Hiddink's strategy a striking success

Russia 1 Greece 0: RUSSIA DID not qualify for this tournament without a fight, as England will attest, and they will not depart without one either.

Whether that fight should pit their coach, Guus Hiddink, against one of his own players is a questionable strategy but it seemed to work on Saturday.

Before arriving here Hiddink had told the striker Roman Pavlyuchenko he was fat. The response was angry and immediate.

"I would have loved to be like Pavlyuchenko and lose four kilos in three weeks, which he did," said the comfortably upholstered Dutchman. "I think a player with such potential, if I can see he can do more then we have good fights together and at the end of it I'm glad he takes the challenge and responds. We have to learn still as Russian players to fight and demand 100 per cent from each other. When they do that they can do a lot."

Despite scoring both goals when Russia beat England 2-1 in Moscow the 26-year-old Pavlyuchenko was warned by Hiddink he might not make the squad for the tournament if he failed to shift some weight. On Saturday the Spartak Moscow player showed all the benefits. He was easily Russia's best player, speedy and sharp as he peeled away from Greece's back three and bemused defenders with clever feints and touches.

The goal that doomed Greece came in the 34th minute. Antonis Nikopolidis ran daftly from his goal to clear and Russia's captain, Sergei Semak, beat the goalkeeper and played the ball back over his shoulder for Konstantin Zyryanov to score easily.

Otto Rehhagel's renowned tactical nous, vital four years ago, failed the German coach and the champions leave a tournament that will not mourn their one-dimensional directness.

Although Rehhagel was unrepentant about an approach that at times had six players packing midfield, Stelios Giannakopoulos said: "At least in the final game we have to enjoy ourselves and leave a good impression for our fans."

Against Spain on Wednesday, Greece could start by being more adventurous, and Russia might think likewise. They meet Sweden in the final match of Group D and both have three points but Hiddink knows that only victory will advance his team because of inferior goal difference.

"It will be a different type of game - tough, and they are experienced," he said before expanding on how he had roused his players from the 4-1 rout dished out by Spain. "My worry was not the football we played (against Spain) but the trap of not smelling danger, so I'm very proud of how they reacted after some tense practice sessions. They showed tonight they know what high-level international football is."

As for Russia's chances in the tournament, "we're still outsiders if you look at the rankings. But outsiders can do a good job as well. We've proved that."

Greece goalkeeper Antonis Nikopolidis and defender Paraskevas Antzas announced yesterday they would retire from international football after Wednesday's game against Spain. Nikopolidis (37) was a member of the victorious Euro 2004 team and has won 89 caps, and 31-year-old Antzas has 25 caps.

Guardian Service

GREECE: Nikopolidis, Seitaridis (Karagounis 40), Dellas, Kyrgiakos, Torosidis, Katsouranis, Basinas, Patsatzoglou, Charisteas, Liberopoulos (Gekas 60), Amanatidis (Giannakopoulos 79). Subs not used: Chalkias, Antzas, Goumas, Vyntra, Spyropoulos, Tziolis, Samaras, Salpigidis, Tzorvas. Booked: Karagounis, Liberopoulos.

RUSSIA: Akinfeev, Aniukov, Kolodin, Ignashevich, Zhirkov (Vasili Berezutsky 87), Semak, Torbinsky, Zyryanov, Semshov, Bilyaletdinov (Saenko 69), Pavluchenko. Subs not used: Gabulov, Shirokov, Yanbaev, Alexei Berezutsky, Ivanov, Bystrov, Sychev, Adamov, Malafeev. Booked: Saenko, Torbinsky. Goals: Zyryanov 34.

Referee: Roberto Rosetti(Italy).