Football / World Cup USA '94: Greeks' forlorn hope
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.ANOTHER embarrassment is in prospect when the beleaguered Greek team face Nigeria in their final World Cup group D game in Boston today.
Greece, playing in their first World Cup finals, are still without a point after 4-0 defeats to both Argentina and Bulgaria. They are almost certainly out of the tournament but are clinging to the slimmest of mathematical chances of a second-round place.
The strong Nigerian forwards look too fast and skilful for the porous Greek defence, while the European side have not shown a tactical sophistication that could counter the Africans in the way that Argentina did when beating Nigeria 2-1 on Saturday.
More realistically, the Greek coach, Alketas Panagoulias, is hoping for a better performance and at least one point.
'We are going for the best possible performance with the best possible line-up to have a decent game and get a tie maybe that would be (Greece's) first golden point of the World Cup,' Panagoulias said.
Two Nigerian defenders are injury doubts - Augustine Eguavoen and Ben Iroha - so Stephen Keshi may gain his first start at the finals, as might the Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder, Austin Okocha.
Only a heavy defeat could jeopardise the Nigerians' chances of going through. They have three points from their 3-0 win over Bulgaria and a superior goal difference puts them in second place.
Clemens Westerhof, their Dutch coach, said: 'We can't take Greece lightly, because it will be their last chance to win a match. We must go and beat them.'
NIGERIA (probable): Rufai (Go Ahead Eagles); Keshi (no club), Nwanu (Anderlecht), Okechukwu (Fenerbahce), Emenalo (RWD Molenbeek), Siasia (Nantes), Amokachi (Club Bruges), Okocha (Eintracht Frankfurt), Amunike (MSV Duisburg), George (Ajax), Yekini (Olympiakos).
GREECE (probable): Karkamanis (Aris Salonika); Apostolakis (Panathinaikos), Kalitzakis (Panathinaikos), Kolitsidakis (Panathinaikos), Karayannis (AEK Athens), Hantzidis (Olympiakos), Marangos (Panathinaikos), Nioplias (Panathinaikos), Kofidis (Aris Salonika), Saravakos (Panathinaikos), Machlas (OFI Crete).
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments