Future Prospects for the Ethniki

[Dutch Eagle]

With "the case" of Christos Zafeiris in mind I thought it is interesting to see if there are other lads in the Greek diaspora that might be good enough to represent Greece.

Morocco is the perfect example of recruiting lots of youngsters from France, Belgium and the Netherlands.

There is Konstantinos Karetsas of Racing Genk as you all know.

In the Netherlands there is Dimitris Rallis, 19 y.o. and playing for Heerenveen (former club of Samaras!). At the sites it says he is Dutch. But his name sounds.... yep.

Are there others around the globe?

Share your thoughts or even better ..... names.

[paokarag4]

And Rallis scored overnight in his first start for Heerenveen, with a great strike! 

 
 

[PaokCT]

Really need to start looking at USA as well. Tons of Greek-Americans are playing collegiately at high D1 levels that eventually can make a move to Greece and the NT. 

[Dean97]

On 9/28/2024 at 6:07 AM, Dutch Eagle said:

With "the case" of Christos Zafeiris in mind I thought it is interesting to see if there are other lads in the Greek diaspora that might be good enough to represent Greece.

Morocco is the perfect example of recruiting lots of youngsters from France, Belgium and the Netherlands.

There is Konstantinos Karetsas of Racing Genk as you all know.

In the Netherlands there is Dimitris Rallis, 19 y.o. and playing for Heerenveen (former club of Samaras!). At the sites it says he is Dutch. But his name sounds.... yep.

Are there others around the globe?

Share your thoughts or even better ..... names.

We should get Karetsas. Great option to have on the wing and CAM. He can score goals too. 

There’s a player named Antonis Papadopoulos who has German citizenship at the moment. Don’t think he is the answer but he plays CB and CDM. He could provide good cover when needed. We lack a physical number 6 and he seems physically strong and a great tackler. Played at Dortmund (mostly for the 2nd team). He now plays at Lugano in Switzerland 1st division. He plays regularly according to transfer market. 

Just an another option I guess. By the way, you created a great topic. 👍

[Dutch Eagle]

And Papadopoulos scored the 1-0 in the 3-0 victory over HJK Helsinki in the Conference League today!

[HellasLEAF]

I really want Karetsas to join the fold.  More for future but we cannot have enough talent at that position which typically we have been thin at. 

[paokarag4]

Rallis scored again over the weekend. 

 

 

[Dean97]

📰 Genk midfielder Konstantinos Karetsas has started the process to obtain a Greek passport & will decide soon whether he represents Greece or Belgium. Heerenveen striker Dimitris Rallis is also considering his options 🇬🇷

(@sport24)

#Greece #Ethniki

This is from the Hellas football page. Good news so far. 👍

[HellasLEAF]

They are en route lol.  HELLAS!!

[Dutch Eagle]

Another one decided to join Greece: Dimitris Rallis will represent Greece's Elpidon (but that does not mean he is chained to Greece yet): 

https://inpaok.com/842176/epelexe-tin-ethniki-elladas-o-rallis/

[Antaeus7]

I am so pumped for 17 year old Olympiakos player Christos Moutzakitis to play for the Greek NT. 

[Dean97]

If Karetsas does decide to represent Greece, does he go straight into the first team or u21s? Keen to hear what people think about it. 

He does get game time for his club. He just turned 17. If it was up to me I’d put him in the first team. Reason being that he is talented enough and also locks him up for the team. 

Edited November 20, 2024 by Dean97

[PaokCT]

No way I would put him at the senior level. He wouldn’t play. Would just sit the bench. Gotta play him u21 level to start. He’s played 30 minutes total since October 20th (8 games). Hasn’t touched the field for Belgium U21 yet. Needs more time consistently 

[pash]

He'll get straight into the senior setup once PAOK buys him (after selling Konstantelias, of course) and he scores 30 goals in a season for us.

[Dean97]

On 11/30/2024 at 10:01 AM, pash said:

He'll get straight into the senior setup once PAOK buys him (after selling Konstantelias, of course) and he scores 30 goals in a season for us.

Karetsas to PAOK? I think he’s staying at Genk for now.

Also Stefanos Tzimas is one for the future. Haven’t seen him play too much just mostly seen his goals. Big clubs are after him so it’s promising. As long as he replicates the style of play of Ioannidis for the Ethniki such as intensity and work rate then we will fine at the strikers position.

For me Ioannidis is our best striker. The way he plays for Greece should be appreciated. Full of energy and gets involved. Also scores goals for Greece too. At the moment he is out of form but when he is on he is on. 

Edited December 2, 2024 by Dean97

[pash]

Karetsas wants us as badly as Diddy wants to party

[PaokCT]

Noah Allen's paperwork has been completed and he will be expected to be called up to U21 team ASAP

[Dean97]

Is he any good? 

[PaokCT]

He's started at LCB for Inter Miami the first 2 games of the MLS season. I mean, he's not going to come in to the senior team anytime soon. But I am sure he will get PT with the U21 team. 

 

Plays next to Jordi Alba, and with Messi & Suarez. I assume he is learning a lot.

Edited March 6 by PaokCT

[Soprano76]

It doesn't matter that much but how Greek is the kid? I'm ok with someone like Karetsas since he clearly has a lot of ethnic pride but not sure if that's the case for someone like Allen. 

[paokarag4]

I believe his Mother is Greek. 

As you said Soprano, doesn't really matter. George Baldock had one grandparent who was Greek, and we can see how tight he had become with the squad and how much he is missed.

If he is good enough to ever get a call-up to the senior time, he will be embraced by the other lads no doubt. And if he plays well, then the fans will love him no matter what. 

[ausgreek]

I haven't had a giros in months yet, I still feel as Greek as a mandolin.

[PaokCT]

On 3/10/2025 at 9:37 AM, Soprano76 said:

It doesn't matter that much but how Greek is the kid? I'm ok with someone like Karetsas since he clearly has a lot of ethnic pride but not sure if that's the case for someone like Allen. 

How do we know this kid doesn't love being Greek? Who is to say he isn't active in his Greek community? Is it because he doesn't have a Greek name? I know alot of Greek-Americans who love the culture and their ethnic background, even if they have an "American" last name...