Katsouranis calls for Greece calm

Greece midfielder Konstantinos Katsouranis is urging his team-mates to stay "serious and focused" as the reigning European champions prepare to take on Moldova on Wednesday, with the chance of pulling clear in Group C.

Sizeable advantage
Saturday's 2-0 home win against Hungary has provided a massive boost to Greece's UEFA EURO 2008™ aspirations. With nearest rivals Turkey losing 3-2 in Bosnia-Herzegovina, it was enough to lift the side two points clear in a compact section and Otto Rehhagel's men can now extend their advantage. With Turkey out of action till September, victory against Moldova in Heraklion will secure a five-point cushion, not that Katsouranis is sitting comfortably.

'Long way to go'
"The Hungary win gave us three points but there is still a long way to go," said the SL Benfica man. "Theoretically, the Moldova match is even easier but we have to be serious and focused and play with the same style - then we can think about victory." Greece are certainly getting into their stride. Excepted the 4-1 home loss to Turkey in March, they have been impressive, winning their five other fixtures without conceding a goal – form that is awakening memories of their shock triumph at UEFA EURO 2004™.

Resilience required
Indeed, their first-half display against Hungary was hailed in some quarters as their best since Portugal, though they may still need to recover the resilience that marked their success of three summers ago. Having brought in Theofanis Gekas and Ioannis Amanatidis alongside Angelos Charisteas in a three-pronged attack at the weekend, with Vassilios Torosidis playing down the left, Rehhagel will have to shuffle his pack once more as they face Moldova without suspended captain Angelos Basinas. Momentum, though, appears to be on their side.