Starting elevens (15 Viewers)
- Thread starter Zambrotta
- Start date
The wait is over people. Here is the long-awaited formation predictions.
The Official WORLD SOCCER Guide to Euro 2004: Part 1
Bulgaria 4-1-3-1-1
Zdravkov (GK)
Borimirov - Pazin - Kirilov - I Petkov
Hristov (DM)
Peev - S Petrov - M Petrov
Jankovic (AM)
Berbatov (CF)
Croatia 5-3-2
Pletikosa
Zivkovic - Tudor - R Kovac - Tomas - Simunic
Srna - N Kovac - Rapajic
Prso - Sokota
Czech Republic 4-3-1-2
Cech
Grygera - Bolf - Ujfalusi - Jankulovski
Poborsky - Galasek - Nedved
Rosicky
Baros - Koller
Denmark 4-4-1-1
Sorensen
Helveg - Laursen - Henriksen - N Jensen
Gronkjaer - Gravesen - Wieghorst - Jorgensen
Tomasson
Sand
England 4-3-1-2
James
G Neville - Campbell - Terry - A Cole
Beckham - Butt - Gerrard
Scholes
Rooney - Owen
France 4-4-2
Barthez
Thuram - Desailly - Gallas - Lizarazu
Pires - Vieira - Makelele - Zidane
Trezeguet - Henry
Germany 4-4-2
Kahn
Hinkel - Nowotny - Worns - Lahm
Schneider - Frings - Hamann - Ballack
Klose - Kuranyi
Greece 5-3-2
Nikopolidis
Seitaridis - Dellas - Kapsis - Katsouranis - Fissas
Tsiartas - Zagorakis - Giannakopoulos
Haristeas - Nikolaidis
Holland 4-3-1-2
Van der Sar
Reiziger - Stam - Cocu - Bouma
Van der Meyde - Davids - Robben
van der Vaart
Kluivert - Van Nistelrooy
*Note* Not the exact same as World Soccer. Thus, updated.
Italy 4-3-1-2
Buffon
Panucci - Cannavaro - Nesta - Zambrotta
Camoranesi - Zanetti - Perrotta
Totti
Vieri - Del Piero
The Official WORLD SOCCER Guide to Euro 2004: Part 1
Bulgaria 4-1-3-1-1
Zdravkov (GK)
Borimirov - Pazin - Kirilov - I Petkov
Hristov (DM)
Peev - S Petrov - M Petrov
Jankovic (AM)
Berbatov (CF)
Croatia 5-3-2
Pletikosa
Zivkovic - Tudor - R Kovac - Tomas - Simunic
Srna - N Kovac - Rapajic
Prso - Sokota
Czech Republic 4-3-1-2
Cech
Grygera - Bolf - Ujfalusi - Jankulovski
Poborsky - Galasek - Nedved
Rosicky
Baros - Koller
Denmark 4-4-1-1
Sorensen
Helveg - Laursen - Henriksen - N Jensen
Gronkjaer - Gravesen - Wieghorst - Jorgensen
Tomasson
Sand
England 4-3-1-2
James
G Neville - Campbell - Terry - A Cole
Beckham - Butt - Gerrard
Scholes
Rooney - Owen
France 4-4-2
Barthez
Thuram - Desailly - Gallas - Lizarazu
Pires - Vieira - Makelele - Zidane
Trezeguet - Henry
Germany 4-4-2
Kahn
Hinkel - Nowotny - Worns - Lahm
Schneider - Frings - Hamann - Ballack
Klose - Kuranyi
Greece 5-3-2
Nikopolidis
Seitaridis - Dellas - Kapsis - Katsouranis - Fissas
Tsiartas - Zagorakis - Giannakopoulos
Haristeas - Nikolaidis
Holland 4-3-1-2
Van der Sar
Reiziger - Stam - Cocu - Bouma
Van der Meyde - Davids - Robben
van der Vaart
Kluivert - Van Nistelrooy
*Note* Not the exact same as World Soccer. Thus, updated.
Italy 4-3-1-2
Buffon
Panucci - Cannavaro - Nesta - Zambrotta
Camoranesi - Zanetti - Perrotta
Totti
Vieri - Del Piero
The Official WORLD SOCCER Guide to Euro 2004: Part 2
Latvia 4-4-2
Kolinko
Isakovs - Zemlinskis - Stepanovs - Blagonadezdins
Bleidelis - Lobanovs - Astafjevs - Rubins
Pahars - Verpakovskis
Portugal 4-2-3-1
Ricardo
Paulo Ferreira - F Couto - J Andrade - Rui Jorge
Costinha - Petit
Figo - Rui Costa - Simao
Pauleta
Russia 4-4-2
Ovchinnikov
Eseev - Onopko - Ignashevich - Sennikov
Gusev - Loskov - Alenichev - Karyaka
Bulykin - Kerzhakov
*Note* Izmailov?
Spain 4-2-3-1
Casillas
M Salgado - Marchena - I Helguera - Puyol
Albelda - Xabi Alonso(Baraja)
Etxeberria - Valeron - Vicente
Raul
Sweden 4-3-1-2
Isaksson
Lucic - Mellberg - M Svensson - Edman
Nilsson - Mjallby - Ljungberg
A Svensson
Allback - Ibrahimovic
Switzerland 4-3-1-2
Stiel
Haas - Muller - M Yakin - Berner
Cabanas - Vogel - Wicky
H Yakin
Chapuisat - Frei
*Note* All Squads, of course, are not set in stone.
Latvia 4-4-2
Kolinko
Isakovs - Zemlinskis - Stepanovs - Blagonadezdins
Bleidelis - Lobanovs - Astafjevs - Rubins
Pahars - Verpakovskis
Portugal 4-2-3-1
Ricardo
Paulo Ferreira - F Couto - J Andrade - Rui Jorge
Costinha - Petit
Figo - Rui Costa - Simao
Pauleta
Russia 4-4-2
Ovchinnikov
Eseev - Onopko - Ignashevich - Sennikov
Gusev - Loskov - Alenichev - Karyaka
Bulykin - Kerzhakov
*Note* Izmailov?
Spain 4-2-3-1
Casillas
M Salgado - Marchena - I Helguera - Puyol
Albelda - Xabi Alonso(Baraja)
Etxeberria - Valeron - Vicente
Raul
Sweden 4-3-1-2
Isaksson
Lucic - Mellberg - M Svensson - Edman
Nilsson - Mjallby - Ljungberg
A Svensson
Allback - Ibrahimovic
Switzerland 4-3-1-2
Stiel
Haas - Muller - M Yakin - Berner
Cabanas - Vogel - Wicky
H Yakin
Chapuisat - Frei
*Note* All Squads, of course, are not set in stone.
++ [ originally posted by Stuart ] ++
Damn
No Canizarez, Xavi or Morientes 
Spain are going to have such a talented bench with the above-mentioned players as well as Baraja (or Xabi Alonso depending on who starts), Joaquin, Luque and Fernando Torres.
Damn
No Canizarez, Xavi or Morientes Spain are going to have such a talented bench with the above-mentioned players as well as Baraja (or Xabi Alonso depending on who starts), Joaquin, Luque and Fernando Torres.
Players force Advocaat about-turn
ALBUFEIRA, Portugal, June 9 (Reuters) - Dutch coach Dick Advocaat has decided to change tactics after a discussion with four leading players and will start with wingers in the opening Euro 2004 match against Germany on Tuesday.
Advocaat told reporters on Wednesday he would change from a 4-4-2 system to 4-3-3 after two friendly defeats in eight days.
He denied he had been forced into the changes by the players -- the Dutch have a history of falling out among themselves before and during major tournaments.
'This was no discussion, it was a monologue,' Advocaat said. 'I think this team will perform better with wide players.'
He would not say which players he had consulted although midfielder Philip Cocu said he was one, adding that the chat had lasted about 45 minutes.
At a training session later on Wednesday, Ruud van Nistelrooy played as the lone striker with Marc Overmars playing wide on the left and Andy van der Meyde on the right.
In midfield Cocu played in the middle with Edgar Davids on his left and Wesley Sneijder, 20 today, on the right. Regular midfielder Rafael van der Vaart missed the session because of a minor stomach muscle problem.
CAUTIOUS APPROACH
Advocaat, renowned for his cautious approach, is in his second spell as Dutch coach and will be desperate to avoid a split appearing in his squad over tactics.
Advocaat was in charge for the 1994 World Cup and in the run-up to the tournament in the United States the coach failed to create a tight unit.
After a friendly against Scotland influential midfielder Ruud Gullit argued with his coach about tactics.
Advocaat followed his own plan and Gullit left the training camp in disgust before the start of the tournament, signalling the end of his international carer.
During the tournament Advocaat failed to find the ideal mixture with experienced players like Ronald Koeman, Frank Rijkaard and Jan Wouters, and a large contingent of Ajax Amsterdam players who won the Champions League a year later.
Advocaat ignored the young, talented players while he proved incapable of using the more experienced ones in the right way.
Before the finals in Portugal the same problems appear to be happening in the Dutch camp, and friendly defeats by Belgium and Ireland have shaken confidence among the players.
When Mark van Bommel dropped out injured Advocaat picked 34-year-old Paul Bosvelt, who spent half his season on the bench at Manchester City, instead of 19-year-old Nigel de Jong.
Advocaat's style has been widely criticised, by Gullit and AZ Alkmaar coach Co Adriaanse among others.
Adriaanse said in an interview last week: 'It is impossible that the Dutch will win a title with Advocaat as coach.
'Advocaat will never lose a match 5-0. He excludes any risks and like that you never win a title,' said Adriaanse.
ALBUFEIRA, Portugal, June 9 (Reuters) - Dutch coach Dick Advocaat has decided to change tactics after a discussion with four leading players and will start with wingers in the opening Euro 2004 match against Germany on Tuesday.
Advocaat told reporters on Wednesday he would change from a 4-4-2 system to 4-3-3 after two friendly defeats in eight days.
He denied he had been forced into the changes by the players -- the Dutch have a history of falling out among themselves before and during major tournaments.
'This was no discussion, it was a monologue,' Advocaat said. 'I think this team will perform better with wide players.'
He would not say which players he had consulted although midfielder Philip Cocu said he was one, adding that the chat had lasted about 45 minutes.
At a training session later on Wednesday, Ruud van Nistelrooy played as the lone striker with Marc Overmars playing wide on the left and Andy van der Meyde on the right.
In midfield Cocu played in the middle with Edgar Davids on his left and Wesley Sneijder, 20 today, on the right. Regular midfielder Rafael van der Vaart missed the session because of a minor stomach muscle problem.
CAUTIOUS APPROACH
Advocaat, renowned for his cautious approach, is in his second spell as Dutch coach and will be desperate to avoid a split appearing in his squad over tactics.
Advocaat was in charge for the 1994 World Cup and in the run-up to the tournament in the United States the coach failed to create a tight unit.
After a friendly against Scotland influential midfielder Ruud Gullit argued with his coach about tactics.
Advocaat followed his own plan and Gullit left the training camp in disgust before the start of the tournament, signalling the end of his international carer.
During the tournament Advocaat failed to find the ideal mixture with experienced players like Ronald Koeman, Frank Rijkaard and Jan Wouters, and a large contingent of Ajax Amsterdam players who won the Champions League a year later.
Advocaat ignored the young, talented players while he proved incapable of using the more experienced ones in the right way.
Before the finals in Portugal the same problems appear to be happening in the Dutch camp, and friendly defeats by Belgium and Ireland have shaken confidence among the players.
When Mark van Bommel dropped out injured Advocaat picked 34-year-old Paul Bosvelt, who spent half his season on the bench at Manchester City, instead of 19-year-old Nigel de Jong.
Advocaat's style has been widely criticised, by Gullit and AZ Alkmaar coach Co Adriaanse among others.
Adriaanse said in an interview last week: 'It is impossible that the Dutch will win a title with Advocaat as coach.
'Advocaat will never lose a match 5-0. He excludes any risks and like that you never win a title,' said Adriaanse.
Stupid ass foreign media. There aren't any quarrels and when a coach consults his players that's perfectly normal in Holland.
We don't have a hierargic society - managers are addressed with their first names and nobody is seen as more important than someone else. That gives that discussions involving everyone appear, rather than dictatorial decisions by a supposedly superior member of society.
Kindly take Dutch culture into account before you write articles like that, foreigners. May I assume you got that from moronic Eurosport? Or was it UEFA this time?
We don't have a hierargic society - managers are addressed with their first names and nobody is seen as more important than someone else. That gives that discussions involving everyone appear, rather than dictatorial decisions by a supposedly superior member of society.
Kindly take Dutch culture into account before you write articles like that, foreigners. May I assume you got that from moronic Eurosport? Or was it UEFA this time?
Korean culture is completely the opposite. If someone's born on 31/12/xx, and another person's born on 01/01/xx + 1, the first person has to respect them and call them by a certain title etc. I hate that, and I'm glad Koreans living in Australia don't do that shit.
One thing I loved about Hiddink managing the Korean team is that he eliminated all that crap. When he first ate lunch with the squad, he noticed that all the young players ate with each other, and all the senior players kept to themselves. He knew that would affect the unity of the squad, so that's one of the first things he changed. What a champion
I believe it was soccernet. Apologies if I offended your culture, but no need to shoot the messenger dude
One thing I loved about Hiddink managing the Korean team is that he eliminated all that crap. When he first ate lunch with the squad, he noticed that all the young players ate with each other, and all the senior players kept to themselves. He knew that would affect the unity of the squad, so that's one of the first things he changed. What a champion
I believe it was soccernet. Apologies if I offended your culture, but no need to shoot the messenger dude
++ [ originally posted by gray ] ++
Korean culture is completely the opposite. If someone's born on 31/12/xx, and another person's born on 01/01/xx + 1, the first person has to respect them and call them by a certain title etc. I hate that, and I'm glad Koreans living in Australia don't do that shit.
One thing I loved about Hiddink managing the Korean team is that he eliminated all that crap. When he first ate lunch with the squad, he noticed that all the young players ate with each other, and all the senior players kept to themselves. He knew that would affect the unity of the squad, so that's one of the first things he changed. What a champions
Korean culture is completely the opposite. If someone's born on 31/12/xx, and another person's born on 01/01/xx + 1, the first person has to respect them and call them by a certain title etc. I hate that, and I'm glad Koreans living in Australia don't do that shit.
One thing I loved about Hiddink managing the Korean team is that he eliminated all that crap. When he first ate lunch with the squad, he noticed that all the young players ate with each other, and all the senior players kept to themselves. He knew that would affect the unity of the squad, so that's one of the first things he changed. What a champions
I believe it was soccernet. Apologies if I offended your culture, but no need to shoot the messenger dude
Attackers on alert in Algarve
by Matthew Spiro from Faro
www.uefa.com
Spain and Russia are both hoping to exploit defensive frailties when they face each other in their opening Group A fixture in Faro-Loulé.
Depleted defences
Opening matches are often cautious affairs, with both teams aware of how damaging a defeat could be, but with Spain and Russia fielding depleted defences and an impressive array of attacking talent, Saturday's game promises to be different.
New role
Russia have the more serious problems at the back, with regular central defenders Viktor Onopko and Sergei Ignashevitch both out injured and Dmitri Sennikov and Roman Sharonov nursing minor strains. Their hopes of keeping Spain at bay depend largely on the ability of midfield player Aleksei Smertin to adapt to his new role in the centre of defence.
Experience
Smertin, the captain in Onopko's absence, started his career as a playmaker and, though he has been employed in a defensive midfield role more recently, he has limited experience as a defender. The 29-year-old admitted he felt nervous about his new position, but manager Georgi Yartsev is keen to ensure that he has an experienced spine to his team. "We need players in defence who are used to playing games at this level," he said.
Fitness tests
The Chelsea FC player is likely to be partnered by Sharonov, who has participated in Russia's last three training sessions, while Sennikov is also likely to recover to take his place at right-back. Aleksei Bugayev and Aleksandr Anyukov, both of whom made their international debuts last month, are ready should either fail fitness tests.
Albelda fit to play
Russia's experimental defence will be charged with keeping quiet Fernando Morientes, the top scorer in last season's UEFA Champions League, and Raúl González, Spain's all-time leading scorer. The Real Madrid CF pair should be supported by wingers Vicente Rodríguez and Joseba Etxeberria, while David Albelda has recovered from a muscular problem to take his place alongside Rubén Baraja in the centre of midfield.
Russian frailties
Raúl is confident that Spain can get off to a winning start, and stressed the importance of exploiting Russia's frailties. "Portugal and Greece are more solid defensively than Russia, so we need to take advantage in the first game," he explained. Spain have not gone beyond the quarter-final stage of a UEFA European Championship since 1984 and, while they possess the attacking talent to put that record straight, the Spanish media have raised doubts about their quality in defence.
Counterattacking threat
Spain have kept just three clean sheets in their last 21 European Championship finals matches and with Fernando Hierro long retired and Míchel Salgado injured, theirs is an inexperienced defence. Yartsev insisted Russia would not alter their counterattacking style and would look to break forward at every opportunity. "Like us, they have problems at the back that we need to take advantage of," he said.
Sychev's speed
Russia will look to the speed of a rejuvenated Dmitri Sychev to put Spanish centre-halves Iván Helguera and Carlos Marchena under pressure, and Dmitri Bulykin should play alongside him despite scoring just once goal for FC Dinamo Moskva this season.
Mostovoi to roam
Yartsev is also hoping that Lokomotiv's gifted right winger Marat Izmailov will have some joy against Raúl Bravo, while Champions League winner Dmitri Alenichev should line up on the left wing against Carles Puyol. PFC CSKA Moskva's Evgeni Aldonin will play the holding role in midfield, with Aleksandr Mostovoi roaming behind the two strikers.
Spain (probable): Casillas; Puyol, Marchena, Helguera, Raúl Bravo; Albelda, Baraja; Etxeberria, Raúl, Vicente; Morientes.
Russia (probable): Ovchinnikov, Sennikov, Evseev, Sharonov, Smertin; Mostovoi, Alenichev, Aldonin, Izmailov; Sychev, Bulykin.
Referee: U Meier
by Matthew Spiro from Faro
www.uefa.com
Spain and Russia are both hoping to exploit defensive frailties when they face each other in their opening Group A fixture in Faro-Loulé.
Depleted defences
Opening matches are often cautious affairs, with both teams aware of how damaging a defeat could be, but with Spain and Russia fielding depleted defences and an impressive array of attacking talent, Saturday's game promises to be different.
New role
Russia have the more serious problems at the back, with regular central defenders Viktor Onopko and Sergei Ignashevitch both out injured and Dmitri Sennikov and Roman Sharonov nursing minor strains. Their hopes of keeping Spain at bay depend largely on the ability of midfield player Aleksei Smertin to adapt to his new role in the centre of defence.
Experience
Smertin, the captain in Onopko's absence, started his career as a playmaker and, though he has been employed in a defensive midfield role more recently, he has limited experience as a defender. The 29-year-old admitted he felt nervous about his new position, but manager Georgi Yartsev is keen to ensure that he has an experienced spine to his team. "We need players in defence who are used to playing games at this level," he said.
Fitness tests
The Chelsea FC player is likely to be partnered by Sharonov, who has participated in Russia's last three training sessions, while Sennikov is also likely to recover to take his place at right-back. Aleksei Bugayev and Aleksandr Anyukov, both of whom made their international debuts last month, are ready should either fail fitness tests.
Albelda fit to play
Russia's experimental defence will be charged with keeping quiet Fernando Morientes, the top scorer in last season's UEFA Champions League, and Raúl González, Spain's all-time leading scorer. The Real Madrid CF pair should be supported by wingers Vicente Rodríguez and Joseba Etxeberria, while David Albelda has recovered from a muscular problem to take his place alongside Rubén Baraja in the centre of midfield.
Russian frailties
Raúl is confident that Spain can get off to a winning start, and stressed the importance of exploiting Russia's frailties. "Portugal and Greece are more solid defensively than Russia, so we need to take advantage in the first game," he explained. Spain have not gone beyond the quarter-final stage of a UEFA European Championship since 1984 and, while they possess the attacking talent to put that record straight, the Spanish media have raised doubts about their quality in defence.
Counterattacking threat
Spain have kept just three clean sheets in their last 21 European Championship finals matches and with Fernando Hierro long retired and Míchel Salgado injured, theirs is an inexperienced defence. Yartsev insisted Russia would not alter their counterattacking style and would look to break forward at every opportunity. "Like us, they have problems at the back that we need to take advantage of," he said.
Sychev's speed
Russia will look to the speed of a rejuvenated Dmitri Sychev to put Spanish centre-halves Iván Helguera and Carlos Marchena under pressure, and Dmitri Bulykin should play alongside him despite scoring just once goal for FC Dinamo Moskva this season.
Mostovoi to roam
Yartsev is also hoping that Lokomotiv's gifted right winger Marat Izmailov will have some joy against Raúl Bravo, while Champions League winner Dmitri Alenichev should line up on the left wing against Carles Puyol. PFC CSKA Moskva's Evgeni Aldonin will play the holding role in midfield, with Aleksandr Mostovoi roaming behind the two strikers.
Spain (probable): Casillas; Puyol, Marchena, Helguera, Raúl Bravo; Albelda, Baraja; Etxeberria, Raúl, Vicente; Morientes.
Russia (probable): Ovchinnikov, Sennikov, Evseev, Sharonov, Smertin; Mostovoi, Alenichev, Aldonin, Izmailov; Sychev, Bulykin.
Referee: U Meier
Portugal's adventure begins
by Adam Szreter from Porto
www.uefa.com
In theory it should be no contest: one team who qualified impressively as group winners ahead of Spain and Ukraine; another whose last competitive match was a humiliating defeat in Korea/Japan two years ago.
Second city
But of course football is neither logical nor predictable and rather than Greece, it is Portugal, the proud hosts of UEFA EURO 2004™, who will be favourites to win the opening match on Saturday at the Estádio do Dragão here in the country's second city.
Golden generation
This tournament could be seen as a last chance for Portugal's Luís Figo, Rui Costa and Fernando Couto to bring home the sort of reward their talent has demanded ever since they were world youth champions more than a decade ago. But the so-called 'golden generation' is already giving way to an exciting new crop of talent.
Porto trio
FC Porto, the recently crowned European club champions, provide three players in the starting lineup - the exciting Paolo Ferreira at full-back and the midfield fulcrum of Costinha and Maniche. Meanwhile the Lisbon giants - Sporting Clube de Portugal and SL Benfica - supply another three between them in goalkeeper Ricardo and a second adventurous full-back Rui Jorge, as well as the mercurial Simão Sabrosa in attack. Another Sporting player, Beto, is suspended.
Familiar formation
Their Brazilian coach, Luiz Felipe Scolari, has stuck with the formation that served Portugal so well at these championships four years ago, until they lost their nerve against world champions France in the semi-finals. While the veterans Figo and Rui Costa supply the ammunition, much is expected of lone striker Pauleta, the man from the Azores who is the only member of the team never to have played at the top level in his home country.
Attacking option
The selection of Porto's Maniche, in preference to Benfica's Petit, may be a diplomatic gesture from a coach who claims not to care what the locals think of his decisions; but whatever the motives, the effect should be to boost Portugal's offensive options. "He's a player who attacks more and gets in more shots from distance," said Scolari.
Unbeaten run
Greece, having enjoyed a 15-match unbeaten run on the way to these finals, nevertheless arrive as underdogs. The 4-0 defeat in the Netherlands that ended their winning sequence, and a further reverse in Poland, quickly undermined confidence in Otto Rehhagel's team, but their German coach was not without hope.
'We are the outsiders'
"Of course, we play the favourites and we are the outsiders, but outsiders always have a chance," he said. "We must provide the answers to the questions the Portuguese are going to pose in this game, and we want to prove why we qualified for this championship."
Nikolaidis doubt
For the visitors, having already lost the experienced Nikolaos Dabizas from the centre of defence, much will depend on whether Club Atlético de Madrid's Themistoklis Nikolaidis has recovered from a calf injury, but time is against Greece's talismanic striker and AC Fiorentina's Zisis Vryzas seems set to replace him.
Confrontation
In defence, Panagiotis Fyssas will patrol the left-hand side while Greece's other full-back, Giourkas Seitaridis, will take a special interest in his surroundings with persistent rumours linking him to a summer move to Porto. Whether he would be welcome will depend to a large extent on the outcome of this most eagerly awaited of matches.
Portugal: Ricardo; Paulo Ferreira, Rui Jorge, Fernando Couto, Jorge Andrade; Maniche, Costinha, Luís Figo, Simão Sabrosa, Rui Costa; Pauleta.
Greece (possible): Nikopolidis; Seitaridis, Dellas, Kapsis, Fyssas; Giannakopoulos, Bassinas, Tsiartas, Lakis; Vryzas, Charisteas.
Referee: P Collina (Ita).
by Adam Szreter from Porto
www.uefa.com
In theory it should be no contest: one team who qualified impressively as group winners ahead of Spain and Ukraine; another whose last competitive match was a humiliating defeat in Korea/Japan two years ago.
Second city
But of course football is neither logical nor predictable and rather than Greece, it is Portugal, the proud hosts of UEFA EURO 2004™, who will be favourites to win the opening match on Saturday at the Estádio do Dragão here in the country's second city.
Golden generation
This tournament could be seen as a last chance for Portugal's Luís Figo, Rui Costa and Fernando Couto to bring home the sort of reward their talent has demanded ever since they were world youth champions more than a decade ago. But the so-called 'golden generation' is already giving way to an exciting new crop of talent.
Porto trio
FC Porto, the recently crowned European club champions, provide three players in the starting lineup - the exciting Paolo Ferreira at full-back and the midfield fulcrum of Costinha and Maniche. Meanwhile the Lisbon giants - Sporting Clube de Portugal and SL Benfica - supply another three between them in goalkeeper Ricardo and a second adventurous full-back Rui Jorge, as well as the mercurial Simão Sabrosa in attack. Another Sporting player, Beto, is suspended.
Familiar formation
Their Brazilian coach, Luiz Felipe Scolari, has stuck with the formation that served Portugal so well at these championships four years ago, until they lost their nerve against world champions France in the semi-finals. While the veterans Figo and Rui Costa supply the ammunition, much is expected of lone striker Pauleta, the man from the Azores who is the only member of the team never to have played at the top level in his home country.
Attacking option
The selection of Porto's Maniche, in preference to Benfica's Petit, may be a diplomatic gesture from a coach who claims not to care what the locals think of his decisions; but whatever the motives, the effect should be to boost Portugal's offensive options. "He's a player who attacks more and gets in more shots from distance," said Scolari.
Unbeaten run
Greece, having enjoyed a 15-match unbeaten run on the way to these finals, nevertheless arrive as underdogs. The 4-0 defeat in the Netherlands that ended their winning sequence, and a further reverse in Poland, quickly undermined confidence in Otto Rehhagel's team, but their German coach was not without hope.
'We are the outsiders'
"Of course, we play the favourites and we are the outsiders, but outsiders always have a chance," he said. "We must provide the answers to the questions the Portuguese are going to pose in this game, and we want to prove why we qualified for this championship."
Nikolaidis doubt
For the visitors, having already lost the experienced Nikolaos Dabizas from the centre of defence, much will depend on whether Club Atlético de Madrid's Themistoklis Nikolaidis has recovered from a calf injury, but time is against Greece's talismanic striker and AC Fiorentina's Zisis Vryzas seems set to replace him.
Confrontation
In defence, Panagiotis Fyssas will patrol the left-hand side while Greece's other full-back, Giourkas Seitaridis, will take a special interest in his surroundings with persistent rumours linking him to a summer move to Porto. Whether he would be welcome will depend to a large extent on the outcome of this most eagerly awaited of matches.
Portugal: Ricardo; Paulo Ferreira, Rui Jorge, Fernando Couto, Jorge Andrade; Maniche, Costinha, Luís Figo, Simão Sabrosa, Rui Costa; Pauleta.
Greece (possible): Nikopolidis; Seitaridis, Dellas, Kapsis, Fyssas; Giannakopoulos, Bassinas, Tsiartas, Lakis; Vryzas, Charisteas.
Referee: P Collina (Ita).