Ellada2004

Poland Czech Republic North Ireland Gibraltar San Marino I wouldn't mind the over hype that is England. Also Austria from Pot 2. How is the Czeck Republic still a pot 2 team they have been in poor shape in the last few years.

J1078 my friend it sucks seeing Greece in pot 4 that's the thing that really annoys me. From Pot 1 I will take Poland and England all day compared to the other teams that have much more quality. Italy is struggling but I cant see them missing a 2nd major tournament in a row so I wouldn't want them but they would be my third choice. Lets just hope we avoid Germany from pot 2 and say Serbia from Pot 3 the other teams in that pot dont concern me that much. Skibbe with all his short falls got Greece to the playoffs in a difficult WCUP group and if not for injury to Manolas we would have been more competitive vs Croatia. Lets hope we have everyone healthy and have a good set up from the coach and we should be in the mix for 2nd spot. I cant wait for the draw.

Tough loss today 1-0 in Austria. Not a good week for Greek football.

I’m not a hockey guy but hockey is played by what 5 countries that excel at the sport, football is played all over the world. Brazil has won 5 of the first 17 World Cups and finished runner up two times as well. Pretty impressive.

Greece will be fine just had a run of bad luck. Not qualifying for the Euro 2016 was very tough since it was such an easy group that Greece were given and more teams could qualify that cycle. Missing the last WCUP sucked but a lot of people said that Bosnia would best us for 2nd spot and we knew Belgium was always going to top the group. Losing to Croatia in the playoff was a blow but they are a quality side that went all the way to the final. When a country has to qualify from Europe where there are many great footballing nations its going to be difficult especially for the World Cup. Its not like Greece is playing in CONCACAF vs totally weak teams and unlike Canada a country who cant qualify for a world cup for 32 years and has not even come close for 20 years that is disgraceful and worrisome. Greece will be back, the EPO, coach and coaches staff and most the players have to start getting better prepared for these upcoming matches starting in March.

Its tough times Dean, we have some good players like Manolas and Sokratis many countries would love to have that CB combo. Fortounis can be creative in attack and Mitroglou is a good finisher. There are some iffy selections like Bakasetas and Mantalos but even still with them in the lineup how do they not beat Estonia? Ive said it here after that CR loss at the WCUP we have had a bad run of luck and didn't help with the EPO hiring Ranieri who screwed things up in those first three games in Euro 2016 qualifying.

Ya man I know. I was talking with some Greek buddies of mine they cant believe we are in Pot 4, its embarrassing! With Karagounis and Katsouranis and Reghagel and Santos at the helm we had a 10 year run of winning matches most all be it 1-0 but we were winning and beating tough sides like Spain, Croatia etc and qualified for World Cups and Euros and now look how south everything has gone in the last 4 years. I will hope for the best draw and I will back the team and pray we can somehow grab 2nd place.

I was thinking God we could get France or Spain with Germany... That would end any chance of qualifying right away. Ideally I would want 1.Poland 2.Chzech, Austria or I will take even Iceland as they are in poor form lately 3.North Ireland, Norway, Israel (dont want to see Finland anymore) 4. Greece 5. Gibraltar 6. Andorra I pray to the Good Lord we get something like this...

Just looking at the pots I didn't realize Germany were in pot 2, crap I hope we don't end up with them. From Pot 1 I will gladly take poland. Pot 3 Israel and Bulgaria are good for us. Estonia are in pot 4 at least we won't have to face them lol.

Well said, we need someone to emerge a vocal leader like Karagounis was a guy who left it all on the field and used his footballing smarts as well. Ive been saying it since he retired and ever since Greece lost on pk to Costa Rica at 2014 World Cup it seems like everything has gone sour for us. Bringing in Ranieri at that time I just knew he would not be right fit for us but I never expected us to be bottom of a group that was so winnable if not 2nd place looked like a lock. I love watching the Ethniki more than watching club football I remember the 1994 World Cup it was amazing to qualify and watch the team in the USA. Then the Euro run being so excited once we got to the quarters beat Zidane and France and then stunned the Checks and watching that final vs Portugal and Charisteas when he scored I couldn't believe it was an incredible time! Zagorakis lifting the Euro trophy one of the best moments ever!

Listening to Nova sports FM one of the analyst is ripping coach Ange for starting lineup with a mid consisting of Samaris ,Bouchalakis, and Zeca. He also couldn't understand why he gave a 1st cap to Lambropoulos and not calling up an in form Kolouris for this game with Mitroglou out of action and starting Karelis. Basically saying the coach approached this game like a friendly and should have tried to play our best lineup to get 2nd place in the group. All good points. When I got in just before kick off and saw the starting lineup I was like what??

At the begining of this tournament if someone would have told me that we would finish 3rd in this group I never would have believed it. How can we lose Estonia at home? Im just at a loss for words

This was the Faroes Islands game all over again 28 attempts to 4 and no goals and Estonia scores on an OG. Unreal..

No more Mantalos and Bakasetas PLEASE!

GAMOTO!!!

This lineup is not working!

WTF how are we losing this game!!!

So its confirmed? My God how could Greece be lumped in with the likes of San Marino, Malta, etc. What a friging huge disaster this has turned into since the 2016 Euro qualifying. Dam the EPO for not replacing Santos with a suitable coach and bringing the likes of Ranieri and Skibbe!! Im so pissed, gamoto!!!

Jimmy, if that's the case we will be in a very tough situation. As a pot 3 team we were trying to avoid a difficult Pot 2 team for example Switzerland or Italy. Now if we are in pot 4 we would have to avoid a good pot 3 team as well for example say Serbia who have played well over the last few years and qualified for the World Cup.

That's right La Mendel Skibbe totally messed everything up in that Finland game. A game where I believe Greece should have at least been able to pick up a draw and would have stayed close to Finland for top spot. The EPO should have fired him before the start of this tournament!

What is wrong with mitro?

Turkey have fallen of the map, they wont qualify for any tournament for along while. That's why they have been pushing so hard to host the Euro with multiple bids failing.

If we are in Pot 4 I will be extremely nervous for the draw.

In the Agonasports article it says we need to just secure 2nd place in the group to stay as a pot 3 team?

I hope I am wrong but Greece may never produce superstar offensive talents the likes of Ronaldo, Messi, Neymar, Mbappe, etc. Greece due produce excellent defenders the likes of Manolas and Sokratis and Dellas back in the day. We had a great system in 2004 and we took down offensive titans like Portugal with Ronaldo, Figo, Deco, Pauleta, France with Zidane & Henry, Chzech Republic with Nedved, Koller, Baros etc. We need to play to our strength which is a strong focus first on defensive football and playing the best possible 11 at our disposal and also to stop playing players out of position. Greece certainly have a good pool of talent to draw from so that should not be an issue.