Euro2008 Preview: Greece v Russia

Greece look set to make changes to their 5-3-2 formation as their look to bounce back from defeat against Sweden and get their Euro campaign on track. Yannis Amanatidis or Nikos Liberopoulos could start as a third striker, meaning no place for stopper Paraskevas Antzas. But Manchester City striker Georgios Samaras could again find himself on the bench for the defending champions.

Despite a 4-1 defeat by Spain in their opening game, Russia coach Guus Hiddink is expected to field the same line-up. Defeat for either side would end their hopes of qualifying for the quarter-finals.

BIG MATCH STATS
Head-to-heads

This match features the winners of the first European Championship (Russia) against the winners of the last European Championship (Greece).

These nations have met on 19 previous occasions with Russia winning 12 times and Greece three. Russia have defeated Greece nine times in 13 competitive matches. Greece have won three times.

Their most recent meeting was at Euro 2004 with Russia emerging victorious 2-1. Dmitri Kirichenko scored the fastest goal in European Championship history after 75 seconds and Dmitri Bulykin made it 2-0. Zisis Vryzas scored for Greece in their only defeat at Euro 2004.

Team facts - Greece

Defeat against Sweden marks only the second time in the European Championships that the defending champions started their title defence with a loss. In 1980, West Germany defeated champions Czechoslovakia 1-0.

No nation has ever retained the European Championship title and only one nation has won the crown in spite of a defeat in their first match (Netherlands in 1988). In two of the last three European Championships the defending champions have not made it past the group phase.

Team facts - Russia

Tuesday's 4-1 defeat to Spain was Russia's heaviest loss in European Championship history.