Rehhagel attacks reporters ahead of Norway match

Greece coach Otto Rehhagel accused local reporters yesterday of trying to influence his choice of players for the national squad ahead of a Euro 2008 qualifier against Norway.

In his first public outburst since guiding Greece to an upset 2004 European Championship victory, Rehhagel said he was the only person responsible for picking players.

"I know that you have been trying to squeeze players into the national team for quite some time," he said after reporters questioned several selections ahead of the Group C qualifiers against Norway tomorrow and Bosnia next week.

Several players, including striker Dimistris Papadopoulos and Michalis Kapsis who were both members of the 2004 squad, have had to withdraw due to injuries or club problems.

Kapsis, who was driving to join the national side at their training camp, was told by his club Olympiakos to return because he did not have permission to play.

"The responsibility rests with me," Rehhagel said. "As for Kapsis, Greece owes this man a great deal."

Rehhagel said he had never been influenced by his assistant coach Yannis Topalidis.

"You wrote that Yannis influenced my decisions. That is not true. He does not influence my decisions.

"Now you should go to your readers and say 'dear readers we are sorry for giving you false information' but I am sure you will not do that," he said, prompting angry reactions from several journalists.