Russia 2 Greece 1

Greece survived conceding the fastest ever goal in European Championships history to edge into the quarter-finals of Euro 2004 by the skin of their teeth.

Mick McCarthy was surprised as much as disappointed by the way his team defended as they crashed to the heaviest defeat of his 68 games in charge over the past six years.

Ireland’s World Cup heroes were well beaten by the slick Russians as they opened their Euro 2004 campaign with a crushing defeat.

Russia coach Oleg Romantsev has named a strong 20-man squad for the upcoming friendly clash with the Republic of Ireland in Dublin.