Poland, Greece seek opening Euro 2012 win

Posted Friday, June 08, 2012 by YAHOO Sport

Poland were on Thursday preparing to kick off Euro 2012 on home soil, with opponents Greece seeking a morale-boosting win to lift a beleaguered nation hit by political turmoil and crippling financial woes.

Both teams trained at the National Stadium in Warsaw, a day ahead of the curtain-raiser for the 16-team showpiece, as excitement builds across the country -- and in neighbouring co-hosts Ukraine -- for the start of the tournament.

The kick-off is keenly anticipated not just for the football, with world champions Spain looking to the retain the crown they won four years ago and beaten 2008 finalists Germany seeking revenge.

The tournament is also the first behind the former Iron Curtain and a gamble by European football's governing body UEFA to develop the game beyond its traditional heartlands.

Franciszek Smuda's Poles are seeking to emulate the golden generation of the 1970s and 1980s and are relishing playing in front of fanatical home crowds.

"The atmosphere just keeps getting better and better," he told a news conference at the 50,000-seat stadium. "On our way to and from training, countless numbers of people are wishing us well on the streets. It's great.

"I hope that kind of atmosphere will remain right through to the end of the tournament. We can be proud of that."

Greece for their part want to prove that their Euro 2004 victory was no fluke -- and give their cash-strapped compatriots something to smile about.

Captain Giorgios Karagounis said: "We want to give joy to the Greeks. We will do our best, without stress and pressure, and hopefully bring back beautiful memories."

Elsewhere France coach Laurent Blanc stirred things up ahead of Monday's Group D clash with England by entering the debate over the non selection of former England captain Rio Ferdinand.

Blanc, who played alongside Ferdinand for two seasons at Manchester United, said he had obviously been left out for non-sporting reasons because coach Roy Hodgson did not want a split dressing room.

Ferdinand's former centreback partner John Terry was selected but faces trial in July over charges he racially abused the United star's younger brother Anton in a Premier League game last season.

Hodgson's problems in his first tournament in charge mounted as having already lost several to injury he was deprived of another player when striker Jermain Defoe had to return home after his father died.

In Group B, Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk said the Oranje's opener on Saturday against Denmark was "the most important game in the last six months" but there are fears of another potentially self-destructive row in the camp.

Bundesliga top scorer Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has said he was unhappy about not being picked as lone striker ahead of Arsenal's Robin van Persie, last season's most prolific marksman in the English Premier League.

But Inter Milan's Wesley Sneijder said: "We are fine. There are no fights. We've been together in this team for a long time, so there are no problems."

Germany forward Lukas Podolski meanwhile backed his team to subdue Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo, predicting a 2-0 win for the Mannschaft when the sides meet in Lviv, Ukraine, on Saturday.

"We have to be aggressive, entangle him in some tough tackles and take away his love of football," Podolski said of the Real Madrid player. "But one thing is clear, we have enough players of our own with great potential."