Spanish reserves overcome defending champions
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The reigning champions Greece, who had already been eliminated before the match started, suffered their third consecutive defeats as they were beaten 2-1 by Group D winners Spain.
Spain playing a largely second-string side but it seemed that their reserves still too good for the Greeks.
After a 100% record in their group matches, Spain have boosted their confidence before the clash aganst world champions Italy in the quarter-finals.
The Spanish side came into the match as group winners while the Greeks, had lost all their previous matches without scoring, were keen to give their high-spirited fans something to cheer after the elimination.
Having already been confirmed as group winners, Luis Aragones made 10 changes from the previous starting XI that won their two previous matches, with Barcelona star Andres Iniesta was the only survivor.
Halfway through the first half, Xabi Alonso almost scored the goal that surely have been the goal of the tournament if it had gone in.
The Spanish captain for the match spotted Greece goalkeeper Antonis Nikopolidis well off his line and he launched a 'Beckham-style shot' from inside his own half.
Unfortunately, the ball was inches wide and led to Nikopolidis crashing into his goal post.
His effort reviving the memory of Pele's attempt for Brazil in the 1970 World Cup against Czechoslovakia.
But it was Greece who took the lead in the 42nd minute when Angelos Charisteas put a powerful header spinning past keeper Pepe Reina after some slack marking by the Spanish defense.
It was the first goal of the tournament for the defending champions.
However, the Spanish came to life and scored a well-worked equaliser, Cesc Fàbregas chipping the ball over the top for Dani Güiza to nod down before cutting back to Rubén de la Red who put a thunderous shot past Nikopolidis.
The Real Madrid youngster scored his first goal for his country in only his third appearance.
Then two minutes from normal time, as in the victory over Sweden, Spain scored in the closing moments to secure the victory.
Mallorca striker Güiza scored his first international goal, sending a powerful close range header after a cross from Sergio García.
It left the title holders as the only team without a point, while Spain, which has won nine straight matches and is unbeaten in 19 of them, continue to confirm their status as one of the favourites to win the title.
Greece: 1-Antonis Nikopolidis; 11-Loukas Vintra, 16-Sotiris Kyrgiakos (19-Paraskevas Antzas 62), 5-Traianos Dellas, 4-Nikos Spyropoulos; 6-Angelos Basinas, 21-Kostas Katsouranis, 14-Dimitris Salpigidis (8-Stelios Giannakopoulos 86), 10-Giorgios Karagounis (22-Alexandros Tziolis 73), 20-Ioannis Amanatidis; 9-Angelos Charisteas
Spain: 23-Pepe Reina; 18-Álvaro Arbeloa, 20-Juanito, 2-Raúl Albiol, 3-Fernando Navarro; 14-Xabi Alonso; 22-Rubén De la Red, 10-Cesc Fàbregas, 16-Sergio García, 6-Andrés Iniesta (12-Santi Cazorla 58); 17-Daniel Güiza
Referee: Howard Webb (England)
Statistics:
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Spain playing a largely second-string side but it seemed that their reserves still too good for the Greeks.
After a 100% record in their group matches, Spain have boosted their confidence before the clash aganst world champions Italy in the quarter-finals.
The Spanish side came into the match as group winners while the Greeks, had lost all their previous matches without scoring, were keen to give their high-spirited fans something to cheer after the elimination.
Having already been confirmed as group winners, Luis Aragones made 10 changes from the previous starting XI that won their two previous matches, with Barcelona star Andres Iniesta was the only survivor.
Halfway through the first half, Xabi Alonso almost scored the goal that surely have been the goal of the tournament if it had gone in.
The Spanish captain for the match spotted Greece goalkeeper Antonis Nikopolidis well off his line and he launched a 'Beckham-style shot' from inside his own half.
Unfortunately, the ball was inches wide and led to Nikopolidis crashing into his goal post.
His effort reviving the memory of Pele's attempt for Brazil in the 1970 World Cup against Czechoslovakia.
But it was Greece who took the lead in the 42nd minute when Angelos Charisteas put a powerful header spinning past keeper Pepe Reina after some slack marking by the Spanish defense.
It was the first goal of the tournament for the defending champions.
However, the Spanish came to life and scored a well-worked equaliser, Cesc Fàbregas chipping the ball over the top for Dani Güiza to nod down before cutting back to Rubén de la Red who put a thunderous shot past Nikopolidis.
The Real Madrid youngster scored his first goal for his country in only his third appearance.
Then two minutes from normal time, as in the victory over Sweden, Spain scored in the closing moments to secure the victory.
Mallorca striker Güiza scored his first international goal, sending a powerful close range header after a cross from Sergio García.
It left the title holders as the only team without a point, while Spain, which has won nine straight matches and is unbeaten in 19 of them, continue to confirm their status as one of the favourites to win the title.
| Greece |  | 1 - 2 |  | Spain |
| Angelos Charisteas 42 | Rubén de la Red 61 | |||
| Daniel Güiza 88 |
Greece: 1-Antonis Nikopolidis; 11-Loukas Vintra, 16-Sotiris Kyrgiakos (19-Paraskevas Antzas 62), 5-Traianos Dellas, 4-Nikos Spyropoulos; 6-Angelos Basinas, 21-Kostas Katsouranis, 14-Dimitris Salpigidis (8-Stelios Giannakopoulos 86), 10-Giorgios Karagounis (22-Alexandros Tziolis 73), 20-Ioannis Amanatidis; 9-Angelos Charisteas
Spain: 23-Pepe Reina; 18-Álvaro Arbeloa, 20-Juanito, 2-Raúl Albiol, 3-Fernando Navarro; 14-Xabi Alonso; 22-Rubén De la Red, 10-Cesc Fàbregas, 16-Sergio García, 6-Andrés Iniesta (12-Santi Cazorla 58); 17-Daniel Güiza
Referee: Howard Webb (England)
Statistics:
| Shots on target : | 2 | - | 4 |
| Shots off target : | 5 | - | 13 |
| Ball possession (%) : | 45 | - | 55 |
| Corner kicks : | 1 | - | 5 |
| Offsides : | 4 | - | 1 |
| Fouls : | 16 | - | 18 |
| Yellow cards : | 3 | - | 2 |
| Red cards : | 0 | - | 0 |
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