MATCH 18 REVIEW : COMPOSURE COMFORTS COACH

Spain ousted
Greece needed a draw from their final Group A match to be certain of a place in the last eight, but after going 2-0 down in the first 17 minutes through goals from Dmitri Kirichenko and Dmitri Bulykin their hopes of qualification seemed to be in tatters. Rehhagel's side found their rhythm, however, and although Zisis Vryzas' 43rd-minute strike could not prevent a defeat, it was enough to edge them into second place ahead of Spain.

'Our game important'
Rehhagel said: "I had already told the players that this would be a very difficult match. All the Russian players are very good and they're all professionals. They had lost the previous two matches and we knew they would be out for a win. We knew what was happening elsewhere but the important thing was to worry about our game. We knew we'd lost two goals early on and we just had to try and get a good result."

'Any opponent'
Portugal's 1-0 win against Spain ensured the host nation finished top of the group and now face the runners-up from Group B on Thursday, before Greece take on the section winners the following evening. But Rehhagel said: "Any opponent we face now will be good - whether it's France, England or Croatia. We have nothing to lose. There is no pressure on the Greek team. We are just going to enjoy the fact that we are there."

Click here for full review

©uefa.com 1998-2004. All rights reserved.