Thursday Sep 29 2005 10:47
Greece coach Otto Rehhagel has told his players that they have no need to fear any of the French squad ahead of Friday's quarter-final clash.
Rehhagel's side are one of the surprise packages of Euro 2004, having finished above Spain in the Group A table to make it through to the quarter-finals.
Although they have already beaten Portugal and drawn with Spain the former Bayern Munich chief believes his team need to step up the level of their performance in order to beat the European champions.
However, he is keen that the Greek players should regard the French superstars as their equal.
He said: "I tell my boys that even if they see (Thierry) Henry or (Bixente) Lizarazu in their dreams not to be scared.
"Even when they are asleep and I tell them the names Henry and so on they immediately have a picture in their heads of the way they play and we did not have that with the Russians because we knew less about them.
"We know France have the best players in Europe but we will go in with strength and passion and we have everything to win and nothing to lose.
"Every match in the Euro is a dance on a razor's edge."
Rehhagel is waiting for news on the fitness of Bolton Wanderers midfielder Stelios Giannakopoulos before finalising his line-up for the game in Lisbon, but will definitely be without suspended striker Zisis Vryzas.
The Fiorentina man is hopeful his tournament is not over though, commenting: "I will not play but the team will try for the best.
"We know they have the best players but we will go into the game fighting and hoping to go through so I can play again in the semi-final."
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