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UEFA EURO - Dark horses still finding their feet

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  • UEFA EURO - Dark horses still finding their feet

    Monday 2 June 2008
    Dark horses still finding their feet
    by Vassiliki Papantonopoulou from Athens

    Greece's goalless draw against Armenia on Sunday caused some fans
    concern but Otto Rehhagel was less worried about a team who have
    "always been outsiders".

    Scoring run
    The reigning European champions looked listless as they failed to find
    a way past Armenia in Offenbach am Main, and coach Rehhagel was
    clearly unhappy with their form in front of goal. It was the first
    time in 15 games that the national team had failed to score, having
    lost 1-0 to the Korean Republic at London's Craven Cottage, and it was
    their first scoreless draw since they played Mexico in the FIFA
    Confederations Cup in Frankfurt on 22 June 2005.

    Tired legs
    However, Rehhagel had calmed down by the time he met the Greek press
    afterwards, saying: "It was a preparation encounter and the players
    were obviously tired from training. That's normal for all teams a week
    before a competition starts. Perhaps I could have used an extra
    forward at the expense of a defensive player, but it was vital not to
    lose. The most important thing for us is to have the team fine-tuned
    when our finals matches begin on 10 June."

    No reputation
    The unexpected triumph at UEFA EURO 2004?¢ has left Greece with
    a reputation to live up to, yet Rehhagel insists there is no undue
    pressure on the holders. "We are not the EURO 2008?¢ favourites
    - we never were," said the German coach. "We are placed somewhere
    between sixth and tenth in the European rankings. Greece have always
    been outsiders, but I am OK with that."

    Pressure off
    Giorgos Karagounis struggled through the Armenia game despite a sore
    knee, but the 31-year-old playmaker is sure he will be injury free by
    the time Greece face Sweden in their opening Group D game in
    Salzburg. "We know that we are not in the spotlight right now, but
    that doesn't bother us," he said. "We are the European champions but
    we also know that no team in the history of the competition has won it
    twice in a row."

    'Nine days'
    Meanwhile, 26-year-old Eintracht Frankfurt forward Giannis Amanatidis
    is hoping that Greece can find their true form in the days leading up
    to their opening encounter of the finals. He said of the Armenia game:
    "We were a bit tired, but I won't use that as an excuse. We have room
    for improvement. We have to rest and improve our tactics, especially
    when we are in possession of the ball."
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