TEAM NEWS: Kerzhakov retains starting berth for Russia in Greece encounter

Jun 16, 2012 6:40:00 PM

The Zenit St Petersburg forward has squandered numerous chances in his previous two appearances, but Dick Advocaat has held faith in the striker for their final group game

Aleksandr Kerzhakov has held on to his position in the Russia starting XI to face Greece, despite failing to find the back of the net so far in the tournament.

Speculation had been rife over whether the misfiring striker would be dropped, but Dick Advocaat has given the Zenit St Petersburg striker his backing.

The coach's only change coming as Denis Glushakov replaces Konstantin Zyryanov who is absent through illness. Aleksandr Kokorin has been ruled out of the match having suffered a hamstring injury during training.

Greece need to win to stand any chance of progression, but will be forced to line-up without their first-choice goalkeeper, Kostas Chalkias, who failed to recover after limping off during the 2-1 defeat to Czech Republic and will be replaced between the sticks by Michalis Sifakis.

However, Sokratis Papastathopoulos is available again after serving a suspension picked up against Poland in the opening game.

With Avraam Papadopoulos out of the tournament with knee ligament damage, his return enables Giannis Maniatis to move back into midfield at the expense of Giorgos Fotakis.

In Fernando Santos' other changes Theofanis Gekas replaces Konstantinos Fortounis but will play through the centre, moving Georgios Samaras out onto the left flank, and Georgios Tzavellas replaces Jose Holebas at left-back.

Giorgos Karagounis earns his 120th cap, equalling the all-time record of Euro 2004-winning captain Theodoros Zagorakis.

Greece (4-3-3): Sifakis; Torosidis, K. Papadopoulos, Sokratis, Tzavelas; Maniatis, Katsouranis, Karagounis; Salpingidis, Gekas, Samaras.

Russia (4-3-3): Malafeev; Anyukov, Ignashevich, Berezutskiy, Zhirkov; Shirokov, Denisov, Glushakov; Dzagoev, Kerzhakov, Arshavin.

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