Russia set up Swedish showdown

Russia 1 Greece 0: Russia will go head to head with Sweden to decide which of them progresses to the last eight of Euro 2008 after Guus Hiddink's side eliminated defending champions Greece this evening.

A moment of madness from Antonis Nikopolidis gave Russia the win. The veteran goalkeeper rushed out of his goal and along the byline to retrieve a deep cross only to miss out and allow Sergei Semak to hook the ball back into the box for Konstantin Zyryanov (34) to tap home.

The sounds coming from Otto Rehhagel and the champions Greece were that they wanted to attack, and their formation suggested as much, with the ultra-defensive sweeper system giving way to a flat back four.

But it was impossible to throw caution to the wind when Russia had the ball and looked to attack down the flanks.

Their pressure was almost rewarded in the 14th minute when Zyryanov robbed Angelos Basinas as the Greece skipper dwelt on the ball.

Diniyar Bilyaletdinov worked the ball out to Roman Pavlyuchenko, who saw his curling lob aimed to the top corner tipped over by Nikopolidis.

Greece's threats predictably came from set-plays, with Basinas curling a trademark free-kick into the danger zone but Angelos Charisteas could not get a head on it, nor could he get a touch on Igor Semshov's clumsy resulting clearance that went just wide.

But the opener came for Russia after 33 minutes, gifted by Nikopolidis.

Bilyaletdinov was fed on the left and his cross looked harmless as it drifted to the far post but Nikopolidis went charging out of his six-yard box and Semak hooked the ball back into the middle where Zyryanov could not miss.

Greece came out fired up in the second half, but it was Pavlyuchenko who twice went close for Russia - firing into the side-netting and then seeing a shot blocked.

Basinas fired over the bar from the penalty spot after Giannis Amantidis headed a deep cross into his path as Greece looked for a leveller, but Russia stood firm and could even afford Pavlyuchenko to miss from 10 yards.