Soccer-Greece squad for friendly against Switzerland

ByABC News
March 30, 2014, 1:19 PM

— -- ATHENS, March 26 - Greece coach Otto Rehhagel has opted for a strong contingent of foreign-based stars in his squad for a home friendly against Switzerland on Wednesday. The former Bayern Munich boss, who steered the side to the top of their Euro 2004 qualifying group ahead of Spain, took his home-based players exclusively from the big three Athens teams -- Olympiakos, Panathinaikos and AEK Athens. Greece won their last six qualifying matches and are also unbeaten home and away in eight friendlies. Greek top flight leading scorer Dimitris Papadopoulos keeps his place in the line-up despite being fined 25,000 euros by his club for a clash with team mate Ezekiel Gonzalez following Sunday's 3-0 win over Halkidona. Panathinaikos's Papadopoulos is the only home-based striker. He is joined by Atletico Madrid's Demis Nikolaidis, Werder Bremen's Angelos Haristeas and Fiorentina's Zissis Vryzas. The European championship starts in June. Goalkeepers: Antonis Nikopolidis, Costas Halkias (Panathinaikos) Defenders: Takis Fyssas (Benfica), Yourkas Seitaridis (Panathinaikos), Michalis Kapsis (AEK Athens), Nikos Dabizas (Leicester City), Yiannis Goumas (Panathinaikos), Traianos Dellas (AS Roma) Midfielders: Costas Katsouranis, Vassilis Lakis, Thodoros Zagorakis (AEK Athens), Giorgos Karagounis (Inter Milan), Pantelis Kafes (Olympiakos), Angelos Basinas (Panathinaikos), Vassilis Tsiartas (AEK Athens), Giorgos Georgiadis (Olympiakos), Stelios Yiannakopoulos (Bolton Wanderers) Forwards: Demis Nikolaidis (Atletico Madrid), Angelos Haristeas (Werder Bremen), Zissis Vryzas (Fiorentina), Dimitris Papadopoulos (Panathinaikos)