Steven Pressley: Celtic stars can be hits at Euro 2008

Jun 8 2008 Gordon Waddell

STEVEN PRESSLEY counted three players out of Celtic's dressing-room on their way to Euro 2008.

He fears come August, Gordon Strachan will be doing well if he can count the same three back in again.

Artur Boruc, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and on-loan striker Georgios Samaras will kick off their campaigns for Poland, Holland and Greece over the next three days.

And Elvis reckons all three are destined to make enough of a mark on the finals in Austria and Switzerland to attract attention all over Europe.

Which can only be bad news for the Hoops as they bid to build on their astonishing comeback SPL triumph for a full-on assault on the Champions League group stages.

With Samaras' return dependent on Celtic matching Manchester City's s3million price tag other clubs are circling already, and Boruc has a list of admirers the length of your arm - the size of their chequebooks could be the key factor over the summer.

And Scotland coach Pressley, who will also be looking for another club in the summer with his deal expiring at Parkhead, said: "It's going to be an interesting tournament for all three lads.

"How much of an impact Georgios makes will depend on how the Greeks perform trying to retain their title, but he has the capabilities of making an impression.

"If Celtic want to keep him they may be better doing the deal prior to the tournament!

"And Artur? If he does have a good tournament it may be hard for Celtic to keep him."

Vennegoor of Hesselink may have the lowest profile of the trio going into the tournament, but despite Holland being in the Group of Death with Italy, France and Romania, Pressley reckons the big Dutchman could well be the one returning to Scotland with a medal.

Elvis said: "Holland have the potential to win it, on their day they are really capable.

"And tough group or not Jan could be the one that comes back to Scotland with the biggest smile on his face"

Here, Elvis talks MailSport through the qualities he reckons his pals have to make an impact on the big show:

ELVIS ON SAMARAS

THE GREEK striker played a crucial role in Celtic's run to the SPL title - but Elvis reckons he needs a system that suits him to really shine.

The giant hitman arrived on loan from Manchester City in January and scored six goals in just five starts and 16 sub appearances in green and white.

But half his goals were winners on the run-in, sealing three points when Hoops were heading for one.

Pressley said: "Georgios is a different type of striker to big Jan.

"Because of his height people automatically thought he would come as a type of target man but that's not really his style of play.

"He likes to drift and link the play. The way the Greeks perform suits him perfectly.

"That 4-3-3 they use sees him play up to the left which enables him to drop back and find these little pockets off the front man.

"He's a striker who possesses some genuine pace and if he can turn and get at people he's a big threat coming from deep.

"But if you want to play with two strikers who are going to play up against a back four then he may not be suited. I think it's whatever the manager feels is right.

"You can have a combination where if you need to change things through a game he brings something different to what big Jan brings."

The 23-year-old has become a huge hit with the Greek fans despite never having played league football in his homeland.

Coming through the ranks at Dutch club Heerenveen, Georgios made a scoring debut for Otto Rehagel's side in February 2006 and played eight of their qualifiers on the way to topping Group C ahead of Turkey.

Whether they can repeat the single biggest shock in tournament history by retaining their title, though, is up for debate.

Pressley said: "The Greeks have taken huge confidence from their exploits in Euro 2004 and it just proved that with the right organisation and spirit a team can get success.

"Georgios is also a smashing lad so I hope he does himself justice in the tournament."

ELVIS ON BORUC

THE POLISH keeper was born for the big stage according to Elvis and Euro 2008 may give him a taste for the best the continent can offer.

The Celtic No.1 has been a smash hit but the better he performs the more rave notices he gets, the more likely one of the game's giants will come in with an offer the Hoops can't refuse.

And despite the controversy he courts, between his inflammatory gestures and t-shirts, Pressley insists whoever signs Boruc will land the complete package.

Elvis said: "I've never worked closely with the other top European keepers so it's hard to say if Artur is absolutely the best but he has proved to be an exceptional buy for Celtic.

"He's a big character and a big presence. He's a big occasion player. He has proved to be so important in bringing the success Celtic have had recently. "He has done exceptionally well and may well feel he wants a new challenge."

Any boss taking on Boruc will be tempted to pull the reins in on his excesses but Pressley reckons that could be a dangerous tactic.

Steven said: "Artur is an allround keeper and his personality and presence on the pitch are a big part of that.

"He's quiet in and around the dressing-room. But when it matters his presence is definitely felt and that comes on matchday.

"He does like the attention but that, I suppose, is part and parcel of his make-up.

"If you took that side away you sometimes wonder if you'd have the same keeper. Sometimes managers must accept certain aspects of a player's personality and manage them correctly if you want to get the best out of them.

"Gordon Strachan has done that with Artur. And because of that we've reaped the benefits.

"Artur is just as intense in training - he trains the way he plays.

"He doesn't like losing, he is vocal and that's the type of player you want to be involved with."

ELVIS ON VENNEGOOR OF HESSELINK

THE STRIKER may not have won the favour of every Celtic fan this season - but he's not short of admirers in the dressing-room.

Team-mate Pressley reckons the Dutchman is the classic player's player, a guy whose worth is truly valued by his peers.

His 20 goals, and ability as a foil for Scott McDonald, would normally be enough to have your name bellowed from the stands week in, week out.

But Elvis reckons even the fact Jan is in a squad as talented as Marco van Basten's tells you everything about his ability.

He said: "Player for player the Dutch have potentially the most gifted squad in the tournament.

"So for Jan to be involved shows his quality. I am a big fan.

"He brings a lot to a team. He is what you would consider a typical Dutch number nine - the focal point. For me he's a huge danger when the ball is delivered in from wide areas.

"He scores goals from balls into the box and is a clever striker, a clinical striker.

"He has been important again in the success Celtic have enjoyed this past season.

"Jan brings different things to a team.

"He would be first to say he's not going to drift past two or three defenders and score you that type of goal, but the one thing for sure is if you get wide and get the ball in the box he will score."

Despite that threat Celtic fans grumbled about his inclusion through a couple of sticky spells in front of goal.

However, he scored the lastminute winner against Rangers at Parkhead that saved Celtic's season at the end of March and eventually bagged the goal to seal the title at Tannadice.

Pressley said: "Strikers always go through barren spells. But the one thing the manager did was stick by him.

"It was the same with Scott who had scored a tremendous number of goals then had a wee dry spell.

"Again the manager stuck by him and he came through it.

"Jan's a really good character, a lovely man, good in and around the dressing-room.

"He's appreciated by his fellow professionals. The manager rates him extremely highly and these are the important people for a footballer.

"Fans must understand what Jan brings to a team. Sometimes they don't realise."