Leaderboard

I’m thinking there’s more to this than just injuries.

Fantastic watch this, Sokratis on total football discussing everything from what went wrong post World cup 2014 to where the ethniki should be playing. Also much different listening to him say he'll retire from the ethniki post euro 2020, it doesn't seem all the so doom and gloom. I think if he sees we are a realistic chance of making the World cup in Qatar he may just hang on until then but that's a while off being an issue. Very good watch and Katsouranis provides some good insight into the post Mundial 14 s%$#! show. Worth the watch if you have the time. At 5.52 he begins discussing his beginnings and how he ended up at AEK. The ethniki chat comes a little later. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfplRt1mp28

Dont forget also back when Karagounis was playing the national team were being successful. Who’s not to say that Karagounis wouldn’t feel frustrated if the team was going under. Same with Katsouranis. They always had a solid defence behind them and they were experienced and smart with how they played them selves. Our current group players can’t seem to handle the pressure and look lost out there. It’s up to them now to prove everyone wrong. Also look at it in Sokratis eyes he has played in the golden generation in the national team and has played for top sides like Milan, Bremen, Dortmund and now Arsenal. He plays with very talented footballer that know how to play. When he pays now for Greece he is fustrated as the midfielders and attackers in front of him can’t get the job done the team is always on the back foot defending and Sokratis is defending. Then when we concede he is like for F*** sakes. It’s been happening now for 4 years. Also against teams that we shouldn’t be losing too. He has a lot of pressure because he loves Greece with all his heart and want the best for Greece.

It depends how you look at it. I know it dosent sound good with what his saying but he his no non sense. He states it how it is. You can tell he I very frustrated as he has all the stress and pressure as a defender. We have many defenders but none are as good as Sokratis and Manolas and maybe Siovas. If you take out all of these guys the team will plunge down the drain even further. Our midfield is horrendous and are very limited. Fortounis is decent but not the full answer. Sokratis said it himself the players in the past were better than the players now. By him stepping down, he is being unselfish. That’s if we don’t make it. Maybe he could be the problem and we don’t even know it. He seems like he has a negative aura. That could be the way he is though and it dosent reflect well on others. Karagounis seemed like he gave motivation and inspiration. Sokratis seems to be pissed off at everyone and put blame to player while having a bad attitude. Instead of hyping up the team the way Karagounis did. Don’t get me wrong though Sokratis has saved this team many times with his abilities. He is also more of a leader than the whole team with the talking and demanding he does on the field. He is doing what I wished Katsouranis, Karagounis and even Tziolis should’ve done and that’s give another person an opportunity at the right time. He is saying why should I stay at age 33 or 34 and not give another asirping player a chance to prove his worth as my time is nearly over. Let’s not forget he is a defender not a midfielder. The defender has a lot of pressure because it’s his job to not concede and when you have a garbage midfield and weak fullbacks and also an attack that can score then there is a lot of stress and work to deal with. There is also the other attitude where you say no I will play for the team until I retire and push through until the end like Karagounis and Katsouranis did. But honestly how many of us (including myself) have been wanting them to retire just so the new younger and “talented” players play instead. Look at us now we haven’t made a tournament with “new” players in 4 years. I guess everyone is different. Sokratis has always showed heart and passion with the national team. Always.

I agree, For me Socratis comments don't give me or who ever reads the article much optimism. He's pretty much saying we are not good enough and the Greek players don't care as much for the NT. That's not what you want to here or read about from a so called leader. Also he should keep his comments about this being his last go around with the NT to himself as the team does not need anymore distractions around them. Also how are the young guys going to listen to him when they know he wont be here after this tournament.. The problem is I truly don't believe Socratis thinks they are good enough to advance and if that's his mentality and thinking then we honestly have no chance because that vibe will trickle down to the entire team. You would never hear Kara or any of those guys excepting defeat never in a million years. As far as retiring he should want to wear the NT jersey for as long as he can play the game and when he gets older he should want to be a veteran presence and a guy coming off the bench rather then a guy that says "I'm tired and this is my last tournament"

Maybe its a trick to screw with the Bosnians heads?

yeah he didn't mention in the interview and was talking about taking liechesenstein on and how he's familiar with siovas as a partner. so might be a false rumour or a training injury imo.

If it’s teally an injury, then hopefully he recovers quickly. If it’s not, get rid of him and his attitude and put someone in who wants to play.

Good points. He is frustrated with the lack of results since the 2014 World Cup success. If they can turn things around in this campaign and the team qualifies for Euro 2020 I believe he will change his tune.

I think so too. He loves Greece too much, he is just frustrated and is put under pressure.

I know he’s frustrated with our current state but I think if things turn around this campaign then I think he will change his tune. I agree with you George on Messi, he is a total prima donna and has retired what two times now from Argentina? He didn’t do anything at the World Cup with a stacked team and they were lucky to get out of the group phase. Also he told Sampoli to keep Icardi off the team so he could have all of the spotlight. Ronaldo always shows up for Portugal and and when he went off injured in the Euro 2016 final vs France he was willing his team and coaching them up from the touch line. Even Maradona says he is the better player of the two.

Even though Fetfa is playing back in Greece he still can’t get a call up? I wouldn’t mind having him come in off the bench especially if we need a goal and he has the dribbling skills to take on defenders that no other Greek players have.

Fetfa just scored a nice goal from outside the box as well.

Bittersweet from our captain. The last kick at the can for a generational Greek talent. Looking forward to seeing him with the armband and hopefully lead us to the EURO.

Here's the link for those two terrible teams if anyone was going to watch it: 0-0 at the moment, 36 minutes in

Greek prosecutors have charged 20 people, including senior officials, in connection with the deaths of 100 people in a massive wildfire last year. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-47468162?intlink_from_url=https://www.bbc.com/news/topics/c40rjmqdqrlt/greece&link_location=live-reporting-story