Argy

Sounds like Greece whenever they play a lesser opponent.

I agree with you Rockafeller, an open Cyprus vying for the will get beaten. Greece is superior on every square of the pitch so if they try to fight fire with fire I don't see how this game will even be close.

We never thrash teams anyway and 2-0 would be a godsend, a very good score even for our goal diff. I don't think Cyprus will give this match to us but they are more than beatable regardless. In a post-match interview Hazard said he hopes that Greece qualify and they will be playing for the win in Bosnia. I believe Belgium will take points out of this match. It's up to us to get the job done.

No manager will go beg a player to come back after they unceremoniously quit the team. Holebas is already 33 years old, although it would have been nice to have him for this campaign, it's too late to initiate any sort of contact now. He played in his tournaments, got exposure that certainly helped him sign for bigger clubs and make more money, and then with the first bump in the road, he said farewell. I think he relieved without his NT duties; not to say he didn't care, but I don't believe he felt as tied to the crest and to his teammates either.

Really our only reasonable avenue is through the Group D teams. Assuming Bosnia drop a point and we beat Cyprus 1-0 followed by Gibraltar. Greece will finish second with 19 pts and at 13 pts +4 in the playoff group. On Oct 6, safe to assume Ireland will beat Moldova by whatever and lets assume Wales beat Georgia 2-0. Wales will stay second with 17 pts, ireland 3rd with 16. In the playoff group, Wales will be at 11 pts + 3, Ireland 10 pts +1. On the last matchday, Wales are at home to Rep of Ireland. If Wales wins they will finish 2nd in group D and with 14 pts leapfrog Greece in the playoff group. If they draw, Wales will finish 2nd in the group and have 12 pts in the playoff group (below 13 pt Greece). If Ireland wins, they will finish 2nd and have 13 pts in the playoff group, tied with Greece, but will have to beat Wales by 3 or 4 goals if they want to overtake (minimum)+4 Greece in GD. So assuming we get the job done, Wales just cannot beat Rep of Ireland. This will go down to the final seconds of the final matchday for us.

Things are looking pretty bleak no matter what we do the rest of the way. Turkey's win today puts us in a bad spot. Wales will have to draw or lose to ireland in last match day. Too much needs to happen. How did we ever get ourselves in this position...

Yes that has been spoken about tirelessly in the other thread. We gotta just concentrate on beating Cyprus, hopefully by 2 or 3 goals and then everything with play itself out with regard to the other groups.

Who else loved that Skibbe named Sokrati captain despite Tzioli starting? It was the right thing to do giving the armband to the real leader of this team on and off the pitch who is also our most regarded, respected, talented player. Important psychologically for the players and a big statement.

I find this UEFA qualification format ridiculous. The way it should be: 1st place= automatic ticket best 2nd place= automatic ticket 8 remaining runners up= playoffs Europe is so deep and talented that runners up should not be punished, but rather rewarded. Utter bullshit the way it is.

I think Skibbe is doing a great job in transitioning this team into the next generation. Our young talent keeps getting opportunities and experience. This will not only help us on the pitch now, but avoid a collapse that we faced after WC14.

Greece's head-to-head vs Bosnia in the playoff group is irrelevant as only one will make it. Bosnia max out points they lock 2nd place. The comparison I am making is in the event that Bosnia does not max out and Greece takes second. Greece will end up with 13 considering they beat cyprus and their goal differential will only improve from their current +3. There is still lots to consider seeing that the playoff group can and will likely completely change even after today's fixtures. There are so many teams battling for a playoff spot in almost every group and a number of 3rd and 4th place teams have a more favourable remaining schedule than the teams currently in 2nd, including Greece (Cyprus, Gibraltar) compared to Bosnia (Belgium, Estonia). Things will become clearer after today's games.

I love the 3-5-2; I think it plays to our strengths, but I would still have KPap there instead of Retsos.

Greece now have 10 points in a playoff table while Bosnia has 8 (Bosnia is there because they played Gibraltar twice and have more points in group H). We have to beat Cyprus to have a chance so we will end up with 13 points in playoff group should we finish 2nd. Don't forget, not only are points vs last place teams disregarded, but also goals. As we stand, if Greece was in 2nd spot, they would have a +3 differential, same as Sweden and Ukraine, and better than Italy, Eire and Bosnia and Montenegro (all at +2). Also, Montenegro (odd man out in playoff group) or Denmark (tied with Montenegro but 3rd in group E) both played last place Kazakhstan and are equal on point. Both have Romania to play, but Denmark has the edge as Montenegro still have Poland coming up. As they stand in the second table, they are +2 and +3 respectively. Greece have to get the job done in Cyprus, hopefully by 2 or 3 goals. If that happens and they dispose of Gibraltar like they should, I don't see them having any trouble with goal diff in the playoff group standings at the end of the day.

Bosnia is playing an empty stadium vs Belgium thanks to their coach punching Gianniotas.

I don't know if this was mentioned but even if we got the draw, we would still be 3rd and need to win out as Bosnia would likely still have the tie-break advantage.

''Το γιατί άλλαξε την αριστερή πλευρά: Ο Κυριάκος Παπαδόπουλος είχε πρόβλημα τραυματισμού και έτσι πήγαμε στην άλλη αλλαγή με Σταφυλίδης. Επίσης ο Βέλλιος δεν παίζει τόσο στην Αγγλία και έτσι κουράστηκε και έπρεπε να τον αλλάξουμε. Είναι δύσκολο για εμάς γιατί έχουμε πολλά παιδιά που δεν παίζουν στις ομάδες τους. Παλέψαμε όμως και κάναμε κατάθεση ψυχής και καρδιάς στο γήπεδο και είμαι περήφανος γι' αυτό αλλά θα πρέπει να πάμε καλύτερα και να παίξουμε καλά'' - Skibbe That is totally in your control, Michael. Fetfatzidis plays regular football in Saudi, has started both games this current season and scored in one them. Calling up guys that don't get playing time in second division leagues isn't gonna get us anywhere. Open your mind.

That would be horrible. Skibbe says he's counting on him to play however. I just don't wanna get ripped 4-5 nothing like Bosnia did.

I agree he is impotent, predictable and keeps making mind-numbing mistakes.

Fortounis is not a threat for the NT. He is average. Donis did in his first full 90 stuff Fortounis has never done for NT.

Tziolis over Samaris and Tachtsidis is a damn joke! Perhaps he's resting them and I think Sam is on a yellow, but one of them should be in there for sure. We have to field our best especially considering we are missing key players. Tziolis will be our captain and I'm a little ashamed of seeing him wear the band at this stage with so many better options in the XI. I do expect a good game from him though. Stafylidis has to be in there over Tzavella or at least in some form.

Watford and Udinese have the same owner, Giampalo Pozzo, so this move makes even more sense now. Good on them for loaning him to a quality league where he will play instead of having him battle for starts with a 21 year old in Italy.

I am not familiar with Udinese's depth in goal and who they have in their pipeline, but seems strange they would loan out a player many considered one of the better keepers in the Serie A. Premier League not a bad spot to land though.

On August 30th 2017, Retsos (19) was sold to Bayer Leverkusen from Olympiacos for €22 million, the most expensive fee ever paid for a Greek footballer. http://www.ksta.de/image/28368190/2x1/940/470/e8ff40185c7c7b654e460ec4e3b4497c/Hr/b04-panagiotis-retsos-bucco-2.jpg

Apparent heavy negotiations between Benfica and Marseille for Mitro today...

Is thus just off the top of your head?