20 June 2004	Sunday	01 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425

LISBON, June 19: European Championship hosts Portugal will be knocked out at the first hurdle on Sunday unless they break with tradition and beat neighbours Spain for the first time in a competitive international.

Portugal, with three points from two games, must win to finish in the top two in Group A while Spain, with four points, need another point to avoid hoping Greece lose against Russia.

The likelihood of at least one of the Iberian pair going out of the tournament has added extra spice to the fixture.

Although Spain have won three of the five competitive meetings and the other two have been drawn, Portugal's Brazilian coach Luiz Felipe Scolari is not bothered: "There's always a first time," he said.

Portugal last beat Spain in a friendly in Porto 23 years ago and they crashed to a 3-0 home defeat as recently as September.

"But this game will be different and we hope the outcome will be the opposite," said goalkeeper Ricardo.

Scolari, who led his own country to a fifth world crown two years ago, surprisingly left stalwarts Rui Costa and Fernando Couto out of his starting line-up against Russia on Wednesday but has not given anything away about his team for Sunday.

Spain have unhappy memories of recent games against host nations at major competitions, following controversial defeats by England at Euro 96 and South Korea at the 2002 World Cup.

The players say they have no concerns about the referee this time, despite the best efforts of the Spanish sports media to whip up controversy.

"The referee is experienced and is not going to be influenced by Spain or Portugal," winger Vicente said.

Vicente's form on the left and Joaquin's on the right will be vital to Spain's chances, especially as Raul has been struggling up front.

Vicente was outstanding in Spain's 1-0 win over Russia, while Joaquin ran riot in the 1-1 draw against Greece after coming on as a second-half substitute for Joseba Etxeberria.

Joaquin is almost certain to start on Sunday, with Etxeberria all but ruled out with a muscle strain, and coach Inaki Saez will be forced to replace suspended centre-back Carlos Marchena. Cesar and Juanito are his two options.

Xabi Alonso also hopes to make the starting 11 but Ruben Baraja may be a more solid bet to partner David Albelda in midfield.

GREECE v RUSSIA

FARO: Greece will have to reshape their midfield against Russia as they seek the point they need to clinch a surprise quarterfinal place.

Stelios Giannakopoulos, who has a pulled muscle, and the suspended Giorgos Karagounis will miss out, although coach Otto Rehhagel seems more concerned about complacency than the absence of the midfield duo.

"Nothing has been won. Everyone thinks that we are already in the next round but this is not true," Rehhagel said as Greece prepared for their final Group 'A' game.

Greece appear to have done the hard work already after they upset hosts Portugal 2-1 in the opening game and then held Spain to a 1-1 draw on Wednesday.

A point against the already eliminated Russians will book a spot in the last eight and end the dreams of either Spain or Portugal, who meet in Lisbon in Sunday's other Group A game.

Giorgos Georgiadis and Vassilis Tsartas, whose elegant cross found Angelos Haristeas for Greece's equaliser against Spain, are the likely replacements in midfield.

Greece have won seven and drawn one of their last eight competitive games and are determined to play positively against Russia, rather than sit back and settle for a draw.-Reuters