Greece cannot afford another slow start
Reuters - Monday 11 June 2012, 16:06
Greece usually get
going when the going gets tough but coach Fernando Santos said
his team cannot afford to ease into the match against Czech
Republic on Tuesday as they did in their Euro 2012 Group A
opener against Poland.
Greece clawed their way back against the hosts for a 1-1
draw after conceding an early goal and having a man sent off in
the first half.
The Greeks must also play the Czechs without their
first-choice central defence.
"Whenever the going gets tough they manage to perform well,"
Santos told reporters on Monday. "We hope there will be no need
for difficulties to show up for us to play our best."
Santos must find replacements for Avraam Papadopoulos, who
is out of the tournament with a knee injury, and Sokratis
Papastathopoulos who is suspended after being harshly dismissed
against Poland in the Group A opener.
Veteran midfielder Costas Katsouranis will likely anchor the
back-line with 20-year old Kyriakos Papadopoulos who came on for
his namesake against the Poles.
That could open a spot for midfielder Giorgos Fotakis to
start should he pass a late fitness test after picking up a
knock in training.
"I want to be clear that if Fotakis can't make it Greece has
many alternatives to build up a very good starting XI," Santos
said.
The Czechs also face defensive problems after Russia ripped
them apart with four goals but Santos was coy when asked whether
he would seek to exploit that weakness by adopting attacking
tactics.
The Portuguese coach added that he expected a strong Czech
side to take the pitch even if his counterpart Michal Bilek
makes changes to a side that rarely troubled the Russian
defence.
"From our part we have analysed the Czech team and we have
done our homework with respect with what we have to do," Santos
said.
"What we must do is focus on the qualities on our team and
the way we played in the second half."
Russia play Poland in Warsaw in the other Group A match on
Tuesday.