Greece in tough against Russians

LEGIONOWO, Poland — Greece coach Fernando Santos plans to bring Russia’s flowing football to a grinding halt when they meet at the European Championship today for a spot in the quarter- finals.

Russia has been one of the most entertaining teams at the tournament, with its quick movement up front helping the team score five goals in two games and climb to the top of Group A.

And Santos believes that keeping forwards Alan Dzagoev, who has scored three goals, and Andrey Arshavin at bay will be vital if Greece is to claim the win it needs to advance.

“We’ll have to be aggressive in our defending, and not to let them run with the ball,” he said.

“We’ve been watching Russia games closely. ... They have very competent players, especially in midfield and up front. And they like possession.”

Euro 2012 co- hosts Poland and Greece face win or bust situations today as Group A goes down to the wire with simultaneous kick- offs for the first time since the tournament began.

Poland, unbeaten and on two points, face the more erratic Czech Republic ( three points) in Wroclaw in a match with a twist. Poland, free from the burden of expectation that has been whipped up for their games in the capital, know they must do what no other Polish side has done and win a European Championship match.

Free- flowing Russia, on four points, have a more straightforward path to the knockout stages as a win over Greece in Warsaw or a draw would see them though and even a loss would be enough to progress if the Poles and Czechs draw.

Of Russia’s midfield and forward line, five players come from Russian champion Zenit St. Petersburg, and their linkup play proved too much for the Czech Republic in an openingday 4- 1 win. It also caused problems for Poland in a 1- 1 draw on Tuesday.

“They link up automatically, because their players all know each other. They have so many from Zenit and CSKA Moscow. That makes them very strong on the counterattack,” he said.

For a team so reliant on a strong defence, the loss to injury of first- choice goalkeeper Costas Chalkias and central defender Avraam Papadopoulos is a big blow to Santos.

However, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, a cornerstone of Greece’s defence, returns after being suspended for the 2- 1 loss to the Czechs following his sending- off in a 1- 1 draw with Poland.

Greece, which won the tournament in 2004, has been hurt by slow starts, conceding all three goals early in their games.