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The battle of surprises
June 30, 2004 14:19 IST
Few would have expected a duel between Milan Baros and Traianos Dellas to be decisive to the outcome of Euro 2004 but much will hinge on their performances in Thursday's semi-final between the Czech Republic and Greece.
Czech striker Baros has scored in all their four games so far and his five goals, including two in the quarter-final win over Denmark, make him the unexpected leading scorer.
The 22-year-old could equal Frenchman Michel Platini's record of scoring in five successive European Championship finals matches should he find the target against the Greeks.
Centre half Dellas, one of the most impressive defenders in the tournament, stands between Baros and that record and, just like his opponent, he came to Portugal after a disappointing season with his club.
Baros managed just one goal in 13 appearances for Liverpool while Dellas was left on the fringes at AS Roma featuring in only 12 Serie A matches.
While Baros is one of the few surprises in an excellent Czech side that has fully lived up to expectations, Dellas is among many unexpected successes in the Greek squad.
Otto Rehhagel's team have been producing surprises since the first day of Euro 2004, beating hosts and fellow semi-finalists Portugal in the opening match and qualifying ahead of Spain and Russia from Group A.
That was the first time the Greeks had got beyond the group stage in a major tournament but they went one better when they ended the hopes of holders France in the quarter-finals.
Rehhagel has lively striker Zisis Vryzas, whose goal in the 2-1 defeat to Russia ensured second place in the group, back from suspension and he is expected to return to the attack at the expense of Demis Nikolaidis.
Midfielder Stelios Giannakopoulos, who missed the last two matches due to injury, is also back in line for a starting place.
The Czechs are without defender Martin Jiranek, who has not recovered from a thigh injury picked up in the 3-0 win over Denmark on Sunday.
Zdenek Grygera will take over at right back, returning to the side after a poor performance in the 3-2 comeback win over the Netherlands when he was substituted after just 25 minutes.
Czech skipper Pavel Nedved, who missed the 2003 Champions League final through suspension, will have to be careful if he is not to suffer another heartbreaking absence.
Nedved is one of five players who will be suspended for the final if they are booked in Thursday's match.
The playmaker's Czech team mates Marek Jankulovski and Tomas Ujfalusi and Greece's Theodoros Zagorakis and Giorgos Karagounis will all have to watch their step.
Greece (4-4-2): 1-Antonis Nikopolidis; 2-Yourkas Seitaridis, 19-Michalis Kapsis, 5-Traianos Dellas, 14-Takis Fyssas; 8-Stelios Giannakopoulos, 20-Giorgos Karagounis, 6-Angelos Basinas, 7-Theodoros Zagorakis; 15-Zisis Vryzas, 9-Angelos Haristeas.
Czech Republic (4-4-2): 1-Petr Cech; 2-Zdenek Grygera, 21-Tomas Ujfalusi, 5-Rene Bolf, 6-Marek Jankulovski; 8-Karel Poborsky, 4-Tomas Galasek, 10-Tomas Rosicky, 11-Pavel Nedved; 15-Milan Baros, 9-Jan Koller.