Leaderboard

Hi everyone! As you can realize from my name, I'm a Croat, and I've joined this forum to discuss the upcoming games with you guys - it's always fun and interesting to see how the other side sees the things. :) Before anything else, I'd like to point out Greece is not being underestimated - neither by Croatian press or Croatian supporters. It's true there are 2 coaches who said something like "We will go through, no doubt about it" (someone mentioned this on the first pages of this topic), but these two are old, currently unemployed coaches who are just seeking for some extra attention. Before the draw, when people were asked about what team would they want Croatia to play against in the Playoffs, answer one would get most often was: "Anyone, just not Greece." So, your team has all the respect here. I don't know if you're aware of this, but the atmosphere around Croatian football team is quite bad. Our FA is corrupted, the championship is irregular, some leading persons are dealing with very serious accusations (some already at the court) etc. Fans want them to leave so hard, the team was sabotaged many times (crowd trouble during Italy-Croatia game; swastika drawn during Croatia-Italy game; flares thrown during EURO2016 game vs. Czech Republic). The players are being quiet about it, pretending everything is ok, which annoys the fans, and many have turned their back on the team, refusing to support it. So, our situation is far from good. Also, the weather forecast for Thursday is quite bad. Having in mind Zagreb stadium is a complete mess (in every aspect), and the fact your team will probably be focusing on defense, these conditions might be suiting you.

Bet365 has a Croatia win at 1.36, then 4.60 for a draw and a Greece win at 13.00. So what. Not long ago we came through with a lot worse odds than that. Greece has been written off before. That's good. Good thing is we still have a fit, Karnezis, Tzavellas, K Pap, Retsos, Stafylidis, Tziolis, Zeca, Samaris, Tachtsides, Laz, Bakasetas, Fortounis, Gianniotas and Mitroglou. K Pap and Tziolis experience are going to be key. In the absence of Toro, Soc (maybe) and Manolas, they will need to play smart, and show as leaders on the field. Backs, are firmly against the wall. Yes. It would be awesome if we could catch them by surprise, and counter with an away goal or two.

The courts have formally charged 28 people with the crime of running a criminal organization that was controlling and fixing games in Greek football. Among people that are being charged: Evaggelos Marinakis - owner of Olympiakos Georgios Spanos - owner of Atromitos Ioannis Kobotis - owner of Levadeiakos Georgios Arvanitidis - former owner of Veroia Georgios Sarris - former president of EPO also following referees: Giorgos Douros Thanasis Briakos Thanasis Giahos Ilias Spathas Alexandros Dimitropoulos Apostolos Amparkiolis Giannis Kampaksis Kostas Ioannidis and others

It's never been done that's the BS part.. especially waiting a month after the fact and to see if Manolas was healthy and picked for the squad looks pretty shady to me..

Thanks guys. As the season began now finally, I would come back more often to post and talk to you guys. Mitso, all is well, thank you. Hope all is better now with you than it was several years ago. And I agree, I even read the interview with Karipidis and concluded the same. Mitsos, I think logic is OK, and this tougher Hellenized Aris will be OK as we brought some guys who had serious Football league experience and know how to compete. Just hope we get with this until the end and be among top 2 clubs, looking tally the league from these positions from early on as we started this campaign, because if we fall off these top 2 positions sooner or later, it will be extremely difficult to catch up as we saw in the last season when we never did Lamia and A-Smirni after trailing them always by 2 or 3 win difference.

Hello Rey, hope all is well my friend. It is my understanding that this year's philosophy will be points orientated and to hell with quality futbol. Time will tell I guess.

Tough game, bad display, lack of creativity and lucky to get 3 pts in 90th. At least defense looked solid. Tactically we look better than last year, although it is still early, but I am afraid a decent amount of creativety left with Tatos. Very incoherent game plan in attacking midfield, many lost and air balls etc.

Sport-fm and Gazetta both reporting that Sokratis said it is not serious and he will be fine for the matches.