[Kyriakos Papadopoulos ‒ (Now Playing for Lamia)]

What a huge step backwards. Newly promoted Bundesliga side with no European football. Low profile, low prestige club. 

[Friendly: Netherlands Vs. Greece(1 September 2016, Philips Stadion, Eindhoven)]

Reported starting lineup:

Mitroglou

Holebas - Fortounis - Karelis

Samaris - Mantalos

Stafylidis - Sokratis - Manolas - Torosidis

Karnezis

 

I like this lineup a lot, probably our best atm, although I'd love to see K Papadopoulos in there with a 3 CB formation. 

[Suggested Call Ups, Starting 11]

I don't see why Greece doesn't play 3 at the back like Italy. It has worked so well for the Italians and both teams currently seem to have a similar makeup where their strength lies at the back. Greece's potential backline of Papadopoulos-Manolas-Sokratis would certainly be one of the most feared in Europe. Further, we have very offensive-minded fullbacks with midfield experience in Holebas and Torosidis, solid holding midfield centered around Samaris, and some capable offensive weapons in Fortounis and Mitroglou. 

 

I'd love to see this tried out before the WC campaign. 

[Vasilis Torosidis ‒ (retired)]

The best destination for him in terms of guaranteed minutes and big games in the CL is Olympiacos. In terms of cash, he may find a better paying suitor abroad.

[Sokratis Papastathopoulos ‒ Betis Sevilla]

The nationality issue is not completely nonsense. It`s true that a consistently great player will always end up at a great club, but more often than not, a player coming from a traditionally strong football nation will have greater opportunity, at least early on in their career.

[Sokratis Papastathopoulos ‒ Betis Sevilla]

Klaous,

 

BVB is a world class club. Second in a strong Bundesliga, world class players all around and CL football.

[Kostas Mitroglou ‒ (now playing for Aris)]

This was probably his last shot to make a name for himself abroad before settling for a lower tier league/club or returning to Greece. Huge boost to his career signing a permanent deal with an arguably world class club.

[Giorgos Samaras ‒ (retired)]

^{How a 31-year-old player who has fairly recently scored goals in the Champions League, Euro and World Cup, finds himself on the bench of a 2nd division American club is beyond comprehension.}

[Panagiotis Kone ‒ (retired)]

What a great move on paper, but horrendous in reality.

[Kostas Mitroglou ‒ (now playing for Aris)]

Samaris came on 90th minute, but made a timely defensive play in his short stint.

 

Mitroglou had some flashes, but was well isolated by the Bayern defense through the most part.

[Friendly: Greece-Iceland(29 March 2016, Giorgos Karaiskaki, Piraeus)]

Congrats on embarrassing themselves once again. 

 

I don't think they realize how important it is to put together a string of wins at this point in time, after the worst qualifying campaign in the team's history.

 

What are they doing sending back all their CBs, their best midfielder and top in-form striker? Their top 3 CBs were missing today, which is a joke. 

 

On top of everything, we kept subbing everyone with even more inexperienced players, in an untried formation. 

 

Again, it was important to string wins and get back to a workable psychological level. Instead, they humiliated themselves.  

[Friendly: Greece-Iceland(29 March 2016, Giorgos Karaiskaki, Piraeus)]

Youtube streams anyone?

[Friendly: Greece-Iceland(29 March 2016, Giorgos Karaiskaki, Piraeus)]

We are down to our 4th and 5th CBs atm.

[Friendly: Greece-Iceland(29 March 2016, Giorgos Karaiskaki, Piraeus)]

I mean if Thursdays match was empty, then today's team on a Tuesday night in March vs Iceland, minus our 5 best players certainly isn't much of a draw.

[Friendly: Greece-Montenegro(24 March 2016, Giorgos Karaiskaki, Piraeus]

It's nice we finally got a win and scored 2 goals. My main concern is still our defense, we keep talking about having world class defenders and I do agree we have some very talented defenders but we keep letting very weak teams score on us and this is very concerning. Can you imagine what good teams will do against us? Since we all know we have a major problem scoring goals we need to focus on building a solid defensive system and if we do that the chances offensively will come. On another note is Karnezis our best option in goal? I've never had confidence in him. Is there not anyone else available that looks good? Samaris to me looked like he struggled and some horrible giveaways. I'd like to see Kone back and I'd like to give Lazaros a look as well. Bottom line great to get the win under Skibbe but Defense is still very concerning to me.

 

The thing about having world class defenders, is that they will only be world class if they have an effective cast supporting them. Any defensive line will eventually collapse with constant pressure, if the midfield leaves them out to dry or are incapable of carrying play forward - the same way a world class striker would be ineffective without adequate service. 

[Friendly: Greece-Montenegro(24 March 2016, Giorgos Karaiskaki, Piraeus]

http://livetv.sx/en/eventinfo/392660_greece_montenegro/#webplayer_youtube|jiehl8tfLJ4|392660|399635|5|1|en

 

Amazing feed. Thanks!

[Friendly: Greece-Montenegro(24 March 2016, Giorgos Karaiskaki, Piraeus]

Crazy that we are in 2016 and can't find a stream to watch this match. 

[Friendly: Greece-Montenegro(24 March 2016, Giorgos Karaiskaki, Piraeus]

_{SKibbe has the right idea. Imagine Papadopoulos-Sokratis-Manolas backline; Certainly one of the best in world football.}

 

_{Save Samaris, we are still fragile in midfield. Hopefully a couple of players can step up and take the reigns leading up to the WC qualifiers in September; this game of musical chairs in the middle will only spell disaster for the campaign.}

[Giorgos Samaras ‒ (retired)]

Still can`t believe he can`t even sign in MLS. Hopefully will get in form and make the leap sooner than later.

[Kostas Mitroglou ‒ (now playing for Aris)]

Mitroglou and Samaris are in line to face Bayern Munich on April 5th and 13th CL Quarters.

[Suggested Call Ups, Starting 11]

This team is so bottom-heavy it`s unbelievable.

[Greece Jersey!]

It`s not an ugly jersey, just plain and generic, which is what happens when you finish last in your group and aren`t considered to be relevant anymore.

[Kyriakos Papadopoulos ‒ (Now Playing for Lamia)]

Reports are Achilles tendon. His season is over. What a shame.

 

No disrespect to Leverkusen, as they are a big European club, but if KPap was not so injury-prone, he would have been playing for a one of the very elites.

[Sokratis Papastathopoulos ‒ Betis Sevilla]

Too bad. He will likely need the off-season to recover 100%

[Lets take a look at some comparisons.]

I respect ur honesty Reap. I hope Hellas win 4-2. I feel the greek player are not light years ahead like these dreamers. Difference is, these guys worship whereas taking an objective, realistic view is difficult for most. People in other countries haven't heard of many players everywhere. Ask people here who Tachtsidis, Pelkas, Fetfa are, they will tell you they work at the Yeeros shop up at Brighton.

 

Sokratis, Manolas and K Papadopoulos are light years ahead of anything Australia has ever produced. These are not opinions, but facts. You dn`t have to look very deep for proof.