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Congratz to the PAOKtzides from Oz for slaughtering the galopoula! What a nice way to wake up (game ended about 8 AM here and I will watch the highlights rightaway).

Greetings from Maui, Hawaii. Happy New Year to all the forum members and all the PAOK fans. Also Happy 100th Birthday to PAOK in 2026.

So much more satisfying that goal difference is the first tie breaker. Never thought I’d be saying that for a low scoring team historically like us but I’m cautiously optimistic. BRING THE HEAT BOYS. THE 11 YEAR TOURNAMENT DROUGHT ENDS WITH THIS CAMPAIGN. PAME PALIKARIA

Really? Up until Feburary, we were absolutely playing the best and most attractive football in the league. Then injuries took hold and we have fallen apart since. Strongly disagree with that point as I do with saying the league was "down" in 2024. Olympiacos won a European title that season. We only just pipped AEK to win the title. Saying it was down is simply untrue and inidcates you either drink too much (likely) or are just desperate to justify your point (less likely but still plausible.) Not wanting Lucescu is fair enough, it is okay to not like him for whatever reason, but claiming we played ugly football all season is not true. We were lauded across the league for playing attractive football, we scored brilliant goals, were top of the table and were drawing comparisons to the great team of the 70's. Let me finish by saying, I don't think Lucescu should be guaranteed to coach next season. There clearly needs to be a review and assessment conducted. The jungle drums are rumbling and pressure mounting more than ever from fans and media alike. There comes a point when it is better to just shake hands and move on.

Bakasetas is hanging around for another qualifying campaign, you better believe that. He wasn't initially called up for these games but called up as a replacement once Konstantelias was injured, that doesn't scream to me well planned out goodbye testimonial. I maintain Bakasetas has a role to play(off the bench), and to a lesser extent Kourbelis and even lesser extent Masouras. The team's defensive issues can't possibly be laid to blame at Bakasetas' feet. We created a bucket load of chances, as you mention in an attacking sense we have really turned the corner. Defensively we have massive issues. Individual errors which need to be rectified by the players themselves but also our structure and system doesn't seem to provide adequate protection. Jovanovic needs to sort it out and ASAP. You can't be going 3-0 up with 30 minutes to play and the match turns into a rodeo. We must get better at seeing out matches and playing out time to get the result. Otherwise no matter how beautiful we play or how many goals we score, qualifying for a major tournament will remain a pipe dream.

The minute there’s a little hype around this team and they start pulling in crowds they lay a massive egg in big games. They did it with the game against England here, they did it against Georgia and now Denmark.

It goes without saying, this game will be far tougher than the one against Belarus. The Danes who have been mainstays at major tournaments for the last 7 or so years, have been able to build that solid record of qualification on a strong defence. They have been typically tough to break down and have had plenty of results by keeping a clean sheet. So it will be the first real test for our young guns and all their attacking flair. I expect Denmark will look to keep it tight and allow us to have the bulk of possession. Our attack has been blowing teams away, so an early goal and who knows. But I would anticipate a cat and mouse game. I don't expect Jovanovic to make any changes to the starting 11 that we saw today. Even though plenty (myself included) wanted to see Konstantelias instead of Bakasetas, you can't deny Bakasetas has performed time and time again for the Ethniki. He had another good game against the Belarusians, so I don't think he will be dropped for this one.

Looking at a Scottish forum. They clearly think we are the best team in the group. Hopefully we make their words come true…

This is how a big football nation that is serious starts their campaign against lesser nations. So far so good pame! Karetsas 3rd minute goal lol. What a start..

A win here & a tie in the Denmark - Scotland game would be huge

Squad for this match and against Denmark: Βλαχοδήμος, Μανδάς, Τζολάκης, Μαυροπάνος, Χατζηδιάκος, Ρέτσος, Κουλιεράκης, Ρότα, Βαγιαννίδης, Γιαννούλης, Τσιμίκας, Σιώπης, Ζαφείρης, Μάνταλος, Κουρμπέλης, Μασούρας, Πέλκας, Τζόλης, Μουζακίτης, Κωνσταντέλιας, Ιωαννίδης, Παυλίδης, Μπακασέτας, Καρέτσας, Δουβίκας.

Triantis officially commits his future to Greece!

Razvan would consider him too young though.

Just around the corner is our next opportunity to make a major tournament. There is no ifs or buts. We NEED to qualify. Due to our participation in Nations League A we will have an extremely high possibility of qualifying. If we finish top 3 in our group for nations league we will automatically be in pot 1 for the qualifying for the Euros. https://x.com/fmeetsdata/status/2075908457471906165?s=46&t=ASqPGJRrtcVRyVr8hMrtIg

Looks like Lucescu's time with us is coming to an end, has been mooted for almost a month now. I think the writing has been on the wall for awhile. The Cup final loss was hard to stomach and the implosion against Panathinaikos which cost us place in Champions League qualifying no doubt sealed his fate. Although it's ending, he still leaves as PAOK's most successful coach ever and no doubt our most decorated. I have little doubt that he will return one day down the road, to steady the ship! Thanks for everything Razvan, you made us champions and returned us to the summit of Greek football! https://www.sport24.gr/football/paok-xekatharizei-oristika-to-thema-loutseskou-ola-deixnoun-diazigio-me-ton-roumano-texniko/

There is a diabolical scenario, where we win the title if PAOK, AEK and Olympiakos are tied on points at the end of the playoffs as we beat both in tie breakers. Current standings: AEK 67 PAOK 61 Olympiakos 61 R4: Olympiakos - PAOK tie AEK - Panathinaikos tie AEK 68 PAOK 62 Olympiakos 62 R5: PAOK - AEK (PAOK win) Panathinaikos - Olympiakos (Olympiakos win) AEK 68 PAOK 65 Olympiakos 65 R6: Panathinaikos - PAOK (PAOK win) AEK - Olympiakos (Olympiakos win) Final standings: PAOK 68 Olympiakos 68 AEK 68 I know it's almost impossible to happen, but I can dream.

The result was good in Hungary considering the lineup and missing our top players. Greece three matches now without a goal that is concerning.. Jovanovich needs to start our young promising players we cant keep stating this enough. Kourbelis should not be on this team PERIOD! Bakesetas cant be starting!!

After that Denmark loss, he hasn't coached the same. He pulled the kids early and turned to a few veterans that have no place on the team. He led a solid Nations League tourney and s%$#! the bed in qualifiers. There was no reason not to qualify. I think many of us would agree that our best line up was the one against Scotland in the Nations League, and we haven't seen it since. Tetteh/Pavlidis Tzolis Delias Karetsas Mouzakitis Zafeiris Giannoulis Mavropanos Koulierakis Vagiannidis Tzolakis/Vlacho/Mandas (pick one)

At least Mandalos retired and he won't play again for the NT. Time for Bakasetas and Kourbelis to be dropped from the team as well.

KALO PARADEISO STA ADERFIA MAS

Its a disaster! Here in Canada gonna have to listen to all the build up without our beloved Ethniki. A lot of these minnow footballing nations with no history will be here, including Canada and USA lol... I was so looking forward to going to the matches in Toronto if we were playing there or NYC. Just so ANNOYED! This is our longest tournament drought equaling the Euro 1980 to World Cup 1994. I have a feeling it will be longer. I really do not have much confidence in seeing us make Euro 2028 especially after Greece got this draw. We managed to f up the greatest draw possible getting Denmark the weakest pot 1 team and Scotland from pot 2 and we made a total mess of it. Qualification done after match day 4? Even Poyet got us to the playoff in the Euros and we finished a respectable 3rd behind giants France and Holland and competed until the very last match day. This is very similar to the Euro 2016 qualification debacle that was intitally over seen by Ranieri that tool. Now Greece are playing in A league of the NL its going to be tough to say the least to get a back up ticket for the Euro 2028 playoffs. Just PISSED!!

I hate that I’m even saying this, because let’s be honest it’s basically over. We need an absolute miracle now. Scenario 1: Greece would have to run the table and beat Denmark, Scotland, and Belarus. Let’s say somehow, they pull off the upset and beat Denmark. Beating Scotland back in Athens and taking care of Belarus shouldn’t be too difficult. That would give Greece 12 points. If we assume Denmark and Scotland both beat Belarus, they’d each move to 10 points with one game left against each other. If that happens, we wouldn’t need help from anyone else: If Denmark and Scotland draw, they’d both finish on 11 points and Greece would take first place. If one of them wins, Greece would finish second and still grab a playoff spot. So, realistically, Greece still controls its own destiny, but only if they win all three games. Scenario 2: If Greece draws with Denmark, then we’d need Denmark to beat Scotland. That would leave both teams tied for second, meaning it all comes down to goal differential. Scotland currently has a big advantage there, so we’d need to absolutely smash Belarus and beat Scotland by a few goals to make it through. Not liking our chances at all but if they pull off a miracle on Sunday somehow beat Denmark that all changes. Group Standings Denmark- 7 Scotland - 7 Greece - 3 Belarus - 0

Our only chance now is getting 2nd as the chance at first is done. What looked to be a dream start by winning and having Scotland and Denmark draw, now looks to be a bad result for us. Would have been better if Denmark beat Scotland. To have at chance at 2nd and a playoff we need to beat Scotland twice and hope for at least a draw in Denmark. (Tough task) I’m still excited about this young team regardless of the result tonight. It’s by far the most skilled team we’ve had and as these kids grow together they will eventually learn how to handle these big games. We need to find a way to take 2nd I can’t handle missing another tournament..

Let's pump the break on all this negative talk. Konstantelias is uber talented, that is why PAOK is getting offer of $20M plus. We had not faced a team that was patient like Denmark and could counter like that. I am sure Jovanovic will see what we did wrong and fix it. We are a young team, these things take time..

This was a good lesson. We went away from what got us here. We beat England in Wembley and can't beat Denmark at home? Taking Karetsas out was the wrong move. Kourbelis should not start going forward.

What a game!! We look good!! When was the last time we could actually score goals like this…ever??? Remember when we had Santos, we had a good team but every game was 1-0…

Good call..

0-0 so far in Copenhagen I sense a 4th goal is coming for Greece soon

prwta8lhma kai kupello ston Purgo ton Leuko !

What a move by Delias to create the 2nd goal.

Desperate to see them back in, it's killing me watching the WC and how irrelevant we have been for a long time. Absolutely have to get into Euro to build that into potential next WC. I hope Ivan is up to the task real question marks over him and the team still.

Because Ali is much better player, including World Cup experience. He should be in good shape for our first European games, since the Swedish league is in full force and he just took part in the World Cup games in the past few weeks. It appears that if we wanted Giakoumakis we would have to spend around 7 mil Euro. He was very good for us last season, but not worth 7 mil. Same goes for Gianoulis. There is no way I would spend 5 mil to bring him to PAOK.

Sweden 2-2 Greece FT I'll take it

No they don't. The Conference League Playoffs only work if someone from the top 4 (Championship Playoffs) wins the Cup. Since that didn't happen, the Conference League spot doesn't drop to 5th place. So Aris and co are playing for nothing but pride.

This game is before Celta right? So the players will be fresh and not fatigued from the European game. AEL is the league match between the two Celta matches. Agree this match is hugely important, but with a game in hand a draw isn't an awful result. That is not to say we will play for a draw, but if the cards fall that way it doesn't leave us too far behind the 8 ball. I believe PAOK has made massive strides over the past few years, with deeper runs in Europe and in the league. I think we are beyond choosing one pursuit and really can go for it all. We also have some good depth, when everyone is fully fit. Obviously we are lacking atm in the attacking midfield department, with all of Konstantleias, Pelkas, Ivansecu and Despodov injured.

Must buy Giakoumakis. He has impressive stats in Europe: 4 goals in 7 matches (and not a single one the whole 90+stoppage time). Overall 12 goals in 25 matches (did not check the minutes he played but I don't think he has played whole games). He has gelled in perfect and seems to found his freedom (thanks Fats Domino!) in Thessaloniki with his family. And he is only 31. A baby according to Razvan.

Another goal for Shoretire. PEC Zwolle leading away against FC Twente and 17 (+?) minutes still to go.

That starting 11 was a joke. Whats the point of using players that wont be part of our next cycle? Farewell games? Did these "legends" win us a euro or take us to a major tournament to deserve an extra game? Jovanovic has ended up being a massive dissapointment.

what a fing joke! 0-0 at HT. Jovanovich starting Mantalos and Masouras he ruined our world cup dream!

Great last 2 posts from @Bardouuu and @HellasLEAF agree with both you guys. Scotland is clearly an aging squad without much pace or threat on the counter, we played them off their feet in March with the younger starting 11 and Jovanovic should've (easy in hindsight) backed as close to that starting 11 again this time around. He got spooked by the kids being completely dominated by the Danes and reverted to experience (Bakasetas, Masouras). Despite those errors, the team created more than enough chances to win the game. Scotland equalising immediately after we finally scored completely flipped the whole atmosphere. The crowd got going and the Scots started to believe. The team's inability to deal with a dead ball ultimately cost us, I don't know how much of that is on Jovanovic. Probably a little, with regard to structure at set pieces but really it is on the players. The first goal in particular, we had 3 opportunities to clear our lines, and lost every duel in that passage. I don't care if you're playing Brazil or Belarus, that just isn't good enough at this level. It would take a miracle from here, we have to win our last 3 to have any chance of a play-off spot. Clearly beating the Danes away will be awfully tough. Ironically, I think the more experienced and physical Bakasetas and Masouras should probably start this next game. Denmark need to win as they have Scotland breathing down their neck, the Danes will chase the win but I don't think they'll do this from the outset. They will be patient and try to press us high and deny us the chance to build up. I think the longer that game stays at 0-0 the more they will open up and we MAY be able to expose them. There is a path to victory in Copenhagen, but it will require a 100% improvement in performance from the first game against Denmark and a bit of a shift in tactics IMO.

I have a feeling we will respond to our last 2 disappointing results and come out with a big win here. I think Zivkovic is due and will have a big game and we will get our Europa League campaign off on the right foot.

Pains to say but it's true. Not sure if it's nerves or expectation but they aren't looking great in front of the home crowd, which you would think is the opposite in football. They play better in all the away match. Denmark head and shoulders better today, the game turning clearly from copping the first goal, which allowed them to sit even deeper and hit us on the counter. We went from dreaming to now hoping in a flash. It did not appear we were on Denmark's level in any aspect deeply humbling and concerning.

I get Bakasetas coming on but taking off Karetsas when we are chasing a goal? He was one of our few bright lights.

You know you completely messed up those changes when the announcers even call you out.

For those of us in the states, it may be carried on Amazon Prime...

Here we go. First match. On paper the easiest of all games in our group. Na boume me to dexi.

Karetsas loops it in, perfectly placed header by Pavlidis

What a great day for Greek football! All three clubs have qualified in their respective leagues! That will boost it's coefficent points!

The amount of bitching I get from you is beyond belief!

Apparently they are in the match day squad for the EFL cup. Hopefully this is the start for them getting more game time for the 1st team. They’d both be useful for the national team. I’d have them both now in the team. Both have had great seasons.