In cooperation with: Goal.com
By: Peter Katsiris
Greece begin their preparations for this summer's World Cup Senegal on Wednesday night...
Kick Off: Wednesday, March 3, 2010, 20:00 CET
Panthessaliko Stadium, Volos
In from the Cold
Three months since clinching a berth in this summer's World Cup, Greece interrupts the winter season as preparations for this summer's showpiece event finally begin with a warm-up against Senegal on Wednesday.
The Panthessaliko Stadium in Volos will be buzzing as the national team moves away from the Greek capital for the first of three friendlies scheduled to prepare Otto Rehhagel for their Group B rivals in South Africa.
After a miserable qualifying campaign in which Greece scraped into the play-offs before edging Ukraine after a two-legged tie, Greece has gone under the media microscope once again. A repeat to the squad's disappointing EURO 2008 campaign is what's feared as the 2004 European Champions look to compete in just their second ever World Cup.
Although Rehaggel will have to improvise in lieu of several regulars, the fixture has been dubbed a missed opportunity to give prospects Sotiris Ninis and Konstantinos Mitroglou an opportunity on the senior level - the pair join several Greek youth who have been called to the U-21 side instead.
Nevertheless, Greece will be hoping to produce a performance deserving of a victory as the home side looks to rebuild its team chemistry. With several spots on the final roster still up for grabs, many new faces in the roster will look to leave their impression on the team.
Crashing the Party
With their hosts under plenty of pressure to win the match, Senegal arrive in Volos with the opportunity to cause several headaches for the Greeks. Although Senegal's summer plans don't include a trip to South Africa, Amara Traore's men will be hoping for a good result in Greece after a poor string of results as of late.
If missing out on this year's African Cup of Nations wasn't bad enough, problems for Senegal were only compounded when the side failed to qualify for the World Cup tournament on African soil.
Instead the Senegalese, who also have three friendlies in line ahead of the summer months, will use their friendly schedule to prepare themselves for the first round of qualifiers for the 2012 African up of Nations which get underway in early September.
Facing off against a well-organized Greek side will provide an appropriate challenge for the visitors, as Senegal looks to return to the form that guided them to an impressive showing at the 2002 World Cup.
In the first match since Traore's takeover as bench-boss, Senegal will be looking for a untied effort to overcome their hosts. With impressive club performances earning the likes of Diomansy Kamara and Abdoulaye Faye return calls to the national team, experience could be the key ingredient for a Senegal side hoping to rebuild its foundations.
FORM GUIDE
Greece
WON 1-0 (A) Ukraine (World Cup playoff, November 18)
DREW 0-0 (H) Ukraine (World Cup playoff, November 14)
WON 2-1 (H) Luxembourg (World Cup qualifier, October 14)
WON 5-2 (H) Latvia (World Cup qualifier, October 10)
DREW 1-1 (A) Moldova (World Cup qualifier, September 9)
Senegal
LOST 2-0 (A) Korea Republic (Friendly, October 10)
DREW 1-1 (A) Angola (Friendly, September 5)
WON 2-1 (A) Congo DR (Friendly, August 5)
DREW 1-1 (A) Iran (Friendly, May 1)
LOST 2-0 (A) Oman (Friendly, March 28)
TEAM NEWS
Greece
Ioannis Amanatidis and Vasilis Pliatsikas, whom are certain to miss this summer's World Cup, remain the only injury concerns for Rehaggel. Meanwhile, the U-21 side's meeting with England has prompted the youth squad to call several eligible youngsters including Ninis, Mitroglou, and Vasilis Koutsianikoulis.
Probable Starting-XI: Tzorvas, Spiropoulos, Moras, Kyrgiakos, Vyntra, Torosidis, Karagounis, Katsouranis, Salpingidis, Samaras, Gekas,
Senegal
Diamansy Kamara's impressive form at Celtic Park has earned him a return to the national team as the striker looks to transfer his recent run of form to the international level. Stoke City captain Aboudlaye Faye is also a late inclusion to Traore's squad, and the veteran midfielder will be looked upon to provide consistency for the visitors.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Giorgos Samaras (Greece)
The Celtic striker was influential in Greece's play-off tie with Ukraine back in November, as Samaras provided the assist for Dimitrios Salpingidis' winner in the second leg. His flair in the ball, and ability to cause headaches for opposing defenders will make Samaras Greece's largest threat in front of goal. His ability to combine with Theofanis Gekas will also pose problems for the Senegalese back-line.
Diamansy Kamara (Senegal)
On form in Scotland, much like his Celtic team-mate Diamansy Kamara will be keen to guide his side to glory. Known for his electric performances at Celtic Park, Kamara will look to make his return to squad a memorable one as a new era begins for Senegalese football.
PREDICTION
Although there is little form to go by for either side, the Greeks hold the edge ahead of the encounter. Senegal's speed could pose a problem for the hosts, but ultimately an organized Greece side, backed by the support of the home crowd, should come out on top.
Greece 2-0 Senegal
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