Euro 2008: Greece 0-1 Russia (Match Report and Video)

Greece went into this game knowing that if they lost they were out of the competition after the current holders lost by two goals to Sweden in a rather uninspiring game. Russia didn’t have a very good start, either. They lost by three goals to Spain in their first game, getting outclassed and not looking too good.

As the game kicked off and got under way, it was fairly dull, Greece were slowing the game down (as they do) and trying to force mistakes out of Russia who weren’t having any of it. Both the teams had good opportunities in the first half, forcing both goal keepers to make some good saves.

But suddenly the game livened up, both teams pressuring, and after thirty four minutes of the game, a goal keeping blunder by Antonis Nikopolidis put Konstatin Zyryanov to slot the ball in to the net from close range to give his Russian side the lead.

In the second half the game livened up even more, Greece knowing they had to score just to stay in the competition, and they had a couple of good opportunities, the best of which was a simple lob for Charisteas, but he kicked it straight to the Russian keeper’s hands.

Russia regained control and Greece struggled to make any real impact on the game. Russia came extremely close to scoring when a shot was smashed in to the side netting after a surging run from Pavlyuchenko.

Then, once again, Greece started playing again, forcing a couple of good saves out of Igor Akinfeyev, shooting a good chance over the bar and having a goal disallowed for an extremely close off side decision, but they failed to utilize on these brilliant chances.

Overall, a very entertaining game, and after Russia scored both teams looked energetic, but it is too late for current holders Greece who took Europe by storm in 2004, and they crash out of Euro 2008, knowing they really should have done better.

This result means that Spain come top of the group, regardless of the results on the final group stage matches. It also means that Sweden are in a very good position for getting through, knowing that just a draw against Russia will send them through with Spain.

Final Score:
Greece 0 – 1 Russia

Watch the GOAL:

Comments June 15th, 2008