GREECE'S best known stars are taking early retirement, players are predicting an England win and their German manager is struggling to rally his squad.

Today's match looks a tough task for boss Otto Rehhagel, who is hoping to gain a better result than the 5-1 humiliation recorded against Finland in his first match in charge.

But who is Otto Rehhagel? A 63-year-old who guided Werder Bremen to two of their three Bundesliga crowns and won the Cup Winners' Cup in 1992.

Known as King Otto, he then moved to Bayern Munich and after a disappointing season was sacked.

Rehhagel soon returned to management and he steered Kaiserslautern back into the Bundesliga at the first attempt and immediately guided them to the title.

After spending a year out of football following his dismissal from the Red Devils he is now hoping to help Germany this afternoon.

"I'll do everything in my power to make sure they (Germany) win the group," said Rehhagel. "If we get a win, I'll be a hero in Greece. If we get a win or a draw I will be a hero in Germany. It is a wonderful opportunity."

The good players to come out of Greece recently are:

Giorgos Georgiadis - The PAOK midfielder is a regular in the international team, but he said: "Most of the players don't love the national team anymore."

Demis Nikolaidis - The AEK star hasn't played for the national side for two years despite being the highest paid Greek footballer.

Grigoris Georgatos - Inter Milan pay his wages as a defender, but he will not play today as he has retired from the international game.

Theo Zagorakis - Former Leicester City midfielder, now with AEK Athens, and the skipper is arguably Greece's biggest threat to Steven Gerrard and Paul Scholes.

Nikos Machlas - Ajax striker with a tremendous pedigree. A dangerous frontman who England will have to watch closely.

Greece squad: D Eleftheropoulos (Olympiakos), A Nikopolidis (Panathinaikos); S Venetidis, C Patsantzoglu (both Olympiakos), N Dabizas (Newcastle United), G Seitaridis, L Vokolos, P Fyssas, G Kiryiakos (all Panathinaikos), M Kassapis (AEK Athens); T Zagorakis (captain), A Zikos, V Lakis (all AEK Athens), A Bassinas, G Karagounis (both Panathinaikos), G Georgiadis, S Konstantinidis (both PAOK Thessaloniki), K Konstantinidis (Hertha Berlin); N Machlas (Ajax), D Nikolaidis (AEK Athens), A Charisteas (Aris Thessaloniki), V Vryzas (Perugia).