[yianni]

Greece think only of victory Wednesday, 9 February 2005

Tickets are on sale for the 2006 FIFA World Cup finals, but as European qualifying resumes tonight, continental champions Greece face a tough task if their fans are to have a team to watch in Germany. Denmark visit Greece Barely months after their UEFA EURO 2004™ triumph in June, Greece began their Group 2 campaign with defeat in Albania and draws with Turkey and Ukraine. In November they beat Kazakhstan 3-1, but still only lie fifth ahead of their meeting with second-placed Denmark in Piraeus. We are only thinking about victory - there is no other result in our mind Otto Rehhagel 'Difficult match' Denmark are unbeaten, and if they win will be four points ahead of Greece with a game in hand. Home coach Otto Rehhagel, whose side overcame a similarly slow start to EURO 2004™ qualifying, is well aware of the importance of the encounter, saying: "We have a very difficult match ahead and we must lift our performance considerably in order to achieve the win. We are only thinking about victory - there is no other result in our mind." Duo out However, centre-back Michalis Kapsis has a back problem and striker Dimitrios Papadopoulos a thigh strain, leaving both sidelined. Sotirios Kyrgiakos and Konstantinos Katsouranis are vying for Kapsis's regular starting berth. Olsen bullish Denmark themselves are without injured defenders Martin Laursen, Thomas Helveg and Claus Jensen while winger Jesper Grønkjær is suspended. Despite those absences, coach Morten Olsen, who has lured Per Nielsen out of international retirement for the match, said: "I think you have a better chance of a result when you have an experienced team - where all players have been there before and know the way you play - and that is what we have."