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| 16th June - 17.00 - Group A Match | ||||
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| 1 - 1 | ||||
| Spain Team | Greece Team | |||
Antonis Nikopolidis |
Iker Casillas Carles Puyol Ivan Helguera Carlos Marchena Raul Bravo Joseba Etxeberria David Albelda Ruben Baraja Rodrigues Vicente Fernando Moriente Gonzalez Raul |
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| Spain Subs | Greece Subs | |||
| Angelos Basinas Kostas Chalkias Nikos Dabizas Giorgos Georgiadis Giannis Goumas Pantelis Kafes Theofanis Katergiannakis Vassilis Lakis Demis Nikolaidis Dimitris Papadopoulos Vassilis Tsiartas Stelios Venetidis |
Xabi Alonso Daniel Aranzubia Santiago Canizares Joan Capdevila Martin Cesar Garcia Gabri Sanchez Joaquin Juan Gutierrez Moreno Juanito Alberto Luque Fernando Torres Juan Carlos Valeron Hernandez Xavi |
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| Match Report |
| With both teams winning their opening games this match was sure to make at least one of the sides drop points and give their rivals a chance to catch up. As it was, neither side could pick up the win, despite an assured performance from the Spanish for much of the game.
Spain started much the superior of the two sides. Greece, who used the element of surprise to stun Portugal in the opening game of this tournament, couldn't get out of first gear to do the same to the Spanish. Vincente continued to impress on the left, and the Raul/Norientes combination looked to be working. Indeed it was these two who worked the opening goal for Spain midway through the half. Sloppy Greek defending left Raul with the ball inside the penalty area. His clever backheel found Morientes, who took a beatiful first touch to get the ball out of his feet and slam the ball home from 10 yards. The rest of the half was spent in Greece's half. They lost their discipline somewhat, picking up several bookings, and indeed some suspensions which could be costly in their third match against Russia. Despite this, they held out with only a one-goal deficit to overcome at the break. The key moment of the second half came on the hour. The tricky Joaquin, brought on to replace Exteberria, linked up with Puyol and worked in a cross from the byline. Raul completely lost his marker but blazed his header over from 8 yards with the goal totally at his mercy. Minutes later, Greece made him and his team pay in the best possible way. Raul Bravo lost the ball on Spain's left hand side, and Tsiartas showed fantastic vision to pick out Charisteas in the penalty area with a crossfield pass. Charisteas controlled the ball with his thigh brilliantly before drilling his shot past a lunging Puyal and between the legs of keeper Casillas. This shocked Spain, who poured forwards. Morientes was no longer on the field, and even captain Raul was sacrificed to bring on starlet Fernando Torres. Helguerra had a close range header brilliantly saved. Then Valeron volleyed the ball in a crowded penalty area which got blocked to safety. Finally, the impressive Joaquin cut inside from the right, but he scuffed his shot with his left foot and the ball was cleared. For all their pressure, Spain couldn't make it count. The game ended 1-1, and confirmed Spain's status as a big team who don't always get the job done when they should do. Greece will be delighted with the point, and know that a win against Russia will see them through. Spain face a much tougher test against rivals Portugal... |
