Poland were on Thursday preparing to kick off Euro 2012 on home soil, with opponents Greece seeking a morale-boosting win to lift a beleaguered nation hit by political turmoil and crippling financial woes.
Both teams were due at the National Stadium in Warsaw for training, a day ahead of the curtain-raiser for the 16-team showpiece, as excitement builds across the country -- and in neighbouring co-hosts Ukraine -- for the start of the tournament.
The kick-off is not just being keenly anticipated for the football, where world champions Spain are looking to the retain the crown they won four years ago and beaten 2008 finalists Germany seek revenge.
The tournament is also the first behind the former Iron Curtain and a gamble by European football's governing body UEFA to develop the game beyond its traditional heartlands.
Franciszek Smuda's Poles are seeking to emulate the golden generation of the 1970s and 1980s while Greece want to prove that their 2004 victory was no fluke -- and give their cash-strapped compatriots something to smile about.
Captain Giorgios Karagounis, of Panathinaikos, said: "We want to give joy to the Greeks. We will do our best, without stress and pressure, and hopefully bring back beautiful memories."
The Poland-Greece opener is followed by Russia versus the Czech Republic in Wroclaw, where Dick Advocaat's side come into the tournament on a high after beating Italy 3-0 last week, prompting predictions that they may be a team to watch.
The experienced Dutchman may play down any talk of Russia as outside bets but captain Andrey Arshavin believes they are ready to take on and beat the best.
"The result of the friendly match with Italy boosted our fans' hopes ahead of the championship's start and all of our players also. However, for a long time we have believed our team is capable of playing at this level," he said.
The Czechs' Champions League-winning goalkeeper Petr Cech told fans in an online chat on Wednesday that Group A was wide open, with any one of them able to progress to the quarter-finals.
"Our chances are the same as those of the other three teams in Group A," he said, predicting that Spain, Germany and the Netherlands would win the title although he suggeted: "We may spring a surprise."
Czech coach Michal Balek, however, has injury concerns over captain Tomas Rosicky, who resumed training on Monday after a calf injury, as well as Galatasaray forward Milan Baros, who limped out of Tuesday's session with a thigh problem.
Source : http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/euro-2012/euro-2012-poland-greece-last-minute-training-friday-opener-article-1.1091408#ixzz1xCbpE2Lb
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