Ellada2004

It's just sad to see us miss the World Cup and will sting once the draw is held and in the coming months before the tournament kicks of in Russia. Croatia is a talented team but not a powerhouse like Germany, Spain or even Belgium whom we battled very hard. So to go out 4-1 and look totally unprepared in Zagreb with our solid defense looking in shambles is hard to swallow. Skibbe and I like him personally and during the campaign had done a fairly well in some matches, but what was he thinking during the first leg starting Maniatis who could not keep up and going with 3 at the back and the team looked so confused. Throw in Tziolis and Samaris and a rusty Karnezis who had not played much recently up until the week before in Watford were he made another horrible mistake coming out of his net for a ball not getting there and getting beat for a goal. Then he sets us up to play for a draw in Greece when we need goals or we are OUT of the World cup? Most of his call ups and selections were wrong a long with his tactics. The only thing out of his control was the ridiculous suspension of Manolas, but there is no way we should allow Croatia 4 goals in one match they had scored less goals in qualifying than us.

We are missing those kind of players in the midfield who can command the game, play with heart and lead a team on the field unlike our current crop of Tziolis, Samaris, Tactsidis, etc. As for Santos like him or not (and he's not perfect) he had an incredible record during his tenure along with making the Euro last 8 and round of 16 at the World Cup. Just qualifying for a tournament now would be considered a huge achievement were as not to long ago it was pretty much a given.

All good points I watched the match again that should have been a penalty but we are Greece and we will not get those calls.Kuipers was never going to do us any favors, he did not give us a few free kicks and an obvious deliberate hand ball on Strinic should have been a yellow. Toro was ready to go at him. Our crosses were pathetic too from Toro just blasting the ball out of play and Lazaros on an early Free kick in a dangerous area he hits it low at the first defender. Corner kicks were not good either but then again you have Skibbe leaving Fortounis off? What a debactle.

Don't have anything against Iceland but they are not a traditional footballing nation. They were sub par for years but I give them credit for getting there. Countries like Panama, morroco, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia are in? How painful it will be watching one of them play. Hopefully we get our s%$#! together an start qualifying for tournaments as we use to do on a regular basis. Ever since our excellent performance at 2014 World Cup and losing on pks to Costa Rica its all gone sideways for us. Plus throw in the departure of Santos and Karagounis and Katsouranis and now we can't make 2 successive tournaments. So tough to swallow.

I agree with you J1078, in the two biggest games he will ever coach for the NT he got the lineup and his tactics wrong. The first game in Croatia he should have set us up as he did in Belgium very tight at the back. Belgium were in clear frustration the whole match until they finally scored late.That game he made better subs calling on Zeca in his debut and he came in and ran with the Belgians. The 2nd leg in Athens we need to score 3 goals and the lineup that he went with was as if we were up 3 goals and we showed no urgency to attack a Croatian side that was sitting back and inviting us to attack. Playing Tziolis and Samaris who can't make simple passes and screw up our attack when they have the ball in the last third is mind boggling. As for Skibbe if he doesn't stay on it opens the door for Holebas to possibly return to the fold, which is a huge upgrade.

I agree Iceland players have a high work rate similar to our team 2014 edition, we are similar in that way.

I wanted Denmark so badly, did not want Italy because of there history of making almost every WorldCup and I was worried about FIFA screwing us. Then again FIFA still ended up screwing us.

Maybe it would have been better if we had drawn Italy instead? after watching them play the playoff games were they did not score and even before that in qualifying were they struggled vs some of the weak sides in there group.

Just awful managing from Skibbe, he set us up as if we were up 4-1 in the tie. He's to blame to large degree as are the players who made outrageous errors in the 1st leg, and FIFA played a hand in our elimination. Those scum bags.

Italy out of the World Cup!

How the heck does Iceland qualify for World Cup a country of 340000 people,besting Croatia in there group? They have no big name players they play hard but when you look at our roster compared to there's we are far more talented. Also Morroco, Sengal, Panama World Cup bound and we are not just pathetic!

It’s going to be really hard when it’s on next summer. Even the drawing of the groups on December 1 will be tough to watch.

Manolas is world class as we saw today, him missing the first game by the corrupt FIFA cost us a few goals no way Croatia would get 4. I love Toro but today he could not deliver a cross, no one could really. Mitroglou was shaky his touch was heavy and a few times he had an open player making a run and he could not layoff a simple pass. Very surprising to see him struggle like that.

When will the EPO ever schedule a friendly match to work in players and tactics? You know like most other foorballing countries do.

How can Skibbe start Tziolis in a world cup playoff, who offers Nothing? This is not a friendly match. He starts Bakasetas who has no touch on the ball. He also sits Fortounis the guy who can deliver free kicks and Corners as we saw on our only goal in the Tie when he swung it in to Sokratis for the header. EPO can you PLEASE find a coach who has a clue on how to set up a team and play the best inform players and find a coach who doesnt play his pals, this isn't a Rec team this is a NT with the opportunity to play for the World Cup. ENOUGH ALREADY

this sucks we have to wait until 2020 now? Dam it! We need leaders,men to lead and play like warriors like Karagounis and Katsouranis were for the Ethniki. Sokratis, Manolas and Zeca today only showed that fight. If we don't have these players we will be watching another tournament again from home!

I am so disappointed no world cup, we looked like fringing Canada! Just pathetic inexcusable. Now we have to wait until 2020. Fire SKIBBE Now!

Ya I forgot Samaras, in qualifying they always go against us.

When do we ever get a penalty!

Bakasetas and Tziolis shouldn't even play in friendlies...

Yes

How's Fortounis off when he's our best delivery of a free kick? Wtf

Screw Kuipers and FIFA

Croatia playing Anti Football! We had to bag a goal

Fortounis is on the bench. Even The commentators here can’t understand it.