MATCH 26 PREVIEW : GREEKS PLANTING SEEDS OF DOUBT

'Extraordinary skills'
"We will go in enjoying ourselves, happy to be playing the best, but we will play so that all of Greece can say that we fought like heroes," Rehhagel said on the eve of the game. "The French are amazing players, with extraordinary skills and for us it will definitely be a challenge."

Unbeaten run
As if the task of facing Zinedine Zidane and company were not daunting enough for Greece, the holders go into the game on the back of a 16-match unbeaten run in competitive football; yet the feeling persists that they have not yet hit top gear, and their coach Jacques Santini knows that important questions have still to be answered.

Sagnol sidelined
One of those – a lack of goals for Thierry Henry – was answered in the affirmative in their last group game against Switzerland, but injury in that match to defender Willy Sagnol disrupted any plans the French coach might have had of naming an unchanged team for tomorrow night.

Vieira struggling
Better news for Santini is that William Gallas, also injured against Switzerland, seems to have recovered, although the big worry for France now is Patrick Vieira, who is struggling with a leg muscle injury. Olivier Dacourt, who could face his AS Roma team-mate Traianos Dellas, stands by to replace Vieira.


Greece (possible): Nikopolidis; Seitaridis, Kapsis, Dellas, Fyssas/Venetidis; Katsouranis; Karagounis/Lakis, Zagorakis, Tsiartas; Charisteas, Nikolaidis/Papadopoulos.

France (probable): Barthez; Gallas, Thuram, Silvestre, Lizarazu; Makalele, Dacourt/Vieira, Pires; Zidane; Henry, Trezeguet.

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