MATCH 31 PREVIEW : STAGE SET FOR EUROPE'S BEST

Karagounis suspended
Their chances of victory against Portugal will rest, as they did against the Czech Republic and France, on tight discipline and making the most of their chances. But the loss of Georgios Karagounis through suspension will be a handicap – the other game the talismanic FC Internazionale midfield player missed was against Russia, Greece's only defeat in the competition.

Kapsis doubt
Rehhagel will be anxious not to lose another key player in central defender Mihalis Kapsis who suffered a knee problem in training. Still, the coach promised: "Our players will be passionate and very motivated. We have nothing to lose."

Knot of emotion
Portugal, meanwhile - the whole country - is a tangled knot of emotion right now and it will surely be one of Luiz Felipe Scolari's biggest tests as a coach to unravel it, in time to make sure the hosts do not slip on the same banana skin as the holders. Portugal, too, are anxious to herald a new dawn but victory is needed to ensure that the purpose and direction the Brazilian Scolari has added to their innate talent are not questioned again.

Portugal: Ricardo; Miguel, Ricardo Carvalho, Jorge Andrade, Nuno Valente; Costinha; Luís Figo, Deco, Maniche, Ronaldo; Pauleta.

Greece (probable): Nikopolidis; Seitaridis, Dellas, Kapsis, Fyssas; Katsouranis, Giannakopoulos, Zagorakis, Basinas; Charisteas, Vryzas.

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