Vieira a doubt for Greek clash

FRANCE midfielder Patrick Vieira, who has a thigh strain, is doubtful for tonight's quarter-final against Greece, says coach Jacques Santini.

Vieira has not been able to train with his team mates since the 3-1 win over Switzerland in their last group game on Monday.

"We don't know if Patrick will be fit in time," Santini said yesterday. "He has played a lot since the tournament started. So far, he has been unable to train with the rest of the squad."

If he does not recover in time he will be replaced by Benoit Pedretti alongside Claude Makelele in a defensive midfield role. Santini had better news about right back William Gallas who twisted his ankle against the Swiss but is feeling much better.

Meanwhile Greece's German coach Otto Rehhagel said his "heroes" were ready to do battle with the holders France while sidestepping the issue of whether he would one day lead his own country.

"Against France we will be able to enjoy ourselves and play like heroes as Greeks always do.

"There is less pressure on us than there was in the match against Russia, when we were under a lot of stress.

"We will not be taken by surprise as we were against them when they scored in the first minute," Rehhagel vowed, while freely admitting the French were favourites.

"I don't see a weakness in the French team. We must simply do our best and show why we are in the quarter-finals."

Greece are sweating on the fitness of Bolton midfielder Stylianos Giannakopoulos, who has a calf injury picked up against the Spaniards, and Rehhagel said he had not decided definitively whether to risk the 29-year-old.

"I have not decided on my team yet. I will talk to him and make a decision after final training. I am not going to speak about tactics here but with the team. You will see the results tomorrow. I just expect them to give everything from the first minute," said Rehhagel, who achieved fame in the German Bundesliga with two league titles and a Cup Winners Cup success for Werder Bremen and another title with Kaiserslautern before heading for Greece for a new challenge.

The veteran coach meanwhile refused to comment on whether he would be a candidate to replace Rudi Voller, who resigned after Germany's elimination on Wednesday night.

"I'm only concentrating on Greece, I want to do my best for them," said Rehhagel, nicknamed King Otto.

Probable teams

GREECE (4-4-2): Nikopolidis; Seitaridis, Kapsis, Dellas, Fyssas; Karagounis, Katsouranis, Zagorakis, Basinas; Haristeas, Nikolaidis.

FRANCE (4-4-2): Barthez, Gallas; Thuram, Silvestre, Lizarazu; Pedretti, Makelele, Pires, Zidane; Henry, Saha.