[Saudi64]

http://today.reuters.co.uk

Rehhagel names domestic-based squad for Saudi tournament


ATHENS, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Greece coach Otto Rehhagel has selected a squad comprised entirely of home-based players for an international friendly tournament in Saudi Arabia at the end of January.

Club commitments outside Greece ruled a number of players out of contention but the decision to stick to players from the Greek league means that the German will be able to look at some of the new talent coming through.

Iraklis midfielder Panagiotis Lagos, who was in the squad for the friendly against Hungary in November but did not play, retains his place while newcomers like Vangelis Mantzios, Dimitris Salpingidis and Filippos Darlas will all get another chance to impress.

Greece, the reigning European champions who failed to qualify for this year's World Cup finals, will meet South Korea on the opening day of the tournament on January 21 and then play Saudi Arabia four days later. Finland are also taking part in the event.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Antonis Nikopolidis (Olympiakos Piraeus), Stefanos Kotsolis (Larissa)

Defenders: Georgos Anatolakis (Olympiakos), Michalis Kapsis (Olympiakos), Traianos Dellas (AEK Athens), Yannis Goumas (Panathinaikos), Loukas Vyntra (Panathianikos), Filippos Darlas (Panathinaikos), Paraskevas Antzas (Xanthi)

Midfielders: Theodore Zagorakis (PAOK Salonika), Pantelis Kafes (Olympiakos), Kostas Katsouranis (AEK Athens), Panagiotis Lagos (Iraklis)

Forwards: Nikos Lyberopoulos (AEK Athens), Fanis Gekas (Panathinaikos), Dimitris Papadopoulos (Panathinaikos), Vangelis Mantzios (Panathinaikos), Dimitris Salpingidis (PAOK)

What a suprise!

[A.H.M]

Originally Posted by Saudi64

http://today.reuters.co.uk

Rehhagel names domestic-based squad for Saudi tournament


ATHENS, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Greece coach Otto Rehhagel has selected a squad comprised entirely of home-based players for an international friendly tournament in Saudi Arabia at the end of January.

Club commitments outside Greece ruled a number of players out of contention but the decision to stick to players from the Greek league means that the German will be able to look at some of the new talent coming through.

Iraklis midfielder Panagiotis Lagos, who was in the squad for the friendly against Hungary in November but did not play, retains his place while newcomers like Vangelis Mantzios, Dimitris Salpingidis and Filippos Darlas will all get another chance to impress.

Greece, the reigning European champions who failed to qualify for this year's World Cup finals, will meet South Korea on the opening day of the tournament on January 21 and then play Saudi Arabia four days later. Finland are also taking part in the event.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Antonis Nikopolidis (Olympiakos Piraeus), Stefanos Kotsolis (Larissa)

Defenders: Georgos Anatolakis (Olympiakos), Michalis Kapsis (Olympiakos), Traianos Dellas (AEK Athens), Yannis Goumas (Panathinaikos), Loukas Vyntra (Panathianikos), Filippos Darlas (Panathinaikos), Paraskevas Antzas (Xanthi)

Midfielders: Theodore Zagorakis (PAOK Salonika), Pantelis Kafes (Olympiakos), Kostas Katsouranis (AEK Athens), Panagiotis Lagos (Iraklis)

Forwards: Nikos Lyberopoulos (AEK Athens), Fanis Gekas (Panathinaikos), Dimitris Papadopoulos (Panathinaikos), Vangelis Mantzios (Panathinaikos), Dimitris Salpingidis (PAOK)

What a suprise!

Not really surprised, since this tournament is not on a FIFA date. Even though Greece don't have some of their good players, there are still some notable players in that squad. These include Dellas, Zagorakis, Kapsis, Nikopolidis, Kafes and Katsouranis.

[Saudi64]

I wish they could schedule one friendly game on a FIFA match!

[Serb]

Originally Posted by Saudi64

I wish they could schedule one friendly game on a FIFA match!

S&M.

[muzzamil]

Czech Friendly confirmed.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...354925&cc=5901

Saudis start training for a week for the friendly against sweden.
http://www.the-afc.com/english/media...ls&newsID=4833

Some encouraging news for sure.

Any of the guys have an idea which players were called up for the training camp.

[DemmahoM]

Great..facing teams like the Czech Rep will do wonders for our preperation for the WC.

[sahbekham_pactwinner]

Do you guys know how much money the saudis are paying to play these high profile games?

[hammad_friend]

Don't worry guys... Saudia is also planning to play friendlies against France and Italy just before the world cup. The Saudi coach has also ordered Nasir Al Johar, the Assistant Head Coach of Saudi Arabia, to fly to Tehran and closely monitor the Friendly match between Ukraine & Iran. I don't know why i am saying this but I believe that this new coach of Saudi Arabia seems cunning enough to lead Saudia in the world cup!

[Liban]

Latest news, KSA postpones Japan game to September 1st because they arranged a Serbia friendly. Now Japan has to hurry to find a replacement friendly on March 1st.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/...20060114a3.htm

Can we say, jiffed?

[sahbekham_pactwinner]

ITS Serbia and Montenegro......right??????????.....MAN I AM BEGINNING TO LIKE THIS NEW COACH................ GREAT DECISION :CLAP: CLAP :CLAP:

But if u guys know how much they are paying for these high profile matches, post it.