Thursday Sep 29 2005 10:47
Greece's preparations for Sunday's Euro 2004 final against Portugal have taken a double blow with both Michalis Kapsis and Demis Nikolaidis picking up injuries.
Kapsis has played in all five of Greece's games in the tournament, forming a solid defensive partnership with Trainanos Dellas, but suffered a knee injury in training on Saturday.
A spokesman for the Greek FA revealed: "He stopped his practice because of some pain in the knee. This makes him doubtful for the final."
Nikolaidis started the quarter-final victory over France and has also appeared as a substitute three times, but a back complaint will prevent him sitting on the bench in Lisbon.
"Nikolaidis is out for sure," the spokesman added. "He did not train on Saturday and he is not at the disposal of the coach."
Leicester City's Nikos Dabizas is on standby to make his first appearance of the tournament should Kapsis be ruled out, while coach Otto Rehhagel must also decided who will replace suspended midfielder Giorgios Karagounis.
Bolton Wanderers' Stelios Giannakopoulos is expected to get the nod, but Rehhagel is also reported to be considering handing the place to Vassilios Tsiartas of AEK Athens.
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