HellasLEAF

JJ should come to the NT. Forget England and Cyprus. JJ can honor Cyprus on the pitch for Greece! I read it was their camp that reached out to EPO? I really don't know though..

Player ratings: Tzolakis - 10/10 - I'm not sure what else we can ask of him in this clean sheet. Looked commanding in the air, calm, never made one mistake, and was also top quality when he had the ball on his foot with great passes and skill. He was world class today. Saliakas - 8.5/10 - Very impressed with him. Showing big confidence good defensively. Mavropanos - 8/10 - Playing his best football for us. Kouleirakis - 9/10 - A big statement game in this return. Tsimikas - 7/10 - Good, but limited Masouras - 6/10 - A fit and athletic player but average abilities. Should be an impact sub not starting. Kourbelis - 6/10 - Did his job. Zafeiris - 8/10 - Excellent game. Was all over the pitch. Kyziridis - 9/10 - Impressed me. Great performance. Pavlidis - 7.5/10 - Decent job Ioannidis - 9/10 - His best match for the NT by some margin. He was right up for it stepped up justifying selection. Karetsas - 8/10 - Looked very good with the ball and defensively as well. Kostoulas - 8/10 - Looked threatening

The German team they brought to Greece was very good actually much improved lots of talent controlling play. We just handled them well and are not giving enough credit really to how we kept them to the outside and blocked lanes. I can barely remember a big tough chance for Tzolakis. We held firm and did not break and in truth should have found a way to pip it 1 - 0 missed opportunity imo for another win and top of group.

The team showed the grit and the fight of the '04 team today. Very proud of that. Contained the German handily actually. A healthier team and some things we can do better and it's a win today. Great things are happening with this team.

Big wake up call. We are defending well but it won't be enough.

I hope for the win but worst case we draw them and do not lose. Tzolis is a big loss and Karetsas not on the pitch we are not the quite the same. Hope the lads step up. PAME!

They will be coming for us desperate for the 3 points and to save face this window. I'm sure a german fan contingent will be there for the nice weather they love Greece.

^^ I agree Tzolis was a huge loss actually we don't have many quite like him on the flank.

When Holland got serious we really didn't match their level. This is something that the players have to mature and improve as they play more at their new clubs higher level. For me I'm so impressed at the way they came out started in front of the home fans. This was very positive.

The full 3 points was almost too good to be true. Slightly disappointing of course but we are sitting in a great position by not losing to them. For me this is about securing Pot 1 and raising rank.

This will be a long 20 min unless we score.

Holland are quality. It was almost dreamland sitting 2 - 0. They will come at us. We need the 3rd goal.

These are actually the matches that worry me more. I was happy to start on the road with the pressure off the younger team to perform. Now they come back home with big expectations. Just like last time with Denmark and Scotland. They were poor, nervous and overwhelmed in both matches. This will be the big test.

What a massive 3 points to kick us off. It really says something that they kept fighting to the end for deserved victory.

What an incredible start to the new campaign. All the hype around the new younger NT players and we rip off 2 straight wins, and finally we beat Germany. That's a statement win. I like the spirit in the team which is also a huge positive. So happy right now we are back. Pot 1 looking good for Euros. We won't need a playoff this time. All aboard to neo Piratiko!

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.

Yes we are much improved, and there are in fact a number of good young players in the mix right now which is positive. Perhaps I was being overly negative in the display but in truth I was referring to a midfield player who can create and unlock defences for our strikers. Yes a maestro. Smaller nations have produced better players in this position. To get the ball to our forwards and to take the ball and calm the play down. Too often we are overrun in the midfield there is not enough presence there at the moment. Hopefully Karetsas and others can show in the coming Nations League and Euro Qualifying.

We can fire Ivan we can do a lot of things but we have no midfield. We have nobody in the midfield to control the game and or distribute. Greece needs to revert back to defensive tactics and set piece play because they can't hang with anyone on the pitch right now. Don't see anyone in the pipeline either. Discouraging that Greece cannot produce these players. A Tsiartas or Zagorakis would really help the squad right now. Even Fortounis.

We have no maestro in the middle to create. Someone of Karetsas quality is missed.

If we can improve on Ivan we should and fire him. I doubt that happens though. Greece is not that much better than Denmark or Scotland imo and didn't deserve to be in WC. Thin at the back (if we are talking potential elite players) and in the center midfield. It's most promising players still young. Greece moving through the Nations League C and B ranks is not that great an achievement they have a lot to prove if they are to qualify for Euro in 2 years or else will be on the sidelines again.

Italy friendly is rare.

Both of the new kits are gorgeous. Clean and classy looks. Definitely nice moving back to adidas!

So he (Ivan) is staying on for Euro Cup Quallfying and Nations League then? Or is this still to be determined.

Germany - W @ Germany - L Netherlands - W @Netherlands - L Serbia - W @Serbia - D 10 Points. I know how that looks but that's my prediction.

I really hope they use these games and this time to vet some players because they need to prepare for the Nations League and the Euro Cup qualifiers.