La Mendel

We are a little nervous. Fantastic save by Karnezis.

sorry for double post.

try here: http://www.day.to/

We have got to win this match. Go Ellada! :gr:

Why, sure. Maniatis and K. Papadopoulos are injured.

I spoke about the (say) 2009-2012 period. As for the mentioned players, I would even now choose Karagounis over Vellios or Koutsianikoulis. Ninis is a borderline case, of course, if he is in good form, he can be useful to the team. Tachtsidis is a very capable and useful player but I didnt say I dont want him so WTF d'ya want?

In fact, our midfield never featured these players in the big tournaments (Tziolis wasnt in the squad in 2012, in the WC he didnt play), and only rarely in the last two years of Santos' reign. The last time when both Katsouranis and Karagounis were in the starting 11 was possibly the match against Russia (Euro 2012). Santos usually played three midfielders, one of whom was many times Maniatis. Charisteas played in the first match of Santos against Serbia. Later he scored a goal against Georgia in our last preliminary match. Kafes was selected and played by Santos in 2010 in several qualifying matches but then he wasnt called up any more.

We can still qualify if we win. It would be best if at the same time Finland would beat Hungary.

This should be written on the wall in your homes. It can be modified ad libitum: Rehhagel/Santos/Karagounis/Katsouranis is to blame.

You are right in every way but one. Practically we had already our brand of soccer back against Hungary. The team played fairly well (after the Ranieri affair), if only Klaus would have been able to find the net.

That isnt true. His successor only should have continued his work, he didnt sacrifice the future. His starting XI and tactics should have only slightly modified and developed (just as Santos developed the Rehhagel team). Salpingidis should have been replaced by Fetfatzidis in the starting eleven, and Katsouranis should have been used as a sub after WC, that would have given a team like this: Karnezis - Torosidis, Manolas, Papastathopoulos, Holebas - Kone, Maniatis, Samaris - Fetfatzidis, Mitroglou, Samaras. (Most probably these alternations would have been effected by Santos himself if he would have stayed - remember that after Euro 2012 Karagounis and Gekas became backup players.) He gave opportunity for youngsters too (Manolas, Tzavellas, Fetfatzidis, Samaris, Christodoulopoulos, Siovas, Mitroglou, Tachtsidis).

Rubbish. Almost all of the players well over 30 were eventually left out by Santos (Charisteas, Kafes etc. etc.). After Euro 2012 Karagounis were used mainly as a sub (he and Katsouranis rarely were on the pitch at the same time). In the World Cup there were only 6 players in the squad who were over 30 - Karagounis, Katsouranis, Salpingidis, Gekas, Vyntra, Moras. The last two didnt play at all, Gekas was used mainly because of Mitroglous lesser form after his injury, Salpingidis was in the starting 11, and Karagounis or Katsouranis too. That means only two and a half player was over thirty in the starting eleven in the WC - so much for the statement Santos played a lot of old players. Ranieri didnt understand Greek football at all and was possibly in the pocket of the owner of AEK (call-ups of Mantalos & Bakakis), he was the reason the production of the team was crap after the World Cup.

It was even then inexplicable that somebody wanted him to retire from international football... and who would have they wanted to play? Ninis, Vellios, Koutsianikoulis etc.

Still, it is fairly surprising to me. I thought everybody acknowledges his capacity and tenacity. People are bashing him because of his alleged influence over the head coach. If for example Tavlaridis was called up because he is a friend of Karagounis, then why wasnt he in the squad for many years? I understood Santos was a puppet of Karagounis and Katsouranis, and Rehhagel was also controlled by certain players (perhaps we can mention Katsouranis here). Vyntra and Tziolis, two other "friends" of Karagounis and Katsouranis were left out of the team at Euro 2012 by the - as you said - puppet Santos, and in WC 2014 they didnt play a single minute. It is quite incomprehensible, on the basis of what you folks say.

I cant understand this... are there now Karagounis haters too? I thought the evil Katsouranis is to blame for everything (loss against Romania, NI, the Faroe Islands, hopeless production of the team etc. etc.). The main man between 2004 and 2008 was of course not Karagounis but Basinas who was a very able player, he was among the best at Euro 2008 (the other two were Karagounis and Charisteas). Karagounis' contribution on the pitch was very important for more than ten years, with him Greece achieved successes as never before (Euro 2004 + quarter finals in 2012; second round at the WC in 2014 etc. etc.). It is quite inexplicable that now some of you are questioning his past production because of your idiotic notions that Karagounis directs Markari?n. We dont even know why was Holebas left out now but there are people who are quite sure that it happened because of Karagounis.

Oh no... is Karnezis injured indeed? A fairly big loss, our other keepers are not on the same level, and they didnt play regularly in the season. Kapino played very rarely, and Glykos was used as a backup of Itandje. I think however Markari?n will choose Kapino if Karnezis isnt available (Glykos wast even in the squad in March).

I would be content with a 1-0 for Greece.

It would be great if he would come back to some European club that plays in the Champions League (Sporting will be probably third in the current season so they will have to play in the qualification play-off). Celtic was the same sort of club too.

I am not SammyPAOK, I think I have said that before. Nor Athanasiadis nor Vellios is right now able to play on the national team level. Perhaps it is too early to call up Karelis too, but we have many injured or out of from attackers otherwise (Salpingidis didnt play for PAOK in the last x weeks, Gekas is a free agent, Samaras... I dont know if he is fit and/or in-form). Perhaps D. Papadopoulos or even Kapetanos could manage it against Faroe Islands but I dont think they will be called up by Markari?n. Probably we will see (besides Mitroglou) Gianniotas, Karelis, Athanasiadis and perhaps some other striker in the squad.

Mitroglou is our best forward. He scored three times in the last 3 matches, he should be start against Faroe Islands. Karelis can be useful in the course of time too, he is more promising than Athanasiadis, and much more promising than players like Aravidis, Vellios or Mantalos.

He was released by Akhisar on 4 May (source: transfermarkt page). Hopefully he can still play for a first-tier club in the next season too.

We have still some hope that we can qualify. We can reach the play-off...

Good luck to him and his team for the playoff.

We should have beaten FI/Finland/we shouldnt have lost vs N Ireland with a team like this: Tzorvas - Vyntra, Malezas, Avraam, Spyropoulos - Tziolis, Katsouranis, Fotakis - Kapetanos, Gekas, D. Papadopoulos. With a competent head coach and fairly good tactics, of course.

Wotjesoy? Kone was there versus Faroe Islands, so was Lazaros. (Unfortunately Mantalos, Mavrias and Klaus too. From these waited Ranieri to save the day.) They were there against Romania too. As for Tziolis, he didnt play a single minute in autumn.