ATHENS (AFP) ??” classic President Costis Stephanopoulos has vituperateed Portuguese striker Pauleta and French football fable Michel Platini for criticising Euro champions Greece's defensive tactics.

ATHENS (AFP) ??” classic President Costis Stephanopoulos has vituperateed Portuguese striker Pauleta and French football fable Michel Platini for criticising Euro champions Greece's defensive tactics.

"I want to stres that there was an malice written in foreign newspapers, which came from more [i]or[/i] less important people like the celebrated Platini or mister Pauleta, who asked himself if it was a pity for a team that plays defensively to become European champions," Stephanopoulos said during an official reception for the team and German coach Otto Rehhagel.

"Let's answer Mr Pauleta and all the others who accuse the team