J1078

I agree, For me Socratis comments don't give me or who ever reads the article much optimism. He's pretty much saying we are not good enough and the Greek players don't care as much for the NT. That's not what you want to here or read about from a so called leader. Also he should keep his comments about this being his last go around with the NT to himself as the team does not need anymore distractions around them. Also how are the young guys going to listen to him when they know he wont be here after this tournament.. The problem is I truly don't believe Socratis thinks they are good enough to advance and if that's his mentality and thinking then we honestly have no chance because that vibe will trickle down to the entire team. You would never hear Kara or any of those guys excepting defeat never in a million years. As far as retiring he should want to wear the NT jersey for as long as he can play the game and when he gets older he should want to be a veteran presence and a guy coming off the bench rather then a guy that says "I'm tired and this is my last tournament"

This will be the last time Socratis wears the NT jersey. Also sounds like he doesn't really believe in the team and its players.... εν είναι στα άμεσα μελλοντικά σχέδιά του η επιστροφή στην Ελλάδα - ακόμη κι αν έτσι στεναχωρεί τους φίλους της πρώην του ομάδας, ΑΕΚ - υποστήριξε ο Σωκράτης Πασταθόπουλος. O 30χρονος διεθνής κεντρικός αμυντικός της Άρσεναλ υποστήριξε στην εκπομπή "Total Football" του "Open TV" ότι τα ματς για το Euro 2020 ίσως να είναι και τα τελευταία του με την Εθνική. Παράλληλα τόνισε ότι ο ΠΑΟΚ δίκαια φθάνει στην κατάκτηση του τίτλου. Για τα μελλοντικά του σχέδια: "Ακόμα έχουμε κάμποσα χρόνια. Πιστεύω 3-4 χρόνια ακόμα. Πριν από 3-4 χρόνια σκεφτόμουν να γυρίσω στην Ελλάδα ένα χρόνο, να κλείσω την καριέρα μου; Τώρα θα πω ότι όχι, δεν θα γυρίσω στην Ελλάδα. Δεν σκέφτομαι να γυρίσω στην Ελλάδα. Θα προτιμήσω να πάω στην Αμερική ή στην Κίνα ή κάπου αλλού, και για εμπειρία, από το να γυρίσω στην Ελλάδα. Πολλοί ΑΕΚτσήδες θα στενοχωρηθούν, αλλά δεν σκέφτομαι να γυρίσω στην Ελλάδα". Για την Εθνική ομάδα: "Αν σου πω ότι δεν πιέζομαι καθόλου στην ομάδα μου, από θέμα παιχνιδιών, στρες, καθαρά ποδοσφαιρικό και μόλις έρχομαι στην Εθνική πιέζομαι γιατί πραγματικά έχω άγχος. Γιατί βλέπω κι εγώ ότι πραγματικά κάτι δεν πάει καλά. Και δεν είναι τωρινό, ότι ένα χρόνο υπάρχει αυτό το θέμα. Ναι, έχω μεγάλη πίεση, η μεγαλύτερη πίεση που έχω αυτή τη στιγμή στο ποδόσφαιρο είναι η Εθνική ομάδα. Έχω αποφασίσει κάποια πράγματα. Πιστεύω ότι μπορεί να είναι ο τελευταίος χρόνος στην Εθνική. Αν δεν περάσουμε θα είναι ο τελευταίος χρόνος στην Εθνική. Το έχω πάρει απόφαση, είμαι συνειδητοποιημένος. Είμαι και κουρασμένος. Αλλά πια βρίσκομαι 14 χρόνια στην Εθνική. Ίσως και τα νέα παιδιά να χρειαστεί να αναλάβουν περισσότερο. Όλα άλλαξαν και πολλά δεν πήγαν καλά. Το πρόβλημα κυρίως είναι ότι και δεν έχουμε πια το ποδοσφαιρικό επίπεδο που είχαμε παλιά, δεν έχουμε τους παίκτες, την ποιότητα. Και πιστεύω πως στην Ελλάδα ασχολούνται λιγότερο με την Εθνική, για το καλό της, σε σχέση με πριν 7,8-10 χρόνια. Με ό,τι συνεπάγεται. Μεγάλη ευθύνη έχει και η ΕΠΟ και η ελληνική νοοτροπία. Αλλά και η ΕΠΟ, γιατί όταν μία ομάδα δεν πάει καλά, φταίνε και οι παίκτες, και η διοίκηση. Έχουμε μπροστά μας πολλά παιχνίδια, δύσκολα. Παιχνίδια που πρέπει να κερδίσουμε. Θα πάμε να διεκδικήσουμε το καλύτερο, δεν είμαστε φαβορί. Πιστεύω πως κι εμείς οι παίκτες πρέπει να καταλάβουμε πια ότι η Εθνική ομάδα δεν είναι στο επίπεδο που ήταν πριν από 5,7,8,10 χρόνια. Και σε κάθε παιχνίδι να μπαίνουμε πάνω απ' όλα για να το χαιρόμαστε και να κατορθώνουμε να παίρνουμε το καλύτερο". Για τη μάχη του πρωταθλήματος: "Πιστεύω ότι ο ΠΑΟΚ δίκαια είναι πρώτος, δίκαια θα πάρει το πρωτάθλημα. Έχει την καλύτερη ομάδα, την πιο σταθερή. Έχει μία ομάδα που φαίνεται πεινασμένη σε σχέση με τις άλλες και μία ομάδα η οποία είναι δεμένη. Είναι 3-4 χρόνια μαζί, μικρές αλλαγές, πολύ καλή ομάδα".

Even though I'm the first to criticize the decisions coaches make at some point we need to be realistic and say if this doesn't work out this time we need to be honest and lay the blame on our players and lack of talent or care. We have gone through now 5 coaches I believe. For me this will come down to our players and the lack of playing time or the lack of conditioning or in plain black and white that they just are not good enough. I also believe if we fail to make it to the Euros we need to clean house and rebuild this team with all younger players. Other then Manolas and Socratis are our other players good enough? I mean fortounis does s%$#! for the NT and I think he is overrated, We have no high caliber midfielder in all of Greece ffs. This to me will dictate for sure if the dark ages are back as its getting closer to becoming a reality. Even though I will continue to bitch about coaching decisions that I don't agree with for me its now on the players no more blaming the coaches for not qualifying as I mentioned its time to look at our players.

The Lamprou not being called up is a mystery to me.. if you go down the list of call ups he deserve a call up over the majority of our guys.. Not sure what the thought process was behind not calling him up..

The problem right now guys we only have 3 or 4 guys at best which we consider our best players and garunteed starters and the rest are interchangeable as they have not cut it and have not produced and finding the right pieces to fit in with our best players has been a huge challenge.. This is the reason our team looks lost and doesn’t mesh together. No one has been able to step up and take a starting spot.. as far as injuries goes we are always injured this is nothing new for us as we never have a full line up.. other then Manolas tho the rest are not garunteed starters besides Toro and he’s getting up there as well..

I agree that you can’t overlook anyone and you need to take each team serious but In such a short qualifier this is not a “marathon” and one loss can make or break your tournament.. remember it’s a tournament not a season.. If we lose to Bosnia that can very well determine our fate.. You have no time to slip up in these short tournaments that’s why getting off to a strong start can make all the difference in the world..

Bakasetas and Mantolas better not see 5 minutes of playing time, These guys don't work for the NT, they don't even work for AEK. If we are going to change things up then we need to start fresh with new blood. Lets be honest our chances are slim at qualifying but lets hope we can see a competitive team in every game. We need to see what Masouras and Donis can do on the wing. Mitro as much as he pisses me off and looks lazy as hell can change the game with one touch that's why he is important to start. Samaris needs to start as he seems to be getting playing time and progressing. I think Zeca needs to start for his hustle. part of me feels like we will be a disaster and part of me feels like there is a chance we will figure it out... So confused... lol... Right now I believe Italy, Bosnia and Finland have a better chance then us to qualify.. lets see what happens as we are a week away...

In Greece’s case I don’t think they do, I only think the guys get something if they make it far in a tournament other wise they don’t get anything..

@Dean97 That's pretty much the line I would go with. I have a feeling the coach will change Siopis for Zeca. I also have a bad feeling they will replace Masouras with Mantolas or Bakasetas on the wing.

So based on what the call ups are what's everyone's best starting 11from who we called up?

I’m pretty sure Basinas had a big role in these call ups as well.. This is not what I expected at all.. unless this coaching staff sees something different I’m pretty pissed with these selections..

Not crazy about these call, some guys on here don’t deserve to be called up IMO. Also Bakasetas has been getting hammered by the AEK fans for his performance yet he deserves a call up? I would have called up Lamprou. Let’s see what starting line up is.

@Dean97 you don’t get paid for playing for your national team.. they look at it as more of an honour to put the jersey on which it is..

Bro I’ve been thinking the same thing, for some messed up reason I’m worried we are going to over look this game.. we have a horrible habit of giving these minnows points.. if we don’t get by this game with 3 points it doesn’t matter what we do against Bosnia our tourney is over.. they better come out and play this game like it’s a do or die as we are not a confident or good enough team right now to take these teams lightly..

I’m surprised only 10 days left until our first game and no mention of the players that are going to be called up..

This is an absolute joke..... No team wants the Ethniki to play in their stadium. No the people in Crete are refusing to let the team play there... This national team is a mess. https://www.agonasport.com/agonasport-allnews/larissa-eager-to-host-ethniki-omada

Not sure about any tv networks but I think Agonasport should carry them and you can order each game for $7.99.

Ange better not start an experimental line up in our first game thinking it will be a guaranteed win and save his better line up for Bosnia because we all saw what happened against the Faroe Islands when he did that.. He needs to go with our best line up to start the game and then if we are winning he can rest some guys.. Use the first game to build some chemistry with each other before you play Bosnia..

Should the call ups have not been announced by now? Does anyone know when the call ups are usually made?

I Agree, For me it all comes down to the first match against Bosnia the minimum we need is 1 point from that game and if somehow we can pull out a win even better. A lose here really will make it difficult for us to qualify. That's why Manolas would be a huge loss if he's not in for this game.

I think we play Bosnia on the 26th so maybe we will get lucky.. Fingers crossed..

Ya man sucks... https://www.agonasport.com/agonasport-allnews/manolas-expected-to-miss-upcoming-euro-qualifiers

Fantastic now Manolas out.. what a HUGE blow to the NT.. how the f...k do these guys stay healthy majority of the time but as soon as it gets close for the NT to start playing the injuries poor in.. This injury will hurt the most especially against Bosnia... This team is continuously behind the 8 ball to start every big game..

Man here come the injuries again.. I also read Manolas is injuried can anyone confirm this? I would have liked to see Staf healthy and in the line up as well as Toro to start the match.. No more injuries guys WTF... every single time right before the NT play the injuries rain down.. I also believe in preaching a system that all the guys buy into is almost as important as choosing the right players and that is on the coach to be clear on what identity this team wants to have.. we use to have the identity of an all out defensive team which people disagreed with but ever since our last World Cup we completely lost our identity and guys were confused about there roles.. to be honest this team looks lost and it looks like they struggle with what style they’re suppose to play and that falls on the coach.. Hopefully Ang can figure this out:.

The only thing I have read is that the entire coaching staff has been together this weekend and going over who they will be calling up it no players names have been mentioned as of yet...