Minute by Minute: Greece - Spain

Jonathan Roorda - 18 June 2008 20:47

Greece goalkeeper Antonis Nikopolidis

SALZBURG (SW) - Greece will aim to leave Euro 2008 with at least a few points against Spain, who will be more focused on their quarter final match later this week. SoccerWay keeps you up to date.

Final score: <b>1-2</b>

More match information: <a href="http://www.soccerway.com/match/european-championships/greece/spain/529764/">Here</a>.

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For updates on Russia - Sweden, click <a href="http://www.soccerway.com/news/2008/June/18/minute-by-minute-russia---sweden/">here</a>.

FULL TIME - Spain win their third match and thus become the third team - after Croatia and Holland, to win all of their group matches. Greece failed to leave with even a point and set a record as the first defending champion to lose three times in the group phase.

Minute 90+1: Loukas Vintra gets a late yellow card.

Minute 88: <b>GOAL SPAIN (1-2) - DANIEL GUÏZA</b> - Spain do it again in the final phase of the match! Sergio García serves Guïza with a beautiful cross and the latter only has to head in from close range!

Minute 86: Greece's last substitution has Salpingidis coming off for Giannakopoulos.

Minute 82: Sergio Garcia shoots but it's not powerful enough and Nikpolidis saves quite easily.

Minute 80: Amanatidis attempts to restore Greece's lead but the shot isn't on goal. Either team could still end up winning this match.

Minute 75: De la Red combines with another player and then tries a shot, but it lacks precision.

Minute 74: Tziolis has come on to replace Karagounis.

Minute 74: Guïza comes close to scoring Spain's second but sends his shot wide of the far post.

Minute 72: Basinas brings down Guïza and gets a yellow card.

Minute 69: It looks like Spain wouldn't mind finishing the group phase with a third win as Luis Aragones' men maintain constant pressure on the Greek defense now.

Minute 64: Charisteas shoots from a difficult angle but hits the side net.

Minute 63: Rehhagel makes a quick change as Antzas comes on for Kyrgiakos.

Minute 61: <b>GOAL SPAIN (1-1) RUBEN DE LA RED</b> - Guïza heads back to De la Red who comes storming into the penalty area and sends a very powerful shot past Nikopolidis! The goalkeeper gets a hand to it but only manages to deflect it onto the crossbar, after which it bounces in.

Minute 58: Andrés Iniesta comes off and Santi Cazorla joins the action.

Minute 54: But Spain were close there! Xavi Alonso strikes on goal and the shot beats Nikopolidis but bounces off the left post.

Minute 53: It wouldn't be too surprising if the current 1-0 score is also the final result as neither team is getting very close to the opposing goal right now.

Minute 49: Meanwhile it looks like Spain are going to be joined by Russia at the top of Group D, as Sweden are currently 2-0 down.

Minute 46: The second half begins and no changes have been made.

HALF TIME - The first half is over in Salzburg and Greece are currently leading 1-0.

Minute 45: And another Spaniard to get a yellow card is Arbeloa, as result of a foul.

Minute 43: Daniel Guïza was the one that caused the free kick and he was booked for his foul.

Minute 42: <b>GOAL GREECE (1-0) - ANGELOS CHARISTEAS</b> - A Greek free kick is met by Charisteas in the six-yard box and the striker powers a header past goalkeeper Reina. Great goal from Greece!

Minute 39: Fabregas serves Sergio García in the penalty area but a defender manages to get in the middle.

Minute 38: Spain are gaining strength now as Xavi Alonso sends a shot just wide. Good effort.

Minute 35: Fabregas takes a Spanish free kick but it's easily headed away by a defender. Spain should have done more with that.

Minute 32: Ruben de la Red shoots but it goes just wide of the post.

Minute 28: Guïza shoots from the edge of the penalty area but it goes well wide and over.

Minute 24: Xavi Alonso tries a very opportunistic shot from midfield but it actually worries Nikopolidis. The ball goes just over the crossbar and Nikopolidis clashes with the post but seems okay.

Minute 19: Spain's reserve team hasn't showed much up til now, and the Greeks actually seem a bit stronger.

Minute 16: A Spanish corner kick is easily collected by Nikopolidis.

Minute 10: Another Greek free kick almost allows a forward to head in but Raul Albiol clears it.

Minute 5: Greece have a free kick on the right wing. The ball ends up with Traianos Dellas but the forward can't give his shot any power.

Minute 2: Ruben de la Red has a chance to shoot but mis-hits and it goes wide.

Kick-off: The last match of the reigning European champions at this tournament has begun.

Pre-match: The Spanish selection for this match has undergone a big overhaul with only Andres Iniesta featuring on behalf of the usual line-up. Daniel Guïze will be given a chance as well.