Greeks plan party pooping behind closed doors

Greece are fully prepared to poop the party tomorrow when they provide the opposition to host nation Portugal in the opening match of Euro 2004.

Their German coach Otto Rehhagel is relishing the role of spoiler as he and his players look to dampen the football fever which has taken a grip on Portugal during the build-up to the biggest sports event ever staged by the hosts.

Rehhagel has kept his own counsel since arriving in Portugal. Most training sessions at Rio Ave’s ground at Vila do Conde have been closed while he has talked only to Greek journalists, spurning even inquiries from long-time acquaintances in the German media.

Finally today, he was forced to break his silence at the mandatory pre-match press call on the eve of the opening game at the Estadio do Dragao.

Rehhagel said: “The pressure is entirely on them (Portugal).

“All our players have to do is put their hands on their hearts and give their very best for the country.”

Greece finished above Spain in qualifying and Rehhagel is now looking for another coup against a team whose own coach Luiz Felipe Scolari admits that only overall victory will suffice if the tournament is to be considered a true success.

Whereas Scolari has an injury-free squad, however, there are some worries for Rehhagel, notably the hip injury that has been troubling central defender Traianos Dellas.

Dellas, who plays for Roma, is one of the key players in the Greek set-up and will be needed in what is likely to be a rearguard action for the Greeks against an attacking Portuguese side that will likely feature Luis Figo, Manuel Rui Costa and Pedro Pauleta.

Another worry is Vassilis Lakis who is unlikely to play after not training today at the Estadio do Dragao.

However, Demis Nikolaidis who has been unable to train normally for two weeks because of muscle problems now looks to be fit after looking sharp at the Dragao as the Greeks put the finishing touches to their preparations – the Atletico Madrid forward is a proven goalscorer.

Greece are rated as the weakest team in the group also including Spain and Russia by many observers which is a little harsh, considering they finished above Spain in the qualifying competition.

Judging by the line-up in the kickaround at the Dragao, Rehhagel may be ready to unleash Nikolaidis on the Portuguese although in Zisis Vryzas and Angelos Charisteas he has plenty of cover in that department.

Although Rehhagel is a born winner – he led both Werder Bremen and Kaiserslautern to the Bundesliga title – the same can not be said for Greece whose last outing in a major tournament was somewhat shambolic.

The Greeks were beaten soundly in all their games in the 1994 World Cup in United States and that was their last appearance on the big stage.

Greece midfielder Angelis Basinas said: “We are very focused on this match. We are going nose to nose with the Portuguese team just as we have done in previous games.”

The Panathinaikos midfielder denied that his team would concentrate on stonewalling in defence in a bid to frustrate the Portuguese in front of their home supporters.

“We certainly have a strong defence but that does not mean to say we can not be dangerous in attack as well.”

Skipper Theo Zagorakis told O Jogo: “I have already played against Portuguese teams on several occasions in the past and I know what that means.

“I think everything will work out in the best way possible.”

Meanwhile, Greek right-back Yourka Seitaridis could be playing on what will become familiar territory if reports in the Portuguese press prove well-founded.

The Panathinaikos player has been headhunted by European champions Porto as the replacement for Paulo Ferreira who will likely follow former boss Jose Mourinho to Chelsea.

Seitaridis has been reportedly offered a three-year deal and, if the move goes through, he will be the first signing for Porto’s new Italian coach Luigi del Neri.

The renewed interest in Ancient Greek mythology because of Brad Pitt’s new movie Troy has been a gift to Portugal’s journalists who refer to the Greeks as “the Gods”.

Some have even joked that Rehhagel and his men have been constructing a Trojan Horse behind the closed doors at Rio Ave’s ground.

It is more likely the Greeks will be under siege than the Portuguese, however, and certainly they will start as underdogs when Italian referee Pierluigi Collina blows the first whistle at the Estadio do Dragao.

But opening games can be nervy affairs as Diego Maradona’s Argentina found out against Cameroon in the 1990 World Cup in Milan while France were another team to be embarrassed two years ago when they lost to Senegal in the curtain raiser of the 2002 World Cup.