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Did anyone ever think that Greece would be ahead based on goal differential???

Slavko Vincic from Slovenia is the ref. Pol van Boekel from the land of the wooden shoes, tulips and stroopwafels is the VAR.

Greece started off a bit tentative as they did vs Finland. Greece picked up their game in the second half and Ioannidis hit a wonder goal and the team took over from there. Defensively we were solid and did not give Ireland quality chances. Tzolis must be a starter on this team he was all over the pitch and his goal was very well taken. I hope Ivanovich will keep giving him that opportunity. If we can get Konstantelias involved our attack will look very potent. Greece first place in the group with 6pts and lead England on goal difference. Also as other posters have mentioned the win keeps us in pot 2 for the wcup draw! 👏 boys!

As long as we keep winning trophies, we can stay at Toumba forever as I am concerned. A new stadium would be nice, but you love to focus on what Savvidis hasn't done instead of looking at what he has done. Talk to me about the fact that in his 12 years at the club, we have won the same number of trophies in that time compared to our previous 86 years of existence. 6 trophies in 12 years compared to 6 in 86 years. Not to mention doubling our League title tally, which have always been notoriously difficult to win in Greece. There is a small minority of fans who will never be happy, no matter the success of the club. The fact is PAOK has had it's most successful era with Savvidis at the helm. Has he been perfect? Of course not, but no owner in world football is. I know I just wasted my time typing all that, but it is always worth reflecting on what he has helped the club achieve. I feel many of us (myself included) lose sight of how far off it the club was before Ivan came onto the scene.

England did eventually go on to beat Finland, but we still have the goal differential! GROUP B2 STANDINGS Greece-6 England-6 Ireland-0 Finland-0

Ireland 0-2 Greece FT

This win was HUGE for us to stay in pot 2 in the WC qualifying draw..

very little

If your trying to convince PAOKSYD, truly your wasted your time ha ha. To give you an idea of the pre Savvidis days, I didn't even used to bother looking at the league table because winning the title was impossible - we just didn't have the budget. It was as likely (with no disrespect intended) as Aris winning the title with their budget. Even if say Olympiacos had a bad year, what were the odds of PAO and AEK also having a bad year. So yeah basically almost impossible. So from my perspective, I'll forever be grateful that Savvidis came to the team and gave us a budget where we can at least fight for the title. As for new Toumba, I'm with you, if it happens it happens. I think it will ... eventually.

All Konstantelias has to do is a few fancy dribbles in Old Trafford and his market value will go through the roof. Will it happen? Who knows, but if it does just watch the rumour flares light up.

Great pics Blackhawk. Much appreciated.

I missed the game against Finland, so this was my first proper look at the Ethniki under Jovanovic. The 1st half felt like I was watching Greece circa 2010-13 in qualifying under Santos, being dictated to by a lesser team in terms of possession without really being threatened. And sure enough the breakthrough came and we were able to see out the game with relative ease, minus the deflected shot which thankfully sailed just wide. It is still early, so the style may change but it is clear Poyet was more willing to press and wanted to win the ball back as quick as possible against these type of opponents. Jovanovic was happy to let them have larger spells on the ball, back his defence and wait for them to make mistakes. It was a moment of quality from Ioannidis which gave us the lead, the guy is a star and really should have moved on from PAO this summer just passed. Between him Tzolis, Konstantelias we have some real quality in attack, hopefully Jovanovic plays them all together at some stage and gives the team licence to play quicker than we saw today. Regardless, it is a perfect start and that is all you can ask before. England away will be tough but they are not setting the world alight recently, despite making the Euro final. England's athletic and physical style has traditionally troubled us, which will probably be where the game is decided in a months time.

Encouraging signs. We needed 6 points in these two games for sure and we got them. 2 clean sheets as well. Now we can play England on level ground. Many players emerging and playing well.

Tzolis GOAL!!!

TZOLIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ioannidis hold up play is incredible! Pektara

I would not mind seeing PAS Giannina back in Superleague 1.

I am gracing this forum with my presence to give my pronouncements, straight from Zeus's mouth to your ears: Koulierakis is the best CB Greece has ever produced Fortounis can eat a bag of dicks Have some respect for Pelkas you insolent whelps Game was played at 70% speed and we were (obv) very lucky with that first goal Finland is, however, hot steaming garbage Team should, therefore, look better once they get their mojo Rota did well today, but I don't think we have a single right-back of Greek extraction that deserves to start for a national team The Bri'ish commentator I was listening to was far too dismissive of Konstantelias' dribbling. Find me his name so that I may insult him online. He gets extra demerits for adding a "sh" sound to everyone's name. Pelkash? Bakashetash? Are you kidding me, or do you just live in the Fener? Don't be surprised or upset when a coach doesn't switch up an entire lineup. Teams that have played together always do better than teams that are new. It takes time - perhaps we'll see another one or two changes vs Ireland, who are have a pretty terrible team that we will struggle to beat

Still waiting for new Toumba, but in the meantime we can celebrate the 65th anniversary of the Toumba Stadium inauguration. It was September 6, 1959, when the Toumba Stadium was opened to the public for the first time with a friendly game against AEK Athens which was won by PAOK 1:0 with a goal by Kiourtzis. . The stadium capacity at that time was 15,000. Here is is aerial view of Toumba in 1959 and a pic of the PAOK - AEK friendly, the first game at Toumba Stadium.