PARIS (AFP) - The silky skills of Spain were not enough to give them a second win in five days as they were held to a 1-1 draw by a determined Greece side on Wednesday to leave Group A at Euro 2004 wide open. 

 
Fernando Morientes (Spain) scores 
Fernando Morientes (front right) scores the opening goal passed goalkeeper Antonios Nikopolidis 

Both teams now have four points and should either Portugal or Russia lose Wednesday they will be out of Euro. 

Fernado Morientes opened the scoring with a cool finish in the 28th minute only for Angelos Charisteas to prod home an equaliser in the second-half. 

Greece came under the cosh in the opening exchanges with Valencia's Ruben Baraja orchestrating almost every move from the centre of midfield and Joseba Exteberria and Vicente making excellent use of the wings. 

 
Fernando Morientes (Spain) scores 
Greece's goalkeeper Antonios Nikopolidis (right) fails to stop the opening goal by Fernando Morientes (second left) 

Spain's pressure eventually told as Spain captain Raul sliced his way into the penalty box before his deft backheel set up Morientes, whose wicked right-footed shot gave Antonios Nikopolidis no chance. 

Roared on by the vast majority of the 25,000 crowd, home of Portuguese first division club Boavista, Spain should have increased their advantage when Raul headed Joaquin's right-wing cross over the bar. 

Georgios Seitardis' deflected shot almost crept in before Morientes made way for Juan Carlos Valeron, scorer of Spain's winner against the Russians. 

 
Fernando Morientes (Spain) & Michail Kapsis (Greece) 
Fernando Morientes (left) keeps the ball from Michail Kapsis  

Spain continued to spurn chances and they paid for their profligacy in the 66th minute when a swift Greek counter-attack ended with Charisteas sliding the ball in off Casillas' leg. 

Joaquin tormented the Greek defence as Spain went all out to restore their lead and Valeron saw his half-volley blocked, but Greece dug in to snatch a hard-earned point, much to the delight of their travelling fans. 

Battling Greeks earn draw with Spain 
Wed 16 Jun, 8:46 PM 
 
PORTO (Reuters) - Greece have continued to upset the odds at Euro 2004, coming from behind to force a battling 1-1 draw with fancied Spain in their second Group A match. 

A 66th-minute goal from Angelos Haristeas cancelled out an early strike by Spain forward Fernando Morientes to leave the Greeks, who pulled off a shock 2-1 win over hosts Portugal in the tournament's opening match, top of the standings. 
 
"We have a huge opportunity to move into the next stage and the boys must take it," said Greece coach Otto Rehhagel. 

"The Spaniards had a better circulation of the ball and they were pressing us more but we fought on, took a great risk with three strikers and finally got the equaliser." 

Greece and Spain both have four points from their opening two games and retain serious hopes of reaching the quarter-finals. 

"We played a very good first half and got the goal," Spain coach Inaki Saez said. "They scored an equaliser that was really a surprise but we continued to create chances. We didn't have any luck in front of goal but we're on the right lines." 

Although Greece's seven-match winning streak in competitive matches ended on Wednesday thousands of delighted fans remained in the Bessa stadium after the match cheering their team's achievement. 

The two sides, who met in the qualifying competition and each won in the other's country, played contrasting styles, with Spain largely taking the match to Greece by attacking down the flanks, while Otto Rehhagel's men were content to soak up the pressure and counter-attack whenever they could. 

After a sluggish start, the game came to life and a draw was ultimately a fair reflection of play, even though Spain created more scoring chances. 

But the outcome means both teams need just one point from their final group games when Spain play Portugal and Greece face Russia on Sunday to ensure their places in the last eight. 

SPAIN DOMINANT 

Initially, though, Spain settled first and dominated the match and Morientes' goal, his 23rd in his 35th international, was just reward for their superiority. 

Both teams were full of confidence after winning their opening matches but Spain's was boosted even more after Morientes struck. 

Raul, his former Real Madrid team mate, set up the goal after intercepting a loose ball from Michalis Kapsis on the edge of the box after 28 minutes. 

Raul, darting everywhere and causing the Greek defence problems throughout, back-heeled the ball to Morientes who cleverly made space, gliding past two defenders before powering a drive past Greek keeper Antonis Nikopolidis. 

Greece's goal came out of nothing when a long raking pass from the right by midfielder Vassilis Tsartas found striker Haristeas, who controlled the ball well and fired past goalkeeper Iker Casillas for the equaliser. 

The match ebbed and flowed between both penalty areas in an exciting second half. 

Raul, named man of the match, had a great chance to put Spain 2-0 ahead before Haristeas equalised but sent his free header high over the bar. 

In the main, though, Spain just about controlled the game and with defender Carles Puyol and midfielder David Albelda outstanding, Greece were largely restricted to speculative long-range efforts. 

Typical was a 30-metre drive from Greek skipper Theodoros Zagorakis which just flew past the post. 

Winger Joaquin was excellent for Spain after replacing Joseba Etxeberria at halftime, but Spain failed to capitalise on a stream of dangerous crosses. 

The first half proved costly in terms of bookings for both teams. 

A second yellow card of the tournament for Georgios Karagounis means he will miss Greece's next match against Russia on Sunday, while Spanish defender Carlos Marchena was booked for a late tackle on Karagounis and is ruled out of his side's game against Portugal. 

In all seven players were booked, five Greeks and two Spaniards, and Greece are likely to be fined by UEFA for incurring so many yellow cards in one game. 

In fact Greece had more players booked than shots on target, but that could not dampen the celebrations of their players and fans. 
 

독일 출신으로 그리스 대표팀을 맡고 있는 오토 레하겔 감독이 포르투갈 입성 전에 던진 출사표다. 그의 말은 이미 사실로 입증됐다. 그리스는 2004유럽축구선수권대회(유로2004) A조리그에서 개최국 포르투갈을 개막전에서 2-1로 꺾는 대파란을 일으킨 데 이어 ‘무적함대’ 스페인과도 1-1로 비기면서 8강행 티켓을 절반 이상 거머쥐었다.

포르투갈과 스페인이 나란히 조별리그를 통과하리라는 당초 예상을 생각하면 벌써 ‘대성공’을 거둔 것이나 마찬가지다. 메이저 대회에 그리스가 출전한 것은 이번이 세번째. 80년 유럽선수권대회와 94년 월드컵 본선에 올랐지만 단 1승도 챙기지 못했다. 더구나 월드컵에서는 한 골도 넣지 못했다.

그런 그리스 축구가 2000년대 들어 만개하고 있다. 유로2004 지역예선에서 스페인을 플레이오프로 밀어내고 24년 만에 본선에 직행했을 때는 다소 운이 따랐다는 분석이 우세했다. 그러나 포르투갈에서 보여주고 있는 놀라운 성적은 지역예선 결과가 우연이 아님을 입증한다.

이번 대회에서 그리스는 두 가지 분명한 특징을 보여주고 있다. 하나는 상대 팀에 따라 자유자재로 변화하는 전술이다. 포르투갈과의 경기에서는 포백을 기본으로 했지만 스페인전에서는 포백 아래 최종 수비수 한 명을 더 두는 파이브(5)백을 선보였다. 파이브백에서의 양 사이드는 활발한 오버래핑을 전개했다. 상대에 따라 끊임없이 바뀌는 전술은 레하겔 감독이 이미 예선전부터 선보였던 ‘비장의 무기’다.

또 미드필드부터 강력한 압박을 전개한 뒤 전광석화 같은 역습으로 상대를 공략했다. 포르투갈전이나 스페인전에서 그리스의 골은 그야말로 순식간에 터졌다. 그리스의 선전을 지켜보다 보니 문득 아테네올림픽이 생각났다. 이달 초에 있었던 조추첨 결과 한국은 그리스와 한조가 됐는데 무난한 조편성이라는 평가가 지배적이었다.

하지만 분명 그리스 축구는 성장하고 있으며 더구나 개최국의 이점마저 안고 있다. 그리스를 본선 첫 상대로 만나게 된 것이 과연 무난한 것인지 냉정한 평가가 필요한 시점이다. [위원석의 유로2004메신저] 

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