Euro 2004 -
Day Five review
16/06/04 | by Alastair Gunn
Greece 1 Spain 1
At the end of this lively encounter Gabby Logan claimed that Greece is definitely through to the next round. They are not, but all that stands between them and securing an improbable berth in the quarter finals are the Russians. Odds-on, if you will.
Again, Spain looked good. Again, Raul and Morientes linked up well this time with effect as Morientes smashed home after 27 minutes. It came from a nervy Greek back pass but Raul was very quick onto it, skilfully back heeling to his partner who made space and finished with characteristic certainty.
However, that was Spain done. They pressed forward for the rest of the game without further success, with substitute Joaquin threatening the most. He is yet another tricky winger and at some point you would think that Spain must get a penalty. Six bookings for Russia including a sending off and five for Greece is a testament to the agility of almost every Spanish player on their team, if not their ability to stay on their feet.
This gave rise to the possibility of Greece sneaking an equaliser. So on 65 minutes substitute Tsiartas sent a superbly conceived ball over the Spanish defence for Charisteas to direct left footed under Casillas. The remaining half an hour was predictably down the Greek end, and they hold on well.
It is hard to spot the flaw on Spain's part in conceding the goal. Perhaps a touch of ball watching from the last man who in retrospect should have been marking Charisteas closer, however the Greek striker had hardly been playing on anyone's shoulder. He appeared all over the pitch, on one occasion covering well at left back, and besides, would you have picked up Charisteas as the danger man to mark out of the game?
Whoever Greece plays in the semis, should they get there, would be well advised to do that. Greece has talented midfielders as Zagorakis' long range shot in the second half demonstrated. However, the man who is causing and capitalising on errors is Charisteas. The lack of a big centre back was Spain's undoing and could see them stumble soon, perhaps against Pauleta.
Spain needs to draw against resurgent Portugal. The big games are going to come thick and fast for them now, and traditionally, they are the undoing of Spanish teams. Spain can always sacrifice their wingers to hold the Portuguese off, although testing the Portuguese full backs should prove too tempting. Either way, a mammoth tie awaits them.
Spain vs. Portugal: Sunday the 20th, 7.45pm. Might be worth watching, you know.
Greece: Nikopolidis, Seitaridis, Kapsis, Dellas, Fissas (Venetidis 86), Giannakopoulos (Nikolaidis 49), Zagorakis, Karagounis (Tsiartas 52), Katsouranis, Vryzas,
Charisteas.
Subs not used: Basinas, Chalkias, Dabizas, Georgiadis, Goumas, Kafes, Katergiannakis, Lakis, Papadopoulos.
Booked: Katsouranis, Giannakopoulos, Karagounis, Zagorakis, Vryzas.
Spain: Casillas, Puyol, Helguera, Marchena, Bravo, Etxeberria (Joaquin 45), Albelda, Baraja, Vicente, Morientes (Valeron 65), Raul (Torres 80).
Subs not used: Alonso, Aranzubia, Canizares, Capdevila, Cesar, Gabri, Juanito, Luque, Xavi.
Booked: Marchena, Helguera.
Attendance: 25,444.
Referee: Lubos Michel (Slovakia)
Russia 0 Portugal 2
A do-or-die game for both teams, the game was tilted in Portugal's favour before the game started when Mostovoi complained about the coach and his training methods. Russia's best player needed to play up for this game, not be trying to get some sleep on the
plane home (as if that's where he thinks he would be most appreciated right now!).
Indeed, only 7 minutes in and Portugal's bid for the championship was in improved health. Maniche, so uncomfortable in the opening game, took up a good position in the box to pick up Deco's cross before poking past Ovchinnikov. Deco was Portugal's outstanding performer, full of intent and skill and firing in the occasional shot himself.
However, it was Deco who missed a good chance on 64 minutes. A delicious move that saw the Russian defence play pawns to the marauding Portuguese queens finished with Deco blazing over from an angle, after the substitute keeper Malafeev saved well from Figo's precise finish.
Sorry, substitute keeper did I say? Indeed. Ovchinnikov had been sent off for hand ball outside the area. The catch was that he did not handle it. Replays suggest that his arm may, just may, have brushed the ball after tackling Pauleta. In the referee's defence, I had been deceived too, though the initial camera angle was not as good as Terje Hauge's view. Some say that you make your own luck, and Russia certainly made their bad luck. Even if the keeper was unfortunate to be dismissed, the pass back from Sennikov deserved to be punished.
Portugal's second should have come much earlier than it did. In the 88th minute, Rui Costa tapped in Ronaldo's inviting cross, delivered with the outside of his boot to avoid the keeper. Rui Costa earned his demotion to the bench against Greece but did well as the playmaker against Russia coming on for Simao. He may not reclaim his place but did his cause no harm. Neither did Ronaldo, who ought to start against Spain.
Thus the Russians are the first side out of Euro 2004. Perhaps they should not have been there anyway, but two incorrect sending-offs and a reticence to attack when 1-0 down were what put paid to their campaign. Greece beware for pride is a priceless motivator and with the quick Boulykin the Russians could play their one last spiteful hand in the host's favour.
On the hosts, their ever-changing team sheet is a point of interest. Three changes in defence saw an improvement but not knowing who your best full backs are augers badly. Figo hit form as a free roaming thorn, looking for the weakest side to stick into, but that leaves Rui Costa out. Simao looks good, but not good enough to keep out Ronaldo. Like a flowering rose, the Portuguese side is beautiful, but how to handle it?
Portugal leave us with many questions, not least can they beat Spain? With this newfound momentum, their home advantage ought to start making a difference. Certainly, whoever loaded the groups did a top job. Congratulations to the cheats!
Russia: Ovchinnikov, Evseev, Smertin, Bugaev, Sennikov, Alenitchev, Aldonin (Malafeev 45), Loskov, Kariaka (Boulykin 79), Izmailov (Bystrov 72), Kerzhakov.
Subs not used: Akinfeev, Aniukov, Gusev, Kirichenko, Radimov, Semshov, Sychev.
Sent Off: Ovchinnikov (45)
Booked: Smertin, Evseev, Alenitchev
Portugal: Ricardo, Miguel, Andrade, Ricardo Carvalho, Nuno Valente, Costinha, Figo (Ronaldo 78), Maniche, Deco, Simao (Rui Costa 63), Pauleta (Nuno Gomes 57).
Subs not used: Beto, Couto, Moreira, Paulo Ferreira, Petit, Postiga, Quim, Rui Jorge, Tiago.
Booked: Ricardo Carvalho, Deco
Attendance: 58,000.
Referee: Terje Hauge (Norway)