Nikolaidis sets final goal

Themistoklis Nikolaidis is determined to end his career on a high by playing for Greece in the final of UEFA EURO 2004™.

Final challenge
The veteran striker has said he will retire at the end of the tournament, and he has his sights set on a more glamorous swansong than Thursday's semi-final against the Czech Republic. "I hope the last match of my career will be the final," he said. "But it could be against the Czech Republic. Who knows?"

End of an era
After seven successful seasons at AEK Athens FC, the team he supported as a boy, the 30-year-old ended his club career last season with Club Atlético de Madrid in Spain. Nikolaidis scored six goals in 22 league appearances for Atlético, but his heart was in Athens where he returned in May as the head of a consortium that took over his beloved AEK, determined to improve the club's fortunes.

Czech challenge
Before tackling that challenge, however, Nikolaidis has the Czech Republic to overcome. Karel Brückner's side start as favourites, but after beating hosts Portugal, holders France and drawing with much-fancied Spain, the underdog tag is one the Greek players are warming too.

'They are favourites'
"All the matches are difficult," said Nikolaidis, who made his first start of the tournament against France. "The Czech Republic are the best team in the tournament and are the favourites against us. This is good for us."

'Last laugh'
In-form midfield player Georgios Karagounis concurred: "Judging from the results so far, the Czechs have the strongest team in the tournament. They are the favourites, but we want to have the last laugh and we'll give everything we have. It's a semi-final and luck can make it go any away."

Joyous support
One trump card Greece have in their favour is the joyous support of over 10,000 compatriots who are expected to attend Thursday's match at the Estádio do Dragão in Porto. Greece's success has set the nation alight and Karagounis said: "The support has been fantastic. It will be very hard for us to lose with such great support."

Closed session
Greece will hold a closed training session today at the Falpera sports centre in Braga, some 50km from Porto.