Greece vs Russia Preview and Live Score: Euro 2008

In an important Group D match, defending Champion Greece is going to face Russia tonight (14 June 2008) at EM Stadion Wals-Siezenheim, Salzburg. It is a ‘do or die’ match for both sides as both Greece and Russia lost their opening match in Euro 2008. Reigning champion Greece has no alternative of winning the match and if Greece suffers another defeat, they will find them eliminated from the tournament which would give their critics more ground to term their glorious Euro 2004 triumph as a fluke. So, Greece has got to prove something tonight and for reaching the quarter final, Greece needs to win the match against Russia. Even a draw would also keep their hopes alive, but then they have to win against formidable Spain in their last group stage match. Sweden defeated Spain 2-0 in the tournament. However, there is another important thing that I could not make it to the next match of the thing.

Match: Greece vs Russia, Group D Match, Euro 2008
Date: 14 June 2008
Venue: EM Stadion Wals-Siezenheim, Salzburg

For Russia, I think, there is nothing to lose in this tournament. They came through a tough qualifying group in Euro 2008 and impressed the fans with their performance. However, Russia failed to show their inspirational performance against Spain in the first match, losing the match 4-1. So, Russia also has to win tonight if they want to see them through the last eight of Euro 2008 tournament. However, a defeat against Greece would make them out of the tournament with a match left, while a draw with Spain would require Russia a victory over Sweden in their last group match.

Greece vs Russia: Russia striker Roman Pavlyuchenko Ready for the Match

Russia got their solitary goal against Spain thanks to Roman Pavlyuchenko. However, the striker was in doubt for the tonight’s match against Greece due to his thigh injury, but the good news is that he seemed to be fit during training and he is now expected to make it to the starting line tonight.

Greece Coach Otto Rehhagel has become a public celebrity in Greece after leading Greece to win the Euro 2004 title. However, it is for sure that the coach might lose some of his popularity if Greece can not even make it to the quarter final of the tournament. So, the German coach might be feeling some pressure at this moment ahead of the match against Russia.

Guus Hiddink, coach of Russia, is also feeling the pressure as his side failed to impress in the first match. Hiddink has fame for bring success as he led South Korea to the semi final of 2002 FIFA World Cup. Now, he has got to do the same with Russia in Euro 2008 and Russian fans are also looking to see Russia show some impressive football in the tournament. Taking Russia’s impressive form of qualifying round into account, it is to say that Hiddink has already showed some of his magic with Russia, but still, Russia’s performance in Euro 2008 final would come first to give some ground for the coach.

International Herald Tribune reported:

Pavlyuchenko, who scored in Russia's opening 4-1 loss to Spain, was in doubt for
Saturday's game with the defending champions in Salzburg because of a thigh
injury but looked fit in training at Wals-Siezenheim stadium.
Coach Guus
Hiddink would not be drawn on whether Pavlyuchenko was likely
to play.
"We will see tomorrow," Hiddink said.

Greece is already playing without Arshavin and Pogrebnyak. Now, with Pavlyuchenko facing an injury, the coach has some thing to worry about. However, Coach Guss Hiddink has some talented players like Yuri Zhirkov, Konstantin Zyryanov and Igor Semshov who can bring out success for Russia, even if Pavlyuchenko can not take part in the match.

Hiddink is not satisfied with Russia’s style of football they play against Spain, what Hiddink termed as “schoolboy-like defending”. The coach met with the players a number of times to talk about this. So, it is well-predicted that Russia would go for more attacks against Greece tonight. You know that defense is the main strength of Greece. That is why, you can expect an interesting encounter between the two sides. However, it would not be fair to think that Greece will only defend tonight, because a victory against Russia is badly needed for the defending champion.

Greece vs Sweden: Online Live Score and Updates

If you can not stick to your television set during the match because of your personal and professional work, you can enjoy online live score and updates of the match from the following sites:

Live Score
Goalzz
Euro 2008
Goal.com
football-data
Sky Sports
Live Score.cz


I think, both the sides have equal chance to win the match. Greece has a strong defense, while Russian attack is good, though neither Russian forwards nor Greek defenders were up to the mark in their opening match in the tournament. So, both sides have to be at their best if they want to achieve something from this match tonight.

Related article:
Telegraph
Russia Today