J1078 Posted October 14, 2017 Posted October 14, 2017 Looks like Fifa.com will live stream the draw. The draw will take place in Zurich on Tuesday 17 October and will be live streamed (14.00 local time) on FIFA.com, YouTube and Facebook. At the draw, the eight participating teams will discover which nation stands between them and a place at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Eight teams will compete in Round 2 of UEFA’s qualifiers for Russia 2018 and these home-and-away play-offs will determine the remaining four sides that will represent their continent on the global stage next year. 2
Rockafeller Skank Posted October 14, 2017 Posted October 14, 2017 (edited) Some Free Time today and I watched the Highlight videos of our games vs the Bosnians and the Belgians in this campaign. I remember many people claming us being lucky with them and being outplayed twice by them, despite tying them twice. During the qualifiers I did believe it but now that everything is settled I clearly see no better team in both matches vs the Bosnians being Bosnia. If someone has to "take" the best looking one title it should be us in both legs. The only game I found us inferior to any opponent was vs Belgium at Brussels. We re 2nd deserved and we should be feared by most seeded teams because we are unpredictable. Edited October 14, 2017 by Rockafeller Skank
Ellada2004 Posted October 14, 2017 Posted October 14, 2017 2 key moments of the campaign was Tzavellas fantastic volley goal to steal a point from Bosnia. Also getting a draw in hostile Belgium were they Belgians beat everyone convincingly in recent years as they did to Bosnia 4- 0. I remember before that game speaking to Greeks and non Greeks and lots of them were saying Belgium would beat us by a few goals no problem. I always thought we could pull out a draw if the team defended, stayed focused and frustrated the talented Belgians which they did and were a few minutes away from a famous victory. If the team play like they did in that match or as they did in Athens we should be able to get by any of the 4 of the seeded countries. Go ELLAS!
Boxou Posted October 15, 2017 Posted October 15, 2017 looks like manolas got injured yesterday and probably will miss the playoff games.
Limnos77 Posted October 15, 2017 Posted October 15, 2017 He hasn't even had the scans to see the extent of the injury yet. You can't say he will probably miss the playoffs at this stage
J1078 Posted October 15, 2017 Posted October 15, 2017 4 hours ago, Boxou said: looks like manolas got injured yesterday and probably will miss the playoff games. oh man what a huge blow to the team.... F*** 1
J1078 Posted October 15, 2017 Posted October 15, 2017 Yup Manolas doubtful for the playoffs... http://www.sport24.gr/football/EllinesExoterikou/apoxwrhse-koytsainontas-apo-to-olimpiko-o-manwlas.4891524.html
ausgreek Posted October 15, 2017 Posted October 15, 2017 A blow for the Pirates, a very good CB. Not a match winner by any stretch, KPaps can come in, do a job, get a yellow card in each of the two matches and Manolas will be back after these two matches anyway, as Kyriako then gets to sit out. It's time Skibbe carries a back up RB in Bakakis for Toro as he has slowed up abit.
J1078 Posted October 15, 2017 Posted October 15, 2017 ^Agreed Skibbe definitely needs carry a back up for Toro. kpaps can do a good job but by not having Manolas I think would lower our chances of advancing... I just think he's that important to this team.. Lets hope whatever the injury is that he somehow recovers in time which looks doubtful right now..
ausgreek Posted October 15, 2017 Posted October 15, 2017 J man, I get the hype on Manolas, at a big club sure. He plays like he has another gear up his sleeve but doesn't use it. It is something he has to get back-passion. He is no Sokratis these days. 1
Rockafeller Skank Posted October 15, 2017 Posted October 15, 2017 Nah Kyriakos is a good CB bust Manolas is a top tier one. It's gonna make a difference if we play vs Croatia and Italy. The others are not so scary
J1078 Posted October 15, 2017 Posted October 15, 2017 2 hours ago, Rockafeller Skank said: Nah Kyriakos is a good CB bust Manolas is a top tier one. It's gonna make a difference if we play vs Croatia and Italy. The others are not so scary Agree Kpaps is good but not on Manolas level.. I think his absence will really dent our chances.. let's pray he makes it back as we can't afford to lose any of our top defenders as that's what this team is built around..
Boxou Posted October 15, 2017 Posted October 15, 2017 it will be a huge miss but definitely not to the level of mitroglou for example where his back ups are 2nd league players!!!!! (especially with karelis being out) 1
Boxou Posted October 15, 2017 Posted October 15, 2017 going on to the next campaign that's the squad i'd like to be around for the most part. karnezis, kapino, vlachodimos torosidis, retsos sokratis, papadopoulos manolas, siovas stafylidis, lykogiannis samaris, tachtsidis, charisis zeca, kourmpelis, siopis fortounis, pelkas donis, lazaros mantalos, mpakasetas mitroglou, karelis i know this is not possible judging from what skibbe has shown us so far.
Ellada2004 Posted October 15, 2017 Posted October 15, 2017 5 hours ago, J1078 said: Yup Manolas doubtful for the playoffs... http://www.sport24.gr/football/EllinesExoterikou/apoxwrhse-koytsainontas-apo-to-olimpiko-o-manwlas.4891524.html Crap! We need him to recover quick. Guys need to be extra cautious in there club fixtures.Can't have anymore injuries wayyy too much on the line.
Boxou Posted October 15, 2017 Posted October 15, 2017 he'll keep calling up and starting washed up ex-player tziolis as well as 2nd league players with no playing time such as vellios or diamantakos, gianniotas etc. ofc we shouldn't forget the amazing tzavellas and maniatis duo especially the first who is starting over a premier league defender.
Ellada2004 Posted October 15, 2017 Posted October 15, 2017 You guys think he Manolas will be back for playoffs? What's goingon with Karelis?
J1078 Posted October 15, 2017 Posted October 15, 2017 36 minutes ago, Ellada2004 said: You guys think he Manolas will be back for playoffs? What's goingon with Karelis? To soon to tell about Manolas as they still need to do the scan to see what she wrong.. 1
J1078 Posted October 15, 2017 Posted October 15, 2017 (edited) Looks like Skibbe wants to stay and has told the Epo but they want to wait to see if he makes the World Cup before they commit to him.. The Epo has also noted they haven't been big fans of his call ups.. http://www.agonasport.com/agonasport-allnews/skibbe-wants-to-stay-epo-waiting-for-playoffs Edited October 15, 2017 by J1078 1
trotsk13 Posted October 15, 2017 Posted October 15, 2017 Thigh strain for Manolas. Doesn't seem overly serious, right? http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-4982966/Roma-face-injury-crisis-ahead-clash-Chelsea.html
nick Posted October 15, 2017 Posted October 15, 2017 Is Karelis close to a return? Other striker options wouldn’t even start for Canada
Dean97 Posted October 16, 2017 Posted October 16, 2017 (edited) No one knows o think he is training slowly with his team Genk but I'm not sure if he will be ready for November. 8 hours ago, Boxou said: going on to the next campaign that's the squad i'd like to be around for the most part. karnezis, kapino, vlachodimos torosidis, retsos sokratis, papadopoulos manolas, siovas stafylidis, lykogiannis samaris, tachtsidis, charisis zeca, kourmpelis, siopis fortounis, pelkas donis, lazaros mantalos, mpakasetas mitroglou, karelis i know this is not possible judging from what skibbe has shown us so far. It goes to show how limited we are at the forward positions. Mitroglou is really our only option. I don't if Kourbelis, Siopis or Charisis are capable of lifting the team from the midfield. I believe Samaris and Tachtsidis are our only options. Also Zeca. I'd like to see Bouchalakis have a chance. What does Charisis bring to the table? I hear some good and bad about him. What are his best attributes? I don't know if leaving out Maniatis and Tzavellas is a good idea. Maniatis is a workhorse and Tzavellas takes good set pieces. They are also more experienced. Pelkas would be a good addition. I don't know why you left out Gianniotas. You must of forgot him. Donis and Lazaros our best wingers. Gianniotas is not far behind. Diamantakos, Vellios and Tziolis are not needed which is obvious. Overall that's a good team set up. I'd like to see Karelis back. Donis needs to start. As he has replaced the dynamic duo of Fetfatzidis and Ninis. I'd like to see Holebas back in the team, but I'd rather Stafylidis because he can over take him and he is proving to be a weapon for us. Edited October 16, 2017 by Dean97
trotsk13 Posted October 16, 2017 Posted October 16, 2017 Looks like we dodged a bullet. Manolas only expected to be sidelined a week: https://extratimetalk.com/kostas-manolas-thigh-injury/
ausgreek Posted October 16, 2017 Posted October 16, 2017 13 hours ago, Boxou said: wH donis, lazaros mantalos, mpakasetas mitroglou, karelis i know this is not possible judging from what skibbe has shown us so far. WHAT! No Tziolaris??..!! Are u nuts, our prolific header into goal?? I will again read your squad incase I missed him.
paokarag4 Posted October 16, 2017 Posted October 16, 2017 Fifa rankings released, as expected officially seeded for the playoff draw: Switzerland, Italy, Croatia and Denmark. Unseeded: Sweden, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and Greece.
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