Greece squad penpix for Euro 2008:
Antonis Nikopolidis (Olympiakos Piraeus). Goalkeeper. Born 14.1.71. Caps 86. Goals 0.
After another championship-winning season with his club, Nikopolidis, who until last year was the national team's automatic first choice, may regain his starting spot. Nicknamed George Clooney due to his resemblance to the Hollywood actor.
Costas Halkias (Aris Salonika). Goalkeeper. Born 30.5.74. Caps 15. Goals 0.
Halkias got several chances during the qualifiers to establish himself as the first-choice keeper but failed to live up to expectations and made several blunders. Had a great club season with Aris, though.
Alexandros Tzorvas (OFI Crete). Goalkeeper. Born: 12.8.82. Caps 0. Goals 0.
A stalwart in OFI Crete's successful battle against relegation last season, catching the eye of Greece coach Otto Rehhagel with his performances against the Athens clubs. Uncapped he was delighted just to have been called up.
Giourkas Seitaridis (Atletico Madrid). Defender. Born 4.6.81. Caps 55. Goals 1.
Having recovered from an injury that sidelined him for months, Seitaridis is back in form. A speedy defender, his surging runs and crosses from the right wing can wreak havoc in opposition defences. Enjoys buying fast cars.
Christos Patsatzoglou (Olympiakos). Defender. Born 19.3.79. Caps 28. Goals 1.
After almost three years out with an injury, Patsatzoglou showed last season he could challenge for a starting spot in defence. Highly skilled, he often tests goalkeepers with thunderous long-range efforts.
Traianos Dellas (AEK Athens). Defender. Born 31.1.76. Caps 41. Goals 1.
Known as the "Colossus" of the Greek defence, the towering Dellas provided a near-impenetrable central defence with partner Michalis Kapsis. After a couple of years of injuries and lagging form, Dellas is now back to his best, while his national team partnership with Sotiris Kyrgiakos has also developed well.
Yannis Goumas (Panathinaikos). Defender. Born 24.5.75. Caps 45. Goals 0.
A reliable alternative in the central defence, Goumas has been picked as a defensive option for years and was part of the Euro 2004 squad but did not play. Relishes pushing forward for set pieces where he often scores with a powerful header.
Sotiris Kyrgiakos (Eintracht Frankfurt). Defender. Born 23.7.79. Caps 37. Goals 4.
After missing Euro 2004 through injury, Kyrgiakos has become Dellas' defensive partner, replacing Michalis Kapsis. Has a keen eye for goal, but his tough tackling and physical defending has earned him several red cards and his opponents many penalties.
Paraskevas Antzas (Olympiakos). Defender. Born 18.8.76. Caps 23. Goals 0.
After qualifying with Greece for Euro 2004, Antzas stunned many by leaving Olympiakos and choosing to play for a third division team in his home town, missing out on Greece's victory in Portugal. He regained his national team spot in 2007.
Nikos Spyropoulos (Panathinaikos). Defender. Born 10.10.83. Caps 4. Goals 0.
Among the revelations of this year's Greek championship, Spyropoulos deservedly earned a call-up in November and has featured in every squad since. The agile full-back will be a useful defensive tool for Rehhagel.
Loukas Vintra (Panathinaikos). Defender. Born 5.2.81. Caps 17. Goals 0.
Once among the brightest prospects in the country, he has failed to live up to expectations, especially after a planned move to Hertha Berlin fell through due to his club's objections.
Vassilis Torosidis (Olympiakos). Defender. Born 10.6.85. Caps 12. Goals 0.
Versatile, can play at the back or in midfield, often to be found racing down the touchline. Torosidis made his debut in a 4-1 home qualifying defeat by Turkey but has since become an important member of the squad. For Greece he plays on the left.
Angelos Basinas (Real Mallorca). Midfielder. Born 3.1.76. Caps 87. Goals 7.
After taking over as team captain from retired Theodore Zagorakis, Basinas has established himself as the playmaker, directing the pace and splitting defences with his pinpoint crosses. He is also the team's penalty taker and takes most of the other set pieces.
Stelios Giannakopoulos (Bolton Wanderers). Midfielder. Born 12.7.74. Caps 74. Goals 12.
Another of the 30-somethings who triumphed in Portugal, Stelios has earned his living since 2003 in England. For Greece, he usually comes on as a substitute to add pace and goalscoring options despite his midfield duties. In the 2005/6 season he was Bolton's top scorer with 12 goals.
Giorgos Karagounis (Panathinaikos). Midfielder. Born 6.3.77. Caps 72. Goals 6.
The workhorse of the side and a potent free-kick specialist. Scored Greece's first goal at Euro 2004 in their opening 2-1 win over Portugal in the group stages, but missed the final through suspension. Spent time at Inter Milan and Benfica but is happiest back at Panathinaikos.
Costas Katsouranis (Benfica). Midfielder. Born 21.6.79. Caps 48. Goals 6.
A key member of the side that won Euro 2004, Katsouranis remains one of the first names to go on the team sheet. Tireless defensive midfielder, he also possesses a shot that has made him the toast of Benfica since joining from AEK in 2006.
Alexandros Tziolis (Panathinaikos). Midfielder. Born 13.2.85. Caps 8. Goals 0.
Yet to impose himself at the highest level of club football and on the international scene but the 22-year-old remains a promising, feisty and predominantly defensive midfielder. Has a powerful right foot and can score with long-range efforts.
Ioannis Amanatidis (Eintracht Frankfurt). Midfielder. Born 3.12.81. Caps 25. Goals 3.
Greek-born but brought up in Germany, he has never played for a club in his homeland. Currently captain of Eintracht, his previous clubs include VfB Stuttgart and Kaiserslautern. Scored the winner against Turkey in Istanbul that secured qualification for Euro 2008. He dates a popular Greek singer.
Giorgos Samaras (Celtic, on loan from Manchester City). Forward. Born 21.2.85. Caps 17. Goals 3.
Son of Giannis Samaras, who played for Greece in the 1980s, Giorgios became the Greece's most expensive player when he moved from Heerenveen to Manchester City for 6.0 million pounds in Jan. 2006. Learned his trade as a teenager in the Dutch team's youth academies. Still not a first-choice striker. Could have played for Australia as his father was born in Melbourne and his grandfather was a founding member of South Melbourne FC.
Angelos Haristeas (Nuremberg). Forward. Born 9.2.80. Caps 64. Goals 18.
Immortalised in Greek soccer for scoring the winner against Portugal in the Euro 2004 final. Strong in the air, Haristeas is seen as the target man at centre-forward and in spite of a chequered club career which has taken him to Germany and the Netherlands, he remains a quality player at international level.
Fanis Gekas (Bayer Leverkusen). Forward. Born 23.5.80. Caps 26. Goals 6.
Since leaving Panathinaikos in 2006 and heading to Germany, Gekas has become Greece's top striker. Hit 20 goals in his first season with Bochum in 2006-7, becoming the Bundesliga's top scorer. Joined Leverkusen in 2007. He says he enjoys a spartan lifestyle, does not drink alcohol and goes to bed very early.
Dimitris Salpigidis (Panathinaikos). Forward. Born 18.8.81. Caps 19. Goals 1.
Only 1.72 metres tall, he was the Greek league's top scorer last season with 15 goals. Captained PAOK Salonika at 21 before joining Panathinaikos in 2006 in a move estimated at five million euros, the biggest ever between Greek clubs. He is usually a second-choice striker for Rehhagel's team.
Nikos Liberopoulos (AEK Athens). Forward. Born 4.8.75. Caps 59. Goals 13.
Missed out on Euro 2004 but his remarkable form for AEK forced Rehhagel to bring him back into the squad. Has made a habit of scoring late goals, his winner in the qualifier against Moldova last June came deep in stoppage time.
(Compiled by Karolos Grohmann and Barney Spender; editing by Trevor Huggins)
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