Rehhagel keeps Greece plans under wraps

SALZBURG (Reuters) - Greece coach Otto Rehhagel declined to disclose his plans on Monday for the holders' Euro 2008 opener against Sweden but his players said it would be a low-scoring affair with tight defenses and counter-attacks.

"Even if you get to see a bit of our training today, I train in such a way even I myself get confused and don't know how we will play (on Tuesday)," Rehhagel told reporters.

"I then have to wait for match day to decide. I am not going to tell you here how we will play against Sweden."

But Rehhagel did talk about how Greece would not play in the Group D game in Salzburg.

"We will not play like the Poles, whose defenders suddenly decided to grant the Germans 30 meters of space and allow them to score," he said referring to the first goal by the 1996 champions in their 2-0 Group B victory in Klagenfurt on Sunday.

"That was a modern offside trap but also a modern way to lose 2-0," said the 69-year-old German, drawing laughter from the media.

FIT SQUAD

Rehhagel, who has coached Greece since 2001, said all his players were healthy including midfielder Giorgios Karagounis who has recovered from a knee injury.

"The most important thing is all my boys are fit and ready to play. That's all that matters," said the coach.

Karagounis took part in training on Monday but had to strap ice to his leg at the end.

Defender Giourkas Seitaridis said: "We know it will be a match with tight defenses and fast counter-attacks. I don't see many goals being scored but hopefully we will score one."

Midfielder Costas Katsouranis also sounded upbeat.

"This match will be decided by who will make mistakes and I think we will make fewer," he told reporters.

Rehhagel, though, played down hopes of a repeat title triumph.

"The favorites are the same in every tournament," he said. "Teams like Italy, France and Spain.

"Sometimes, rarely, the outsider wins it. A few meters, a few seconds can decide a match."

Asked how he felt ahead of Tuesday's game, Rehhagel said: "I always feel fine. I am healthy, I have a good family and I'm still married to my wife Beate after 43 years."

Greece's other group opponents are Spain and Russia.

(Editing by Tony Jimenez and Ken Ferris)