Real Madrid

First international goals for Daniel Güiza and Rubén de la Red earned a second-string Spain team a 2-1 comeback victory in Salzburg as Greece's hopes of ending their UEFA European Championship title defence on a high were spoiled at the last.

Comeback
Güiza rose unmarked with two minutes remaining to head in Sergio García's cross to complete an impressive second-half comeback by Spain, who had fallen behind to Angelos Charisteas's header just before the interval. However, after a tepid first half, Spain began the second with renewed urgency, Xabi Alonso hitting the post before De la Red made it 1-1 on 61 minutes, rifling in after Daniel Güiza rose to nod the ball into his path. Both went close to sealing a third successive win for Spain, while Charisteas grazed the outside of the post at the other end, before Güiza struck.

Nikopolidis nerves
With the fates decided for these sides book-ending Group D and the belated arrival of summer to much of Austria, an end-of-term feel prevailed early on in Salzburg. For Greece's captain for the day, goalkeeper Antonis Nikopolidis, it was of course exactly that, having announced his international retirement in the wake of the error against Russia that sealed the holders' elimination. But while he may have been forgiven a few early nerves at the Stadion Salzburg Wals-Siezenheim they were quickly allayed. The cheers of the Greece supporters behind his goal had barely died down when the 37-year-old was presented with a comfortable introduction, collecting Daniel Güiza's dinked cross after the striker failed to realise how much time Andrés Iniesta's expertly disguised pass had given him.

Alonso special
It was a false dawn. Stung by the premature end to their campaign Greece were circumspect at first despite the wide threat of recalled pair Giorgos Karagounis and Dimitris Salpingidis. Spain had the better of possession, even if Sergio García and Cesc Fàbregas in particular did not make the most of it. Yet it spoke volumes when, midway through the first half, Alonso almost caused Nikopolidis further embarassment when he spotted that he had been drawn off his goalline. The Liverpool FC midfielder almost added another to his collection of goals from his own half but, with Nikopolidis scrambling, it dropped just the wrong side of the upright.

Charisteas strike
If Spain were not exactly peppering Nikopolidis's goal it was more than Greece were mustering. Yet Otto Rehhagel's UEFA EURO 2004™-winners were hardly renowned for their attacking bent either, instead neutralising opponents and making their few chances pay, often from dead-ball situations. They did exactly that three minutes before half-time, Karagounis's free-kick finding Charisteas all alone and the striker burried his header into the top-left corner. Spain were stung, and were almost level soon after half-time as space opened up for Alonso to rifle an unstoppable effort that Nikopolidis was grateful to see come back off his upright.

Turnaround
It was a brief respite, and just after the hour De la Red restored parity with a fulsome finish. Both sides had chances to add to the scoring but the stage was set for Güiza, who ensured Spain go into Sunday's UEFA EURO 2008™ quarter-final against Italy in Vienna on the back of a 100 per cent record in Group D. For Greece, it is home.