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Group A
Team Pl Pts
Portugal 3 6
Turkey 3 6
Czech Republic 3 3
Switzerland 3 3
Group B
Team Pl Pts
Croatia 3 9
Germany 3 6
Austria 3 1
Poland 3 1
Group C
Team Pl Pts
Holland 3 9
Italy 3 4
Romania 3 2
France 3 1
Group D
Team Pl Pts
Spain 3 9
Russia 3 6
Sweden 3 3
Greece 3 0
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Greece present case for defence

German boss convinced that defence is key to Greece hopes

  • Rehhagel: Defensive

    Rehhagel: Defensive

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Greece coach Otto Rehhagel insists his side will not allow Sweden the space to attack on Tuesday night - and believes Poland showed that adopting an open style can be suicidal.

In their opening game against Germany on Sunday, Poland showed that the better sides are able to take full advantage if given enough space behind the defence as two goals from Lukas Podolski gave Joachim Low's men a 2-0 win.

But while the favourite sides have all won the all four games in the tournament so far, Greece showed four years ago that it is possible to cause an upset by adopting a defensive style as they beat the likes of France and Portugal on their way to winning the tournament.

And while few pundits expect them to challenge again this time, Rehhagel has outlined his intent to utilise a similar tactic in Euro 2008.

"We won't play like Poland and leave 30-metre gaps at the back, thanking the opponents' striker as he passes to score," he said.

"If it's modern football to play the offside trap then it's also modern football to lose 2-0."

Advantages

Rehhagel has refused to reveal the exact details of his gameplan against Sweden, but he intends to play to the strengths of his side and hopes that the opposition will make enough mistakes to give Greece the win.

"We'll try to employ our advantages in the match, but football's an open game these days - we know them and they know us.

"Of course I'm not going to tell you what my plans for the game are, but it's the unforeseen factors that so often turn a game.

"A metre either way can make all the difference. Players are not laptops - they make mistakes."

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