Nikolaidis returns for Greece

Themistoklis Nikolaidis is back in Otto Rehhagel's Greek squad for next Wednesday's friendly in Sweden.

Fit for match
The striker, who joined Club Atlético de Madrid from AEK Athens FC this summer, was ruled out of Greece's UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifiers in June due to injury. However, he is now fit and ready for the match at Idrottsparken in Norrköping as part of that stadium's centenary celebrations.

Overseas-based seven
Nikolaidis is one of seven overseas-based players in the squad, and among three who left Greece this summer along with Internazionale FC recruit Giorgos Karagounis and Bolton Wanderers FC's Stelios Giannakopoulos.

Crucial wins
The match marks Greece's first since their June wins against Spain and Ukraine that took them to the top of Group 6. They travel to Armenia on 6 September and welcome Northern Ireland to Athens on 11 October knowing two victories would guarantee them a place in the finals for the first time since 1980.

Greece squad
Nikopolidis, Chalkias, Seitaridis, Fyssas, Venetidis, Antzas, Kyrgiakos, Dabizas, Dellas, Kapsis, Basinas, Katsouranis, Tsiartas, Karagounis, Zagorakis, Giannakopoulos, Georgiadis, Kafes, Choutos, Vryzas, Nikolaidis, Chisteas.