Euro 2004 digest

The latest news from Portugal...

CZECH REPUBLIC: Coach Karel Bruckner will draft Zdenek Grygera back into his starting line-up at right-back for the Euro 2004 semi-final with Greece tonight in place of Martin Jiranek who picked up a groin strain in the 3-0 quarter-final victory over Denmark.

Defender Rene Bolf is expected to play even though he also had to be replaced against the Danes although David Rozehnal is standing by.

Tomas Ujfalusi, Pavel Nedved and Marek Jankulovski are all one yellow card away from missing the final should the Czechs get there.

GREECE: Zissis Vryzas is expected to return to the attack alongside Angelos Charisteas for tonight’s Euro 2004 semi-final with the Czech Republic at the Estadio do Dragao.

Vyrzas, suspended for the quarter-final with France, should come back in for Demis Nikolaidis who played in at attacking midfield role against the French and is set to return to the bench.

Coach Otto Rehhagel must also decide whether to restore the fit-again Stelios Giannakopoulos to his starting line-up with either Kostas Katsouranis or Angelos Basinas likely to make way should the German coach decide to play the Bolton man from the start.

Giorgos Karagounis is expected to play despite an injury to his left foot but - like skipper Theo Zagorakis – knows he will miss the final – if Greece get there – if he is cautioned.

HOLLAND: Dick Advocaat may never receive the adoration of the fans back home in Holland but the Dutch coach believes he has answered all his critics by leading the team to the semi-finals of Euro 2004.

Advocaat’s recent controversial substitutions, coupled with the fact that the 56-year-old has not been an upholder of Total Football, has placed him in the line of fire of the Dutch press and Oranje supporters.

“I have nothing to prove,” said Advocaat. “This is not my first tournament, I have been in a World Cup and other competitions.”

PORTUGAL: Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has tried to reduce the pressure on his team by insisting it would not be a failure if they did not lift the trophy.

Portugal have never reached the final of a major tournament until now, having been beaten in the 1966 World Cup semi-final by England as well as in the last four of the European Championships in 1984 and 2000.

As host nation, however, millions of supporters are hoping Scolari, who led Brazil to World Cup success just two years ago, can repeat the feat.

He insisted: “I promised the Portuguese people that we would go to the semi-finals. My players have helped me to fulfil this promise.

“We have not yet won anything. I don’t want to think about making history with Portugal. I just want the Portuguese team to be successful.”