Venue: Salzburg- Kick-Off:7.45 pmEuro 2008 kicks off tomorrow night in Salzburg for these two under-dog teams hoping to cause an upset and progre s to the latter stages of the tournament. For Greece this would not be out of the ordinary as they famously knocked out France and hosts Portugal four years ago on their way to claiming an unluckily victory. Things havent gone to plan for the European Champions over the past four years however, and having failed to qualify for the World Cup in Francisco Liriano Jersey Germany in 2006, they will be out to prove a point that they can still hold their own against the bigs guns of International football.In terms of qualifying for Euro 2008, Greece were statistically the most impre sive team with the highest amount of points of any of the qualifiers (null). They qualified with two games to spare after a 1-0 win in Turkey, who had previously beaten Greece 4-1 in Athens, to make Turkey the only side to beat them in qualifying. Their top scorer over the campaign was Theofanis Gekas (null goals), a little known striker acro s the whole of Europe although having had a huge impact in the Bundesliga over the past two seasons. He signed for Bochum in 2006 and fired 20 goals in 31 appearances for the relegated side, bagging him the Bundesliga Golden Boot (null6/7). Since then has moved to Bayer Leverkusen and scored 13 goals in all competitions so is going to be a handful for any defender.Greece still have many of the heroes from the last European Championships hoping to prove that their strong team spirit that so emphatically proved effective four years ago, can again lead them to glory once more. Coming into Euro 2008 as holders, Greeces name is still not one of the few that is being banded around as potential winners despite their heroics from the last campaign and this may suit the Greek team as they could quietly Houston Astros Jersey sneak through the group stages and end up knocking out a favourite for the tournament, culminating in succe s again. The form of Greece could depend on 4 key men. Talented right back Giourakis Seitaridis who was one of the only players from the Euro 2008 squad to find a big money move after their win, although this move was already agreed with Porto for 3M. Has since moved to Ru sia with Dynamo Moscow but struggled and returned to Western Europe with Atletico Madrid last summer.Midfield anchor man Angelos Basinas who stormed Euro 2004 in Portugal, scoring in the opening day win against the hosts and co-ordinating play for the Greeks to prosper off. Declared fit for Euro 2008 ten days ago after picking up a knock in a warm-up defeat against Hungary. His partnership with Giorgos Karagounis will be key for Greece.Playmaker Giorgos Karagounis is Greeces most creative player, with experience from the Champions League with Benfica and the previous win in Lisbon four years ago. Now residing Alex Bregman Jersey back in Greece with Panathanaikos after a 4 year absence, will be looking to have as great an impact as at Euro 2004 and the Greek team will rely on his partnership with Angelos Basinas in central midfield. Hopes to get to the final once more and get the chance to pull on the Greek shirt having mi sed out last time due to suspension.The aforementioned Theofanis Gekas is Greeces main threat up front with Angleos Charisteas being put in the shadow by this new clinical striker. If both players are on form at the tournament, goals will not be a problem for the Greeks with Karagounis providing plenty of ammunition from midfield. Will be interesting to see how Gekas copes on a big stage for the first time.Sweden have not had a di similar build-up from Greece for Euro 2008. Sweating on the fitne s of key players weeks before the start of the tournament and a poor performance in their final warm up game against Ukraine, they will be out to prove that they have come to the boil at just the right time and have a few shocks in them to make it through to the knockout stages. Uproar in the Swedish camp will have put added pre sure on the team to succeed after the calls from Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Swedens deadliest but most outspoken player to give leading roles to the younger players in the squad such as Sebastian Lar son and Fredrik Stoor. This was interpreted as a swipe at Swedish Captain Freddie Ljungberg who at 32 and often struggling with fitne s could be one of the men replaced Nolan Ryan Jersey . The coach, Lars Lagerback has however dispelled these rumours I know Zlatan significantly better than you. The way I understood it, he was only pushing two younger players that he thinks have made progre s. Sweden could have done without this bust-up with their national media this close to the opening game of their tournament and Greece may be able to capitalise on this unrest.The Greek coach Otto Rehhagel has pinpointed Swedens strong team mentality and their physicality as the components for succe s and will have to combat the likely partnership of Inter Milan goal machine, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Veteran goalscorer Henrik Lar son. Rehhagel seems to gone with the same approach as Lagerback in terms that experience is the outstanding feature of the Greek squad, with many players from Euro 2004 regaining their places. Swedens defence could be exploited by pace as aging defender Olof Mellberg will fail to provide resistance to this although has a experienced footballing brain which can read any developing situation in advance. Jose Cruz Jr. Jersey Physically Angelos Charisteas will have his work cut out with the presence of wily veteran Olof Mellberg and that will be an interesting battle to watch as will the central midfield scuffles of Tobias Linderoth and Giorgis Karagounis, and Angelos Basinas and Kim Kallstrom, looking to cancel out each others attacking dimensions. Former Sheffield United defender Traianos Dellas will also have his hands full with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and that is likely to be a titanic struggle at the back, with Dellas looking to avoid giving Ibrahimovic any opportunities to play his natural game. Despite not scoring a single goal in qualification for the tournamen, Ibrahimovic is still a valued member of the first eleven and can change a game in the blink of a eye, just as he has shown at Inter Milan this season.There will be a packed house of 30,000 fans for this opener for both Carlos Correa Jersey teams with a close atmosphere making for a supercharged tempo with the chance of a topsy-turvy game. Greece will be up for a repeat of four years ago and will start with high spirits. Sweden will be hoping their squad of experience can help them settle early in this opening encounter. Some of these Swedish players will most likely not be back on the big tournament stage again as they are in the autumn of their careers so this could be a succe sful swan song for a few of these players not least Henrik Lar son who having answered the call from coach Lars Lagerback to come out of International retirement for a third time will want to make sure it is a worthwhile decision.PREDICTION