HOLDERS Greece were knocked out of Euro 2008 after losing to Russia in their Group D match last night, a result that put Spain into the last eight.
Russia scored the only goal in the 33rd minute when Greece keeper Antonis Nikopolidis ran out t
o try to clear, leaving Konstantin Zyryanov free to tap the ball into an empty net after Sergei Semak's clever overhead pass.
Greece, surprise winners of the European Championship in Portugal four years ago, have now lost their first two matches in the group and are eliminated before their final game.
Coach Otto Rehhagel said: "Unfortunately, we couldn't make use of the chances we had. But I have always said that the Greek team is not one which scores a lot of goals. I had hoped we could get one, but unfortunately that wasn't the case."
"We contributed a great deal to the Russian goal, which was unnecessary," he added. "I thought if we put on more pressure we could get an equaliser but we have to be satisfied – the team we played were first-class, unbelievably fast and secure."
Spain are top on six points, three ahead of Sweden and Russia who meet in their final group match on Wednesday, with Greece trailing in last place and the only team not to have scored a goal at this tournament.
The young Russian side, faster and more aggressive, never looked back after opening the scoring and attacked in waves leaving the desperate Greeks relying on crosses into the area.
"Everyone fought hard for a good result," said Russia coach Guus Hiddink. "In modern football you have to be very tough and not give any chances away. I'm very glad that I now know that Russian players can react when it's needed." The Russians carved out chance after chance and should have added several more goals in a 30-minute second-half spell that left the struggling Greece defence in tatters.
Roman Pavlyuchenko's close range effort in the 47th minute was saved by Nikopolidis and he was close again six minutes later when he picked up a through ball by Diniyar Bilyaletdinov and raced down the left but his low drive was wide.
The Russian striker continued to wreak havoc in the Greece defence and tried to turn provider in the 57th minute with a clever back heel to Bilyaletdinov, who fired wide.
"We wanted to show we can do it, that Russians have got character. The main thing is the victory, that's great," said Pavlyuchenko, who was named man of the match.
The disappointing Greeks, who played with three forwards, failed to create one clear chance in the match with captain Angelos Basinas's shot over the bar from close range 10 minutes after the break summing up their night of frustration.
Greece: Nikopolidis, Seitaridis (Karagounis 40), Dellas, Kyrgiakos, Torosidis, Katsouranis, Basinas, Patsatzoglou, Charisteas, Liberopoulos (Gekas 60), Amanatidis (Giannakopoulos 79).
Russia: Akinfeev, Aniukov, Kolodin, Ignashevich, Zhirkov (Vasili Berezutsky 87), Semak, Torbinsky, Zyryanov, Semshov, Bilyaletdinov (Saenko 69), Pavluchenko.
Referee: Roberto Rosetti (Italy).
The full article contains 523 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
