Euro 2012 preview: Greece v Russia

Greece coach Fernando Santos

Greece coach Fernando Santos described this fixture as "a final" for both teams, but it's his squad who arrive as the underdogs.

Whereas a draw would be enough to send Russia through to the Euro 2012 quarter-finals, Greece must secure all three points to qualify from Group A.

Judging by the previous two European Championships, though, that promises to be much easier said than done.

Greece, of course, were crowned European champions for the first time in their history back in 2004. However, their sole defeat at that memorable tournament came against the Russians, who crashed out at the group stage despite their 2-1 victory over the eventual winners.

Four years later the two national teams again went head-to-head as an almost identical outcome followed. The defending champions had already suffered defeat in their opening group match against Sweden before losing 1-0 to Russia, who went on to reach the semi-finals.

Now Greece will need to show their fighting spirit to avoid making it a hat-trick of European Championship group stage defeats against Russia, whose current squad looks just as capable as the class of 2008.

A 4-1 thrashing of Czech Republic was followed by a modest 1-1 draw against co-hosts Poland, but in both matches there was enough evidence to suggest that Dick Advocaat's talented side will be too strong for the defensively vulnerable Greece.

Despite the scale of the challenge facing his players, though, Santos has the utmost confidence in their ability to come good when it matters most.

"My faith in my team is total," the Portuguese told Uefa.com. "It's the same faith I had back in the autumn after our draw in Latvia. Back then it was tense and we needed a victory against Croatia to have any chance of qualifying. I believed in that team, I said so, and afterwards I was vindicated. I am saying the same now."

In order to vindicate their coach once more, the Greek players cannot afford another slow start. In their last match against Czech Republic they became the first team in European Championship history to fall 2-0 down inside the opening six minutes, which has understandably tempted a pensive Santos to ring the changes for Saturday's decisive Group A fixture.

"I am considering some changes to the line-up as I am looking for quick thinking when in possession and pressure when we're not," the Greece coach added. "I am sure that they will show more intensity in the next match and everything will go fine."

It's no surprise that Santos has opted to take the glass-half-full approach, but even then he knows full well that his players have their work cut out at the National Stadium in Warsaw.

Russia's strengths lie in attack, where they boast more options than any other Group A outfit. Alexander Kerzhakov might have left his shooting boots back in Russia, but his team-mates have duly stepped up to the plate instead – in particular 21-year-old Alan Dzagoev, who is the joint-leading scorer at the Euros after scoring three goals in his first two matches.

Advocaat's men produced some of the most eye-catching football seen so far in Poland and Ukraine during the opening round of fixtures against Czech Republic – and there appears to be little reason why they will fail to do the same against Santos' side, who will surely be left packing their bags come Sunday morning.

Just like at Euro 2008, Russia look poised to march into the knockout rounds after recording yet another European Championship victory over the Greeks.

Prediction: Greece 0 Russia 2

Rob Swan - follow me on Twitter

Join us on Facebook

Follow our Bettor Football updates on Twitter