The Greeks may inherit

Speed, skill and the benefit of experience should take Spain to the brink of a quarter-final place when they play fellow Group A pacesetters...

Speed, skill and the benefit of experience should take Spain to the brink of a quarter-final place when they play fellow Group A pacesetters Greece at Euro 2004 on Wednesday. No one in the Spanish camp is about to underestimate the Greeks, though, after Otto Rehhagel’s fearless side beat them in qualifying and then spoiled Portugal’s opening-day party with a shock 2-1 win over the hosts.

‘‘Greece defend very well and hit on the counter with great speed,’’ Spanish winger Joseba Etxeberria said. ‘‘We’ll have to play quick passes in midfield and play to our own game, keeping the ball. That way I’m

sure we’ll create chances.’’

Spain and Greece are free from injury and will be determined to play to their strengths at the Bessa stadium in Porto. That will see Spain continue in the same attacking style that earned them a 1-0 win over Russia in their opening match, while Greece concentrate on staunch defence and look to hit on the break.

THE STATS

Venue: Bessa Stadium,
Porto Kick-off time: 21.30pm
Referee: Lubos Michel (Slovakia)

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GREECE

Coach: Otto Rehhagel
World ranking: 35
Average age of squad: 28
Most capped player: Theodoris Zagorakis (90)
Leading scorer: Demis Nikolaidis (17)

SPAIN

Coach: Inaki Saez
World ranking: 3
Average age of squad: 26
Most capped player: Raul (73) Leading scorer: Raul (38)

LAST MEETING
(Euro 2004 qualifier) June 7, 2003, Zaragoza (Spain)
RESULT Spain 0 Greece 1 (Stelios Giannakopolous 44)
HEAD TO HEAD PLAYED: 7
Greece: 1; Spain: 5; Draws: 1

REAL HOPE: The fine form of Vicente and Etxeberria on the wings will give Spain real hope of making it maximum points from two games but after losing to Greece in qualifying for the finals they are determined to pay their opponents plenty of respect. ‘‘It’s going to be important for us to remain patient because you don’t unlock a defence in five minutes,’’ Etxeberria said. The key to the match will be how well the Greek defence, so solid against Portugal, deal with the swift running of the Spanish wingers, as well as the height of striker Fernando Morientes and the trickery of his partner Raul. Inaki Saez has promised changes from the side that won against Russia and that is likely to see Xabi Alonso introduced to the midfield to speed up the side’s passing still further.

Rehhagel will nevertheless have few fears after seeing his defence neutralise the Portuguese attack with such skill. Full-backs Yourkas Seitaridis and Takis Fyssas dealt with Portugal’s Luis Figo, Simao Sabrosa and later Cristiano Ronaldo with few problems, while centre-backs Traianos Dellas and Michalis Kapsis were in towering form in the middle. (Reuters)

Probable teams

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Greece (4-4-2): 1-Antonis Nikopolidis; 2-Yourkas Seitaridis, 19-Michalis Kapsis, 5-Traianos Dellas, 14-Takis Fyssas; 8-Stelios Giannakopoulos, 6-Angelos Basinas, 20-Giorgos Karagounis, 10-Vassilis Tsartas; 9-Angelos Haristeas, 15-Zisis Vryzas (or 22-Dimitris Papadopoulos).

Spain (4-4-2): 23-Iker Casillas; 5-Carles Puyol, 3-Carlos Marchena, 6-Ivan Helguera, 15-Raul Bravo; 17-Joseba Etxeberria, 4-David Albelda, 16-Xabi Alonso, 14-Vicente; 10-Fernando Morientes, 7-Raul.