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Even though Croatia have bigger name players I also am glad we avoided the Swiss. We tend to typically play better against better offensive teams that have a weaker defence. Lets be honest We are going to park the bus and try and defend like hell and try to frustrate them and hope we can attack on the counter or off a set piece. This is the way we win... Everyone can call it "anti football" or Ugly boring soccer" I say who gives a s%$#! we are who we are. We have a solid back end and we need to use it to our advantage.

Belgium: 9 wins, 1 draw, 0 losses / 43 GF, 6 GA Croatia (with a slightly deeper group but no powerhouse): 6 wins, 2 draws, 2 losses / 15 GF, 4 GA Greece (in a group with with powerhouse Belgium): 5 wins, 4 draws, 1 loss / 17 GF, 6 GA There is an evident gap between Belgium and Croatia and Greece gave Belgium their toughest matches since Euro 2016 that could have easily ended in a win and a draw. Greece and Croatia look very evenly matched.

Greece v Croatia positionally: GK: Karnezis (Watford) v Subasic (Monaco): Once your keeper is a certain class, as both these keepers are, it is hard to distinguish an edge even though the latter has more playing time at a top club. I would call this a draw. Both players will do their job at a high level. Defense: Sokratis, Manolas, Papadopoulos, Torosidis, Retsos, Stafylidis, Tzavellas > Lovren, Vida, Mitrovic, Vrsaljko, Pivaric Midfield: Samaris, Zeca, Tachtsidis, Fortounis, Mantalos, Tziolis < Modric, Rakitic, Badelj, Perisic, Rog Attack: Mitroglou, Donis, Karelis, Gianniotas, Lazaros = Mandzukic, Kramaric, Cop

I would like to get a goal over there. Come back with a 1-1 or even a 1-0 win, would be nice. A 0-0 away is risky, because if you concede at home then you have to score twice.

In its current state, Croatia look to be the 3rd strongest seeded team behind Italy and Switzerland. They finished runners up to a mediocre Iceland team in a deep group I, but without a superpower. Then again, Croatia was supposed to be that superpower but failed to take control. As for us, we put ourselves in this position and can't expect an easy draw. Let us hope our stars stay healthy, in form and Manolas recovers on time.

LOL who's Greece? Oh only the team that beat you to the top spot in the Euro 2012 qualifications undefeated

Croatia have skilled players Modric, Rakitic, and Perisic, but they are not even close to what Belgium can throw out on the pitch. Greece hung in there with Belgium and we will be able to play with Croatia. Listened to the draw on nova sport and one of the commentators just before draw said give me Croatia. I would have preferred Denmark but thank God we did not draw Italy. We can do this! Go Greece!

Update: The injury is just a muscle strain should be back in 2 weeks

thank god manolas is ok. we need all 3 centre backs fit and ready to play. we must not concede to win. that's my opinion. aslong as we don't concede we just need half a chance to take the tie.

OK be careful you're gonna be people a heart attack with things like that.

I feel Greece will be more comfortable again Croatia’s style rather than more direct style of Denmark.

European World Cup play-off draw: Northern Ireland v Switzerland Denmark v Republic of Ireland Croatia v Greece Sweden v Italy The games will take place on a home and away basis, with the first legs between 9 and 11 November and the second legs between 12 and 14 November.

The first game is they. We must not lose in Zagreb, and hope for one goal on counter attacks. Besides winning, a 1:1 tie would be an ideal result.

Not a bad draw, if our defense plays the way it can we should be able to hold off Mandzukic, Rakitic and Mondric...jeez they have two of the best midfielders in the world though, these guys will need to marked like flies on poop if we wanna progress. Let's also hope Mitro is in shape.

ooof tough draw. some good memories.

Its tough but it can be done. Never mind Italy im glad we avoided the Swiss.

We can beat them. Do we have the exact dates announced yet? -edit- looks like the 9th and 12th

Croatia scored 15 goals conceded 4 Greece scored 17 goals conceded 6

karelis just came back from his injury and played a game with genk's b team...he is slowly coming back and i think he might crack into the squad if he gets fit in time and gets playing time in his team...currently they're doing s%&#036;#&#33; which means they will have him around to help them a bit in the next weeks.

In case you missed this latest interview article by agonasport.com on papastathopoulos it is worth a read. http://www.agonasport.com/agonasport-allnews/sokratis-it-is-a-blessing-to-be-born-greek It talks about how the players feel, how they have become a team again, and the Greek spirit. I look forward to the draw, and of course the playoffs. "come and get them"

I hope that's the case...

Manolas will be fit I have no doubt

Prijovic is our only real striker. There was talk earlier in the year that Mak could be used as a backup striker but he isn't that sort of a player. All a team has to do to stop Mak is play deep and without space to run into a big part of his game is nullified. Koulouris and Klaus (when we had him) are/were both average at best. With Prijovic the opposition *have* to play their best defender on him. With Koulouris or Klaus quality strikers you can play your second, third or fourth best defender and you'll probably be all right. No offence to them of course, I know they give it their best. But with Prijovic you have to watch him. His aerial presence alone is something we've missed for years. I've always looked at our squad and thought "if Olympiakos could have any of our players who would they want ?". In seasons past I could maybe pick 2, 3 or 4 players at best. But now we have Rey, Matos, Zambrano, Mauricio, Vieirinha, El Khadouri, Mak, Prijovic. The squad is looking strong and any talk of selling should be dismissed. Trust me without Prijovic we don't win a title. Add to that list very competent players on their day like Crespo (Yiankos's koumbaro), Varela, Canas, Biseswar, Pelkas, Shakhov, Campos and all of a sudden the squad is potentially challenging for the title. Really challenging or at least they should be. Some of these players can be hot and cold with their form so if they can stay in form it could make the difference. Speaking of Pelkas he finally seems to have woken up and started playing some decent football. He just needs to stop getting silly yellow cards. I really think he should be with the NT if we manage to qualify for The WC.

it will be a huge miss but definitely not to the level of mitroglou for example where his back ups are 2nd league players!!!!! (especially with karelis being out)

I see a 3 or 4 nil.

We rise when we play the best teams, I think those teams would be nervous to play the Greeks re.