First international goals for Rubén de la Red and Daniel Güiza earned a second-string Spain team a 2-1 comeback victory as Greece’s hopes of ending their UEFA European Championship title defence on a high were spoiled at the last.

Comeback
RCD Mallorca’s Güiza rose unmarked with two minutes remaining to head in Sergio García’s cross, and complete an impressive second-half revival by Spain, who had fallen behind to Angelos Charisteas’s header just before the break. However, after a tepid first half, Spain began the second with renewed vigour – Xabi Alonso hitting the post before Real Madrid CF’s De la Red made it 1-1 on 61 minutes, rifling in after Güiza had nodded the ball into his path. The same pair almost added gloss to this third successive win for Spain, while Charisteas grazed the outside of the post at the other end, but it was Güiza who had the last word.

Nikopolidis nerves
With the fate of the two sides bookending Group D already decided, and given the belated arrival of the Austrian summer, an end-of-term feel prevailed early on in Salzburg. For Greece’s captain for the day, goalkeeper Antonis Nikopolidis, it was exactly that, with the 37-year-old having announced his international retirement in the wake of his error against Russia that sealed the holders’ elimination. But while he may have been forgiven a few pre-match nerves at the Stadion Salzburg Wals-Siezenheim, these were quickly eased. The cheers of the Greece supporters behind his goal had barely died down when Nikopolidis was presented with a comfortable save,  collecting Güiza’s dinked cross after the forward failed to realise how much time Andrés Iniesta’s expertly disguised pass had given him.

Alonso special
It was a false dawn in terms of attacking spectacle. Stung by the premature end to their campaign, Greece were circumspect at first despite the wide threat of recalled pair Giorgos Karagounis and Dimitris Salpingidis. Spain had the better of the possession, even if García and Cesc Fàbregas in particular did not make the most of it. Alonso offered a more serious threat midway through the opening period when he almost caused Nikopolidis embarrassment after spotting that he had been drawn off his goalline. The Liverpool FC midfielder nearly added another to his collection of goals from his own half, but with Nikopolidis scrambling, his attempt dropped just the wrong side of the upright.

Charisteas strike
If Spain were not exactly peppering Nikopolidis’s goal, however, it was still more than Greece were mustering. Yet Otto Rehhagel’s UEFA EURO 2004™ winners in Portugal were hardly renowned for their attacking play either – instead neutralising opponents and making their few chances pay, often from dead-ball situations. They found exactly that route to goal three minutes before half-time, with Karagounis’s free-kick finding Charisteas all alone and the No9 burying his header into the top-left corner.

Turnaround
Goaded into action, Luis Aragonés’s team were almost level soon after half-time as space opened up for Alonso to rifle an unstoppable effort that Nikopolidis was grateful to see come back off his post. It was a brief let-off for the Blue and Whites, and just after the hour De la Red restored parity with a fulsome finish. Both sides had opportunities to add to the scoring but the stage was set for Güiza, who ensured Spain would go into Sunday’s quarter-final against Italy in Vienna on the back of a 100 per cent record in Group D. For Greece, it is home time.

Greece coach Otto Rehhagel wants his players to deliver a performance “worthy of the team” and finish UEFA EURO 2008 on a high against Spain in their final Group D match in Salzburg.

No holding back
With their reign as European champions over following defeats by Sweden and Russia, Greece are aiming to restore pride when they meet Luis Aragonés’s section winners at the Stadion Salzburg, Wals-Siezenheim. And Rehhagel is keen to see his team conclude their involvement in the competition on a positive note. “It’s my intention, and I’ve told my team the same, to play at 100 per cent, not to hold back,” said the 69-year-old German. “We must finish the tournament in a way that is worthy of our team. The new faces who will come into the lineup will have to show they deserve to play for the national team.”

Differing fortunes
While Spain are already through to the quarter-finals after collecting six points from wins over Russia and Sweden, Greece lie fourth after failing to take a point or register a goal so far. Rehhagel, who confirmed he would be making changes to his team, admitted the Spanish had impressed him. “I think the Spain team is exceptional,” he said. “They have proved their quality in the last two matches and we will have to be at our best tomorrow, even if their coach makes changes. It’s important for us to play along the same lines as we did against Russia.” With Fanis Gekas out after fracturing his cheekbone against Russia, Rehhagel confirmed that striker Dimitris Salpingidis would start up front, while full-backs Loukas Vintra and Nikos Spiropoulos could replace Giourkas Seitaridis and Vassilis Torosidis.

Spanish changes
Spain have enjoyed themselves thus far, building on their opening 4-1 win over Russia with a last-gasp 2-1 victory against Sweden – performances which have made them one of the tournament favourites. Aragonés is expected to make up to ten changes to his lineup, with FC Barcelona midfielder Andrés Iniesta likely to be the only player to keep his place. “The changes are both to rest players and to give a chance to others to show why there are in the national squad,” explained the coach. “We already have some problems with fatigue with [Carles] Puyol for example, so the most important thing is to rest players. 

Italy next
“As coach I must have the intelligence to think, ‘We are already in the next stage and I should also give players a chance’,” he added. Especially with world champions Italy awaiting them in the last eight in Vienna on Sunday. That said, the 69-year-old Aragonés maintained that his players would be fully motivated to continue their sparkling form. “I expect my players to give a great performance against Greece, to show why they are in the squad and to win.”

Greece defender Traianos Dellas insists the European champions can still “achieve great things” as they attempt to put the defeat by Sweden behind them against Russia in Salzburg on Saturday.

Demise exaggerated
With both sides reeling from first-day defeats, the stakes have been raised an extra notch ahead of the Group D meeting at the Stadion Salzburg Wals-Siezenheim. Defeat for either team would leave them on the brink of elimination. Dellas believes reports of a Greek demise are exaggerated, however. “This team has potential, it can achieve great things,” said the AEK Athens FC centre-back. “But we are not invincible – no team is. There are always matches you can lose. We have spoiled our fans, they are used to us winning. That doesn’t change our point of view, though, because we are still focused on the job at hand. Don’t forget that we are among the 16 best teams in Europe.”

Unfair criticism
Otto Rehhagel’s side will need to show the form of champions if they are to revive their ambitions against the Russians. After going down to Sweden on Tuesday, the Blue and Whites came in for intense criticism from the media for a perceived defensive-minded approach. “It’s unfair on us, who have brought the team to such great heights, to focus only on negatives such as what is being said or written by journalists,” said the towering 32-year-old. “We lost our first encounter and there’s a very tough match ahead. We will try to win in order to improve our qualifying chances.”

Unity the key
Greece were rank outsiders at 100-1 in Portugal four years ago, and their success in shocking Europe and clinching the title was largely down to the desire and commitment of a group who played for each other. Dellas says this unity is the vital ingredient that can turn around their fortunes. “This team has a great asset – its unity – the players stick together,” Dellas said. “The fans should be proud of this Greece squad because it is up to eighth place in the world rankings. This is very important for us and for securing our future in the tournament.”