celebrates after scoring a fake opening goal next to Italian referee Pierluigi Collina (R) 12 June 2004 at Dragao stadium in Porto, during the Euro 2004 first group A football match between Portugal and Greece, at the European Nations Championship in Portugal. AFP PHOTO Lluis GENE |
Greece will hope to strike at France's one weakness in their quarter-final Friday when their counter-attacking style could expose the champions' depleted and generous defence.
|
| Swiss forward Johan Vonlanthen (C) jubilates with teammate forward Daniel Gygax (L) after his goal while French defender Mikael Silvestre reacts, 21June 2004 at Coimbra's stadium, during the Euro 2004 group B football match against France at the European Nations championship in Portugal. AFP PHOTO Franck FIFE |
Despite injuries to Willy Sagnol and William Gallas, France coach Jacques Santini may drop Mikael Silvestre and call up the fading captain Marcel Desailly and the inexperienced Jean-Alain Boumsong so as to push Lillian Thuram onto the right, completey replacing the centre and right of defence.
Silvestre has had a nightmare so far, giving both England and Croatia a penalty and making a horror back-pass to a Swiss striker that for 50 minutes looked as if it might cost a quarter-finals spot.
Desailly was also seriously at fault against Croatia, his hesitation allowing Dado Prso a clear shot at goal for an equaliser.
And with Sagnol's broken arm and Gallas' ankle problems France could be even further stretched at the back.
|
| French forward Thierry Henry heads off the ball, 21 June 2004 at Coimbra's stadium, during the Euro 2004 group B football match against Switzerland at the European Nations championship in Portugal. AFP PHOTO Mladen ANTONOV |
|
| Croatia's forward Dado Prso (R) shoots and scores against France, 17 June 2004, during their European Nations football championship match at the Dr. Magalhaes Pessoa stadium in Leiria. France and Croatia are competing in Group B with Switzerland and England. AFP Photo / Miguel RIOPA |
They do however boast a terrifying midfield and attack, even Greece coach Otto Rehhagel told his players not to have any nightmares about Thierry Henry.
Under the astute tactical guidance of their veteran German Rehhagel, Greece have developed a capacity to frustrate opponents by packing midfield.
When combined with the kind of deadly punch on the counter attack Greece have displayed at Euro and in qualifying, it can be a very potent formula. A formula that beat Portugal 2-1 and also helped eliminate Spain. Though their 2-1 defeat to Russia has exposed their own defensive frailties.
Greece have an injury worry over midfielder Stylianos Giannakopoulos but are boosted by the return from suspension of Giorgios Karagounis, who scored the opener in the 2-1 victory over Portugal.
France coach Jacques Santini has been busy telling anyone who will listen that it is impossible to win every match 5-0 and that two wins and a draw made them deserved winners of group B.
Henry's return to scoring form with a double in the 3-1 win over Switzerland has eased Santini's worries in attack but a defence which has conceded four goals in three matches here continues to give cause for concern.
Teams
France: Barthez - Gallas, Thuram, Silvestre, Lizarazu - Zidane (capt.), Dacourt, Makelele, Pires - Trezeguet, Henry
Coach: Jacques Santini
Greece: Nikopolidis - Seitaridis, Kapsis, Dellas, Fyssas - Zagorakis (capt.), Basinas - Karagounis, Katsouranis, Nikolaidis - Charisteas
Coach: Otto Rehhagel
Referee: Anders Frisk (Swe)