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International Friendly Preview: Greece – Paraguay

(GREEKSOCCER.com) Kick Off: Wednesday, June 2, 2010. 18:30 CET
Schuetzenwiese, Winterthur, Switzerland
Seeking Momentum
European champions in 2004, Greece are building up to only their second World Cup campaign. Exiled from the top stage since 1994, when they crashed out of USA ’94 without picking up a point or even scoring a goal, Otto Rehhagel’s side are now considered one of the sturdiest in Europe, and they will hope to complete their preparations for the mundial with a strong result against Paraguay.
Qualifying was a close run thing. After finishing second to Switzerland in UEFA qualifying group 2, edging out improving Latvia and awkward Israel in the process, the Greeks were pitted against Ukraine in the playoffs. A scoreless draw in Athens suggested the former Soviet side were in the ascendancy, but a strike from Dimitris Salpigidis was enough to differentiate the sides in Donetsk.
Since defeating Ukraine, the Greeks have struggled somewhat. A 2-0 defeat by Senegal, who haven’t even reached the World Cup finals, in March, was something of a let-down, while their latest adventure ended in a 2-2 draw against North Korea, which was a disappointing outcome for a side who would expect to dismiss such lowly-ranked opposition.
Rehhagel displayed his ability to get Greece to rise impressively for Euro 2004, but after a calamitous defence of their title, in which they against failed to accrue even a draw, he may well feel he has a point to prove once again. Opposition who should not be discounted, Greece will want to at least build some momentum going into the World Cup finals, where Nigeria, South Korea and Argentina lie in wait.
Dogged
While Greece have opted for something of a minimalist approach to their World Cup build-up, playing only two friendlies, Paraguay have attempted to pack four fixtures in to fine-tune their side ahead of the finals. Thus far, the results have been a little mixed, with a narrow win over North Korea followed by defeat in the Republic of Ireland and a 2-2 draw against Ivory Coast.
Widely recognised as the most pragmatic of all the South American sides, coach Gerardo Martino values organisation and industry ahead of the continent’s more typical characteristics of flair and invention. If the style of la Albirroja may not always be the most eye-catching, few would argue with their results.
Three of the last four World Cups have featured the landlocked nation, and on this occasion they qualified rather impressively. Four wins in their opening five qualifiers set the platform for success, ultimately allowing the Paraguayans to dance through to the finals by a comfortable nine point margin, with only Brazil conceding fewer goals.
Drawn in a group that also includes Italy, Slovakia and New Zealand, the South Americans should feel upbeat about their chances of qualifying to the last 16 for a third time, though if they are to stumble, it is likely to be due to their lack of goals.
FORM GUIDE
Greece
DREW 2-2 (n) North Korea (Friendly, May 25)
LOST 2-0 (h) Senegal (Friendly, March 3)
WON 1-0 (a) Ukraine (World Cup playoff, November 18)
DREW 0-0 (h) Ukraine (World Cup playoff, November 14)
WON 2-1 (h) Luxembourg (World Cup qualifying, October 14)
Paraguay
DREW 2-2 (n) Ivory Coast (Friendly, May 30)
LOST 2-1 (a) Republic of Ireland (Friendly, May 25)
WON 1-0 (n) North Korea (Friendly, May 15)
DREW 1-1 (h) South Africa (Friendly, March 31)
DREW 0-0 (a) Netherlands (Friendly, November 18)
TEAM NEWS
Greece
Vasilis Torosidis has recently returned from injury and will feature in this encounter in order to sharpen him up for the main event, which starts for Greece ten days after the Paraguay encounter. Giourkas Seitaridis has also had his share of recent physical complaints, but he is liable to start.
Creative youngster Sotiris Ninis may be given an opportunity to stake a claim for a starting place in South Africa.
Probable Starting XI: Tzorvas; Torosidis, Kyrgiakos, Papadopoulos, Seitaridis; Katsouranis, Ninis, Karagounis; Samaras, Salpigidis, Gekas
Paraguay
Olimpia defender Julio Manzur has been cut from the squad due to a thigh injury, but that was largely the anticipated outcome.
(source: greek soccer)
A strong sprinkling of regular starters were rested from the match against Ivory Coast, and it is expected that many of these faces return to the fold come Wednesday. Lucas Barrios should be brought into the starting XI after a scoring cameo against the Africans.
Roque Santa Cruz is aiming for game-time to get back to his optimum level after an injury-plagued campaign.
Probable Starting XI: Villar; Rodriguez, Caceres, Da Silva, Veron; Riveros, Ortigoza, Barreto, Vera; Barrios, Santa Cruz
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Greece
Had it not been for the excellence of Theofanis Gekas, who struck ten times in a remarkable qualifying campaign, it may well be that the Greeks wouldn’t have made it to the finals. The 30-year-old striker has recently signed for Eintracht Frankfurt, and he will hope this new start at club level doesn’t disrupt his remarkable record at international level. He has 20 goals in 47 internationals, which is a ratio comparable to any of his nation’s greats.
Paraguay
Argentine-born striker Lucas Barrios is a virtual rookie at international level, having only played on a couple of occasions. The Borussia Dortmund striker has, however, found the net on both of his appearances for Paraguay, and should he continue such formidable form in front of goal could quickly become an integral part of their setup.

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