Euro 2024 Group B - Greece - Netherlands (16 Oct. 2023 21:45 EET, Opap Arena, Athens)

[Dutch Eagle]

Another crucial game (at this moment). If Ireland is beaten, the Ethniki better win with a minimum of three goals difference. Otherwise it depends on gifts from France in the last match. 

[Alphonse]

No chance of 3 goal differece, if we beat Ireland then lets just beat Holland and hope they drop points but its a big as just to win at this stage

[Ellada2004]

That horrible first half ruined our head to head chances with the Dutch. If only we could have just lost by just a goal. Greece can beat Ireland. It won’t be easy but we have more quality and will be more organized with Mavropanos & Baldock. Need France to get a result vs Holland and then beat them in Athens. Who knows maybe the final game vs France could mean something? At this point though it looks like Greece will be playing in the playoffs. 

[PaokCT]

I think that result vs Netherlands has already began to play into the mind of our coaching staff and players. In terms of, I think we are already focusing on the playoff opponents. Ireland, in Ireland, will be tough. I just don't see us winning that game. Netherlands will come here and want to solidify 2nd place so that will be tough as well. I just see us getting 1 point between the 2 games. 

[Alphonse]

This is the Ethnikis biggest game since Spain in Athens (0-1), lets hope what every line up Poyet comes up with they have the game of their life. 

I really hope no Pelkas, I think, and it wont happen but for a game like this, you need one of our quicker midfielders in the middle, Galanopoulos would be good

[Antaeus7]

Greece has never defeated Netherlands at home and they never scored a goal. This has to change quickly as Greece trying to write history. A win here and Greece chance of qualifying automatically for EURO 2024 increases greatly. Not yet clinching it since Netherlands does have a match to make up while Greece gets the day off in late November. I honestly don't see Netherlands drop points at home to Ireland. 

Edited October 15, 2023 by Antaeus7

[J1078]

Not trying to jump ahead at all as the game against the Netherlands is going to be a huge task.

Let’s say we somehow pull off a win then we would need a draw against France to guarantee second. If we lose against France, The Netherlands is going to have to drop points against Ireland.. If we draw against Netherlands then we would have to beat France and hope Netherlands doesn’t beat Ireland..

[paokarag4]

Yep, a win is the only result that gives a shot at direct qualification. Hoping for the Dutch to drop points against the Irish who have been bang average this qualifying campaign isn't realistic. 

I expect the boys to be up for this game there is so much on the line, plus the added fact that the Dutch game was our worst performance of the Poyet era.

The Dutch are better technically and are probably faster and stronger than us so the lads are going to need be switched on from the start and be super focused. Playing smart and fighting hard for every ball, 2nd and 3rd ball is the way we match it with them. 

Interested to see if Poyet sticks with Mantalos as an 8 for this game as he did against the Irish. The Kourbelis-Siopis-Bakasetas midfield was blown away in Eindhoven so I wonder if Poyet will rejig the look of our midfield three. FWIW I think Mantalos should only play central if he does start, not out on the left as he did in Holland.

Otherwise you think the starting 11 will be the more or less the same as in Dublin. Giakoumakis will start considering he scored a few days ago and he probably is physically our best chance to match it with Van Dijk. 

 

[Dutch Eagle]

Squad for today:

Βλαχοδήμος, Πασχαλάκης, Διούδης, Ρέτσος, Κουλιεράκης, Μαυροπάνος, Ρότα, Γούτας, Τσιμίκας, Γιαννούλης, Μπουχαλάκης, Κουρμπέλης, Πέλκας, Μπακασέτας, Κωνσταντέλιας, Μάνταλος, Σιώπης, Μασούρας, Ιωαννίδης, Παυλίδης, Φούντας, Χατζηγιοβάνης, Γιακουμάκης.

Left out of the squad:

Σάλιακας,Τζαβέλλας, Γαλανόπουλος

[Omonoia9]

GREECE

 

1 Vlachodimos(GK)

15 Rota

4 Mavropanos

2 Retsos

3 Koulierakis

11 Bakasetas(Captain)

6 Kourbelis

20 Mantalos

7 Masouras

21 Tsimikas

8 Ioannidis

 

BENCH

 

12 Paschalakis(GK)

13 Dioudis(GK)

5 Bouchalakis

9 Pavlidis

10 Pelkas

14 Fountas

16 Chatzigiovanis

17 Konstantelias

18 Goutas

19 Giakoumakis

22 Giannoulis

23 Siopis

 

Manager: Gustavo Poyet(URU)

[Omonoia9]

NETHERLANDS

 

1 Verbruggen(GK)

5 Ake

4 Van Dijk(Captain)

2 Geertruida

12 Hartman

14 Reijnders

8 Wieffer

22 Dumfries

7 Bergwijn

10 Simons

9 Weghorst

 

BENCH

 

13 Olij(GK)

22 Noppert(GK)

3 van de Ven

6 De Vrij

11 Stengs

15 De Roon

16 Veerman

17 Blind

18 Malen

19 Brobbey

20 Maatsen

21 Frimpong

 

Manager: Ronald Koeman(NED)

[J1078]

Why is Giakoumakis Not starting?? This makes no sense..

[PaokCT]

Switching to a 3-4-2-1 in the biggest game in his short tenure is interesting! Not saying it will or won't work but lets just see how it pans out. I do like the idea of switching things up to match Netherlands.

[Brklyngrk]

Instead of the 4-3-3 formation Greece coach Poyet started with in Dublin, he goes for a 3-4-2-1 tonight to mirror the tactics of the Netherlands. Koulierakis is the additional centre-back, while Rota and Tsimikas are out wide.

[AEK RE GAMOTO]

I don't know about you guys but its been quite a few years since I have felt hopeful, super nervous, confident, and dreadful all at once the way I do right now LOL.

 

PAME ELADARRRRRAAAAA!!!

Edited October 16, 2023 by AEK RE GAMOTO

[PaokCT]

Games like this, we always seem to get a red card early or a blunder that leads to a goal. Too much excitement and nerves have not done us well over the past 10 years.

[J1078]

First time we are playing in a sold out stadium in years. This would be huge if we can win in front of the fans and get them to start coming back regularly..

[kolokotronis99tripoli]

PAME RE PALIKARIA THOS TA OLA!!!!!

[Blackhawk]

Win would be great, but I am not that hopeful. I don't see the Dutch going on a full attack mode. After all a tie is almost like a win for them. We will need to be patient and not make any mistakes early on.

[kolokotronis99tripoli]

They have a lot of injuries so the team may not be in sync but we also have a brand new line up lol. Shout out to the PAOK youngster with the start tho ! 

[Dutch Eagle]

The pitch is awful.

[Ellada2004]

Let’s Go Greece!!

[Brklyngrk]

Three corners in a row for the Dutch...

[J1078]

Come on man F*** off

[PaokCT]

PK for dutch