Baros faces Dellas in battle of the surprises

Few would have expected a duel between Milan Baros and Traianos Dellas to be decisive to the outcome of Euro 2004 but much will hinge on their performances in today's semi-final between the Czech Republic and Greece.

Czech striker Baros has scored in all their four games so far and his five goals, including two in the quarter-final win over Denmark, make him the unexpected leading scorer.

The 22-year-old could equal Michel Platini's record of scoring in five successive European Championship finals matches should he find the target against the Greeks.

Centre-half Dellas, one of the most impressive defenders in the tournament, stands between Baros and that record and, just like his opponent, he came to Portugal after a disappointing season with his club.

Baros managed just one goal in 13 appearances for Liverpool while Dellas was left on the fringes at Roma featuring in only 12 matches.

While Baros is one of the few surprises in an excellent Czech side that has fully lived up to expectations, Dellas is among many unexpected successes in the Greek squad.

Otto Rehhagel's team have been producing surprises since the first day of Euro 2004, beating hosts and fellow semi-finalists Portugal in the opening match and qualifying ahead of Spain and Russia from Group A.

That was the first time the Greeks had got beyond the group stage in a major tournament but they went one better when they ended the hopes of holders France in the quarter-finals.

Rehhagel has lively striker Zisis Vryzas, whose goal in the 2-1 defeat to Russia ensured second place in the group, back from suspension and he is expected to return to the attack at the expense of Demis Nikolaidis.

Midfielder Stelios Giannakopoulos, who missed the last two matches due to injury, is also back in line for a starting place.

The Czechs are without defender Martin Jiranek, who has not recovered from a thigh injury picked up in the 3-0 win over Denmark.

Zdenek Grygera will take over at right back, returning to the side after a poor performance in the 3-2 comeback win over the Netherlands when he was substituted after just 25 minutes.

Czech skipper Pavel Nedved, who missed the 2003 Champions League final through suspension, will have to be careful if he is not to suffer another heart-breaking absence.

Nedved is one of five players who will be suspended for the final if they are booked tonight.

The playmaker's Czech team-mates Marek Jankulovski and Tomas Ujfalusi and Greece's Theodoros Zagorakis and Giorgos Karagounis will all have to watch their step.

Probable teams

Greece: Nikopolidis; Seitaridis, Kapsis, Dellas, Fyssas; Giannakopoulos, Karagounis, Basinas, Zagorakis; Vryzas, Haristeas.

Czech Rep.: Cech; Grygera, Ujfalusi, Bolf, Jankulovski; Poborsky, Galasek, Rosicky, Nedved; Baros, Koller.

Referee: PierLuigi Collina (Italy).

On TV: RaiUno - 8.45 p.m.

Miscellany

¤ Both countries won their quarter-final without needing extra-time.

¤ The Czech Republic are the only remaining team with a 100% record. France, who won all five of their matches at Euro 84, are the only team to ever win this tournament with a 100% record since the group phase was introduced.

¤ Karel Brueckner has lost no competitive matches as coach of the Czech Republic. He has won 11 competitive matches and drawn one, a 1-1 draw against the Netherlands.

¤ The winners of the last two European Championship finals have come from the group containing the Czech Republic. Germany (1996) and France (2000) both competed with the Czechs in the group phase.

¤ Italian Pierluigi Collina is the referee for this match. This will be his third match at Euro 2004.

¤ No country with a foreign trainer has ever won the World Cup or European Championship. Greek trainer Otto Rehhagel is from Germany. Slovakian Brueckner is coach of the Czech Republic.