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We just went toe to toe with the best team in the world. Scoring 2 goals in 5 minutes was unreal. This was a huge confidence booster heading into March. A lot of positives from the boys tonight. We all should be proud of this performance..

Booked my tickets to Marseille. I believe the Scotsman will also be joining me.

Why they didn't reseed based on FIFA rank is baffling. Greece should be playing both at home!

Diego says hi to all PAOKtzides.

And let's give Poyet his due! None of us were too crazy about his hire, and he is 4-0 in this competition, and 5-1 overall. This is the best we've been since we got back from Brazil.

The atmosphere has changed they are starting to learn how to close out games and get the 3 points this was a non factor with this team and previous coaches. The players look like they are plying for each other, they look like they have the passion that’s been missing for years and you can see that when the national anthem was playing with Tsimikas reaction. Even the players on the bench are not stop interacting.. The tide is turning for this team and Poyet is looking like a true coach we’ve been missing. Poyets in game decision making in his short time he’s been here so far is looking spot on he can read the game and the players that don’t have it on a particular night. When was the last time we’ve scored 7 goals and allowed 0 in 4 games played? Man the is the first time in years I’ve been so excited for this team..

That is a big part of the issue, we do not have an abundance of options in central midfield and the players that do play there are limited in one way or another. Kourbelis, Zeca, Siopis are all pure defensive mids who aren't great with the ball but are pretty solid at the defensive stuff (especially Siopis and Zeca) Bouchalakis lack of pace wouldn't necessarily be a problem if he made quick decisions but he doesn't. He wants time and space on the ball something not often afforded in modern football with so much pressing going on. His control is also hit and miss, at least a few times a game the ball will bounce off him and the opposition will win the ball back and launch a counter when half our team is up the pitch. Galanopoulos is the one who has a key role to play but injuries have completely taken over his career in the last 2 years. Disappointing for him and a big blow for the Ethniki. Alexandropoulos is still young and isn't a nailed on starter for PAO but he is an option, not sure he's the answer at least not at this stage. The buck starts and ends with our talent pool, it's limited. We can bicker on here about who should start over who but the reality is apart from a few (mainly defenders) we don't have many midfielders/attackers who are above Super league quality. And those who are have limitations which hinders them when they play at a higher level.

I had a chance to watch the King Otto documentary. What an amazing way to re-live the dream run of 2004.

Samaris doesn't have a team, before being let go for free by Benfica he basically hadn't played at all last season. Not to mention he's always been bang average to poor for the Ethniki. Fortounis is injured, so unless we roll him out on his crutches probably couldn't have played. Won't deny Sokratis and Manolas would've helped during this campaign, they have had off-field issues with management that has unfortunately ended their NT careers as long as JVS is at the wheel. But half the guys you mentioned it's not feasible for them to be playing currently. Samaris is done with the NT, he needs to find a club and he wasn't able to find one over the summer, clearly his career is winding down. Stick to AFL re, Blues for the flag next year Cerra to win the Brownlow.

I really hope Greece keeps JVS. He has the Ethniki headed in the right direction.

The final was a random draw, it fell Georgia's way. Their stadium holds 55k, it will be packed and the atmosphere will be electric. Tough road trip for us for sure. As for today's game, so proud of the lads that was a great performance. Foot down from the start, showed they are a better team and kept going until the game was completely safe. The team has definitely developed more of a killer edge under Poyet. Credit to him and the players, I don't think there has been one game in his tenure that we lost where we were expected to win. We beat the teams we should, that is how we topped our group in the Nations League, that is how we stayed in touch with France and the Netherlands during qualifying and that is now why we are one win away from our first major tournament in 10 years.

Crazy how we all get punished for the last 3 events being caused by OLY fans. If this was PAOK, we would be penalized 10 points and no fans remainder of the year.

i guess i'll shut up about the line up... lol

At the end of the day like some guys said already France had to rely on a penalty to beat us. We held our own and we showed we won’t be an easy out for any team. This to me even though we lost was a huge confidence booster and we are really starting to show that this team is starting to put it together and hopefully have leave the dreadful years behind us. I haven’t read one negative article or listened to one negative podcast about how Greece played. Everything was very positive even from the French media. In September we play in Holland first and then against Gibraltar at home. Netherlands plays us and then go into Ireland. At the very least if we can get a draw against the Netherlands we should easily get 3 points against Gibraltar which will still keep us ahead of them. Hopefully they also drop points in Ireland. This is the first time in years where I actually feel optimistic about this team.

Poyet addressed it a few days ago and essentially said, he wasn't called up for these matches because in order to fit him in, the formation needs to be changed from a 4-3-3 to a 4-2-3-1. It seems Poyet, as other managers before him at both club and country level don't like Fortounis' lack of work rate and discipline without the ball. He did make a point to say just because he wasn't called this time around doesn't mean he isn't in future plans. In a 4-3-3, Poyet wants his midfield 3 to press without the ball and track the opposition not just play with the ball. Bakasetas, Siopis, Kourbelis offer these things. Clearly he thinks Bakasetas offers enough attacking drive (with the wingers and striker) to create enough opportunities to score. Poyet also described Bakasetas as 'untouchable' atm in his current Ethniki form and it is hard to argue given his performances over the last year. Fortounis has long been discussed here and in the Greek media, he's a media darling and they are just as shocked he hasn't been included. Me personally, I see the reasons why but don't necessarily agree with his exclusion all together. Here's a link to Poyet's explanation in full for anyone interested. https://www.sport24.gr/football/apokalypseis-poget-ayta-eipa-sto-tilefono-me-ton-fortoyni-o-mpakasetas-einai-untouchable.10061489.html

Solid win first up, seems we never really got out of 2nd gear and still managed to score three and hit the woodwork another 3 times. On another day we score 5-6. Not too much more to take out of it but the 3 points. France beating the Netherlands is good news, it means assuming we beat Ireland in Greece in June (we also play France in June but we assume that's a loss and anything we get out of it is a bonus) we would be leading the Dutch heading into our match-up in September. The Dutch don't play in June due to the Nations League finals. It will be important going to the Netherlands and being 3 points clear of them in September, meaning a draw will keep ourselves clear of them heading into the last 4 matches. Schedule has helped us, and France sweeping the group will also help. We can keep our noses in-front of the Netherlands until they come to Greece in our 2nd last match. A lot of water to go under the bridge until then, but if we take care of business v Ireland (not easy) and Gibraltar we are in with a fighting chance to pinch 2nd spot.

G'day mate!!! Throw another schnitzel on the barbie

we have one of those in here. would you mind taking him off our hands?

That was my niece who scored both goals today!!!! She just recently joined the club from the States. Super proud of her!

If we can maintain a winning form, stay injury free, then I believe we can reach 20-25 in the FIFA classification within 12-18 months, about where Sweden, Serbia, Poland and Ukraine are at the monent. Teams that I think we can compete with. We will need a good Euro qualifying campaign, get to Euro 2024 and pick up some good results, and then consolidate our position in League B. Hopefully some of our younger players can come through, and shine.

And no poison players. All these players have heart.

Relying on Bakasetas, with class goals. No one would of said that a week ago..we are a fickle bunch.

If soon to be 34 year old Sokratis is our best CB, god help us... Also, Baldock wasn't even Greek 2 days ago, and we are acting like he's Trippier. He isn't better than Lyratzis, at least not in my opinion. Tzolis hasn't played meaningful first team minutes in months. Based off of potential he is, but right now I wouldn't start him neither.

As @Athens4has said, Marseille Incoming! Ticket is printed and sat on my desk as I type. I just need to finalise the travel plan.... Planes, trains and automobiles style i think 🙂

What is this, 2014? Do you really think that Ninis and Fetfazidis should be anywhere near our national team? Ninis hasn't played for the national team in 7 years. In that time span he has had 5 goals. And you want Fetfazidis as a leader? To lead what exactly? A gas station? Dude has been a major bust for "the Greek Messi". People want change for the team. Yet always call on the old guard. I am fine with Siovas and Manolas. I wouldn't have Sokrates either in the NT, he's honestly around 10th in Greek CB's depth chart. Show me any serious national team that calls up has-beens. Let's see if Charisteas has any legs under him either, or Samaras to help score some goals!

"Organised" fans are living in another decade. They have too much power and they think they are more important than they are. As for the on-field, our form has been patchy all season nowhere near enough consistency to compete for the title. The only way this season is salvaged IMO is by getting out of the group in the Conference League and hopefully progressing beyond the round of 32.

Athanasiadis replaces Dioudis in the Ethniki!

I'm f***en gutted. Speechless. Which is rare for me. I was so naïve yesterday thinking its a done deal. I really thought there was no way in hell we were not going to win this game. I wasn't expecting a blow out but a 1-0 or 2-1 hard fought Hellas victory was a sure thing in my mind. Once again, I was brutally wrong. This team has let us down once again. I simply don't get it. There are other "smaller population" countries in Europe such as Croatia, Serbia, Belgium, Holland, etc. that field competitive teams annually. Even the blockhead Albanians qualified directly. I simply don't understand. That was one of the worst performances I've seen from the Ethniki and I've been watching every game since the 1994 World Cup debacle. Countless backwards passes, no urgency, no desperation, playing in fear against a Georgia...come on! Gutted.

Exact 40 days to go. This one-legged match is a must win game. Winner faces an away game either in Georgia or Luxemburg for a spot in Group F of Euro 2024. Who is on fire? Who not? Perfect lineup to do the trick?

Considering we haven't made a major tournament in years this team is in no position to take any team lightly. This wont be an easy match and they better not start looking to the final match before this game is over. Kazakhstan will not be an easy out. In saying that we have a golden opportunity to finally make a major tournament and if Greece cant come out on top against Kazakhstan, Georgia or Luxemburg than we really haven't progressed at all under Poyet. We need to now take that next step.

Job #1 qualify. Job #2 don't lose to Turkey

I don't know about you guys but its been quite a few years since I have felt hopeful, super nervous, confident, and dreadful all at once the way I do right now LOL. PAME ELADARRRRRAAAAA!!!

EPO officially announces that the Stadio Agia Sophia aka OPAP Arena will be the new home of the national team! Should be much better than OAKA.

When greeksoccer.com shut down, the alt-right members (which were broadly Olympiakos supporters) started their own cesspit forum, where as far as I know they still circle jerk today

JVS started well but then he regressed. His game management & subs at times were baffling and cost us a few games. Siopis had another great match. His work rate is incredible.

what A goal!!!!’ And that’s why you start Giakoumakis over Pavlidis!!!!

I completely agree and its kind of refreshing to hear.. Its more of a style the NT has always been accustomed to playing. There's no point to just keep possession if all the team is doing is back passing majority of the game which we seen a lot in the later days of JVS and lots of times the team just looked uncomfortable and confused at times. I don't wont to get my hopes up as we've seen what's happened in the past but I'm feeling optimistic so far..

Another big game tomorrow. A win here and we basically solidify a top 2 finish. Not that second means anything. But 9 points in 3 games would be huge! Win the next two home games and we should be fine for 1st.

I’ve seen Tzolis play some games in the EPL when he’s been given a chance and he didn’t put a foot wrong. He played nice passes and got into goal scoring situations and gave his teammates good opportunities to score. He also tracked back a lot too. It’s not his fault. Norwich are just crap. We got a player like Tzolis who is still young and full of potential and really is a rare player to have for Greece. In my opinion he’s our best winger/attacker. Just like Alexandropoulos is our best CM in my opinion. Fortounis on his day is our best CAM. I agree with @J1078 Fortounis is still our best CAM even at 70%. The call ups are all wrong. This is the same team that JVS picked. They are choosing the same failed players again. Nothing will change. We have Nikolaou who is always playing in the Serie A but they rather go with Tzavellas who is not even wanted at his club. Vasiliadis plays Bundesliga every week but never gets a chance. Manolas and Siovas are ignored again. They are not picking the best players…

**I'll not even bother commenting on the way we were treated by the authorities before the game** Phenomenal Atmosphere inside the stadium. Phenomenal company through out with old friendships renewed and new ones forged. Phenomenal away trip. As for the game... i feared the worst at 2-0 but it was a very good second half performance and Paschalakis puled off some unreal saves. Would have taken 2-1 before KO and would have bitten your hand off at half time. Gutted I'll not be there on Thursday but got the credit card and passport on ice should we get through.

I didn’t see the game, but I’m guessing we are blaming the 15th coach in the last 7 years instead of players lack of talent again?

Well if we know one thing, Greeks are horrible gamblers. All the ones I know, including myself, lose at the casino!

I liked what EPO said about 4 Greek players starting in Super League matches

I say: accept this punishment and hush. Then start demolishing gate 4 like Barça kicked out "Boixos Nois" and make us a club to visit with the entire family that buy tickets instead of those "dsabatzides" that try to enter the stadium together with you. And put some 7 ft monsters at the gates to check flares and other stuff.

Disband Gate 4. Every one of those people who were arrested should be banned for life.

Guys give this a read he explains everything JVS has done from nations league to the World Cup qualifiers. He is spot on. https://hellasfooty.blogspot.com/2021/11/same-mistakes-keep-costing-us.html?m=1&fbclid=IwAR04RAqwyd9BtwuJjAcTUMjYSNY8k0JahoDhb9v9VYI4pVdHi7TZsfpTthI

No clean sheet ..again.. I am tired of saying it and so are many others. The reality is what we need is is a coach who can handle all personalities and put our best on the field mixed with the youth as well. Having Manolas and others today could have made a difference defensively.

Another botched game, poor starting 11 when you have Alexandropoulos, Saliakias and Tzolis on the bench with plenty of gas to burn but no lets play the gassed guys who struggle to break down these teams... no balls no urgency and the same mistakes as usual - JVS has to go

Ok, so if you sack JVS, who do you hire? Who can you hire? That has to be part of the fire-the-coach equation…

This game for some reason worries me, We tend to see Greece make it so much harder on themselves when they play these type of teams. JVS better have this team pressing and not allow them to take their foot off the gas as we saw what happened in the first game with Georgia and the last minute goal we conceded vs Kosovo. JVS better not have a defensive line up in this game.