No fear for Nikopolidis as Greek odyssey continues

Greece coach Otto Rehhagel (R) celebrates with his goalkeeper Antonios Nikopolidis, who believes his team's progress to the semi-finals of Euro 2004 proves that the balance of power in European football has shifted.

Greece goalkeeper Antonios Nikopolidis believes his team's progress to the semi-finals of Euro 2004 proves that the balance of power in European football has shifted.

Playing in only their third ever tournament, the Greeks were not expected to survive their group let alone reach the last four.

Italy, Spain and Germany went home after just three matches, while the Greeks advanced to the knockout stages, beating defending champions France in the quarter-finals.

Under the careful guidance of meticulous German coach Otto Rehhagel, Greece will play the Czech Republic in Oporto on Thursday for a place in the Lisbon final.

Greece's victory over France came as a shock to many but not Nikopolidis, who says the gap in class between Europe's big fish and the so-called minnows has narrowed considerably over the last few years.

"Teams like Greece, the Czech Republic and Denmark all have players now who play for big clubs in Europe, players with a lot of experience," said the 33-year-old keeper, who recently signed for Olympiakos having spent almost his entire career with Panathinaikos.

"That means that they are not scared when they play sides like Italy or England. Now the small teams are much closer to the big teams.

Greece goalkeeper Antonios Nikopolidis believes his team's progress to the semi-finals of Euro 2004 proves that the balance of power in European football has shifted.

"Look at the Champions League for example. The big teams like Real Madrid and AC Milan ended up with nothing and you had Monaco and Porto in the final."

Nikopolidis said his team felt they had reached a turning point when they beat Spain 1-0 in Zaragoza in June last year in their fifth qualifying match.

"The win in Spain showed what we could achieve if we all gave 100 per cent," he said. "After that our confidence grew and we ended up winning the group."

Asked if the team thrived on their tag as underdogs, he replied: "It's important for us. We have no pressure and that allows us to be relaxed. This is our strength."

Nikopolidis made his international debut in a friendly victory against El Salvador five years ago and has since become the undisputed choice in Greece's goal.

Greece's qualifying campaign started poorly with consecutive 2-0 defeats to Spain and the Ukraine, but they turned out to be the only goals Nikopolidis conceded.

He then kept clean sheets in the remaining six games to ensure Greece ended the campaign as champions of Group 6, while Spain had to settle for a play-off place - just as they had to settle for an also ran in their finals group.