Champion Greece was knocked out of Euro 2008 after losing 1-0 to Russia in their Group D match on Saturday. Russia scored the only goal in the 33rd minute when Greece keeper Antonis Nikopolidis ran out to try to clear the ball leaving Konstantin Zyryanov free to tap the ball into an empty net after Sergei Semak's overhead pass. Greece, surprise winner in Portugal four years ago, has now lost its first two matches in the group and is eliminated before its final game. Spain is top on six points, three ahead of Sweden and Russia who meet in their final group match on Wednesday. The young Russian side, faster and more aggressive, never looked back after opening the scoring and attacked in waves leaving the desperate Greeks relying on crosses into the area. The Russians carved out chance after chance and should have added several more goals in a 30-minute second-half spell that left the struggling Greece defense in tatters. Pavlyuchenko's close range effort in the 47th was saved by Nikopolidis and the striker came close again six minutes later when he picked up a through ball from Diniyar Bilyaletdinov and raced down the left only to see his low drive fly wide. The Russian striker continued to wreak havoc in the Greece defense and tried to turn provider in the 57th with a clever backheel to Bilyaletdinov who fired wide. The disappointing Greeks, who played with three strikers, failed to create one clear chance in the match with captain Angelos Basinas shooting over from close range in the 55th. Even when coach Otto Rehhagel freshened up his attack with Fanis Gekas replacing the tiring Nikos Liberopoulos they could find no way of breaking down a well-drilled Russian defense as they saw their hold on the trophy slip away. – Reuters __
