Greece seek breathing space in Euro qualifying race

ATHENS, May 31 (Reuters) European champions Greece seek to stretch away from the chasing pack with a victory over Hungary in a Euro 2008 qualifier in Crete on Saturday.

Turkey top group C on 13 points, one ahead of Greece.

Bosnia, who host Turkey on Saturday, are third on seven points along with Norway after five games.

''We have two important matches and we want all six points,'' midfielder Giorgos Karagounis told reporters. ''We want to qualify, first or second in the group does not really matter.'' Greece are forced to play the qualifiers against Hungary, and Moldova next week away from Athens, following a two-match ban on the Athens stadium, imposed by UEFA after crowd trouble during their 4-1 defeat to Turkey in Athens in March.

Greece, who will miss central defender Traianos Dellas due to injury, could also be without experienced left-back Takis Fyssas, who strained a muscle during training this week.

Uncapped Nikos Spiropoulos, impressive throughout the season with his club Panionios, could start, as he is the only natural left-back in the squad.

Hungary coach Peter Varhidi faces an uphill struggle with qualification almost out of sight as they linger in fifth place on six points and with striker Szabolcs Huszti leaving the team unexpectedly yesterday.

Huszti, who plays in the Bundesliga for Hannover 96, is said to have been angered by his coach's plans not to start him against Greece.

Hungary have restored some pride following a defeat against Malta, with a 2-0 win over Moldova but are in desperate need of points.

''We know Greece are the favourites but we will try to create an upset,'' Varhidi told reporters late on Wednesday. ''My players are physically and mentally ready.'' Probable teams: Greece: Antonis Nikopolidis; Yourkas Seitaridis, Sotiris Kyrgiakos, Giorgos Anatolakis, Nikos Spiropoulos; Stelios Giannakopoulos, Angelos Basinas, Costas Katsouranis, Giorgos Karagounis; Fanis Gekas, Nikos Liberopoulos.

Hungary: Zoltan Vegh; Csaba Csizmadia, Bela Balogh, Roland Juhasz, Boldizsar Bodor; Balasz Toth, Daniel Tozser, Krisztian Vadocz, Akos Buzsaky; Tamas Priskin, Zoltan Gera.

Reuters BJR VV1736