Greece beat Liechtenstein 2-0 in friendly

A lacklustre Greece scored a goal in each half to beat a battling Liechtenstein 2-0 in an international friendly on Thursday. The Greeks wer...

A lacklustre Greece scored a goal in each half to beat a battling Liechtenstein 2-0 in an international friendly on Thursday. The Greeks were missing four first-choice players, including striker Demis Nikolaidis and central defender Nikos Dabizas who are recovering from minor injuries.

It took 24 minutes for Greece, who topped their qualifying pool, to crack open a tight Liechtenstein defence when Fiorentina striker Zisis Vryzas pounced on a loose ball after a Vassilis Tsartas cross.

Werder Bremen8217;s Haristeas completed the victory when he tapped in with two minutes remaining after Angelos Basinas crossed from the left.

Ovchinnikov plugs for Russia

Russia8217;s number one goalkeeper Sergei Ovchinnikov rates his team as clear favourites to win the Euro 2004 finals starting in Portugal next week.

8216;8216;We have a clear outsider, which is Latvia, while Russia is a clear favourite to win the title,8217;8217; Ovchinnikov told reporters on Thursday at the team8217;s training camp near Moscow before attacking the Russian media for underestimating their team. 8216;8216;You may laugh at what I say, but I8217;m a member of the Russian squad and I8217;m serious about our chances,8217;8217; he said.

8216;8216;I don8217;t understand why nobody believes in our team. Everyone is backing up a German team which gets hammered 5-1 by Romania, but no one gives us any chance, no matter who we play.8217;8217;

Croatia depleted for warm-up

Croatia will be without at least four players for their last pre-Euro 2004 friendly against Denmark in Copenhagen on Saturday.

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Topping the injured list is left winger Milan Rapaic of Ancona, who is nursing a hamstring injury.

Juventus central defender Igor Tudor is out with tendinitis to add to a recent red card, Bayer Leverkusen8217;s Marko Babic will be rested after playing three games in the last fortnight while Dynamo Kiev midfielder Jerko Leko had fitness problems, according to an update published in a local daily.