2026 WCQ: Scotland - Greece (9 October 2025 21:45 EEST, Hampden Park, Glasgow)

[Dean97]

1 hour ago, paokarag4 said:

I am not a Kourbelis fan or defender, but I believe the reason he plays is simply because of his height and physiacality.

We are quite a short team, apart from the 2 CB's and the striker (all of Pavlidis, Ioannidis and Douvikas are well over 6 foot/186cms +) we lack height. While our CB's are generally good in the air (not the other day) especially when facing set pieces the coach probably feels we don't have enough height to deal with those situations. Now clearly the way we defended in Scotland indicates, as we all know height is not the only factor when defending set pieces. 

Siopis is a superior defensive mid, but again he lacks height. I believe this is why EPO got Greek-Australian Nectarios Triantis to get his Greek citizenship. He is a 22 year old defensive midfielder who is 191cm (6'3), who played for Scottish side Hibernian last season and was voted into the SPL team of the season.

He has moved to the MLS this season and has started well there, with goals and assists in his early appearances. Yet to be called up for the NT despite being eligible the last 2 windows, so I am not sure what is going on there. Clearly for EPO to chase him and have him get his passport indicates there is an intention to call him up, and he plays in a position where we lack quality/depth. 

Theres already 3 DMs I can name that are better than Kourbelis. Alexandropoulos, Triantis and Liatsikouras (potentially) are better and have more height to them aswell.

Siopis isn’t the answer although he has high stamina and a lot of running in him. We had less height in the game against Scotland in the nations league and won comfortably in there home stadium. Mouzakitis awareness and intelligent positioning helped us that game and his attacking ability and playmaking is also superior to all of our mids. Zafeiris covered a lot of ground that game too which is important to note. 

You never change a winning team. That team in the nations league game that won 3-0 should’ve been the starting lineup going forward. 

[Dean97]

Also there are players in the Greek league who play CM that can be more serviceable in midfield for Greece. 

[paokarag4]

Alexandropoulos has had a poor 2-3 years at club level. He has bounced around between Portugal, Belgium and now in the 2nd tier in Germany and hasn't been able to nail down a starting position since leaving PAO (played a good amount of games in Belgium last season but plenty were as a sub or he was hooked off at halftime.) Fair to say he hasn't developed as we would've hoped. 

Liatsikouras isn't worth mentioning as a possible replacement atm as he has not broken into Olympiacos first team yet. When he does that he will well and truly be on the radar but a kid playing B Ethniki is not going to displace a seasoned international, that is just reality. 

Mouzakitis should absolutely be a starter going forward. He has quality and is good on the ball, a modern central midfielder. Similarly so is Zaferis. Kourbelis has a role in the squad, he is experienced and a bigger body, the 2 aforementioned are on the smaller side. I believe Triantis is worth a look and we should be seeing him in the near future. 

Siopis also has his place in the squad, he is needed in certain games. Tomorrow's game is a tough one as to who you start in CM. I think I would start Siopis next to one of Zafeiris/Mouzakitis. I would argue a midfield 3, with the 3 names mentioned could be a decent option, and start without a number 10 and play with 2 number 8's instead. I don't think Jovanovic will do that though, he won't leave out both of Bakasetas/Konstantelias, one will start. 

[Dean97]

I also don’t see what Kourbelis has done so special in the last 3 years either. Ever since leaving Panathinaikos he has hasn’t done anything significant for the clubs he’s played for. 

Alexandropoulos is more of a box to box than a defensive midfielder and statistically has better defensive contributions this season. Also better going forward with the ball. Just look at both players goals they both have scored in their careers in the past. Alex has better quality goals. 

Not saying Alex is the answer but I would say he’s better and he’s the same size. You’d rather go for the better option. 

Also Triantis 2 goals and 2 assists this season plays in America ok, but still contributes more as a player in both defence and attack.

All 3 don’t play at the highest level but we have to make improvements in that area. Point is we have other players of the same size that can do the job he is doing and possibly better. Seen too many errors from an experienced player.

Mouzakitis is better than all of them I agree.

Edited 4 hours ago by Dean97

[Dean97]

On 10/11/2025 at 12:47 AM, J1078 said:

I hate that I’m even saying this, because let’s be honest it’s basically over. We need an absolute miracle now.

Scenario 1:

Greece would have to run the table and beat Denmark, Scotland, and Belarus. Let’s say somehow, they pull off the upset and beat Denmark. Beating Scotland back in Athens and taking care of Belarus shouldn’t be too difficult.

That would give Greece 12 points. If we assume Denmark and Scotland both beat Belarus, they’d each move to 10 points with one game left against each other.

 

If that happens, we wouldn’t need help from anyone else:

• If Denmark and Scotland draw, they’d both finish on 11 points and Greece would take first place.
• If one of them wins, Greece would finish second and still grab a playoff spot.

 

So, realistically, Greece still controls its own destiny, but only if they win all three games.

 

Scenario 2:

If Greece draws with Denmark, then we’d need Denmark to beat Scotland. That would leave both teams tied for second, meaning it all comes down to goal differential. Scotland currently has a big advantage there, so we’d need to absolutely smash Belarus and beat Scotland by a few goals to make it through.

Not liking our chances at all but if they pull off a miracle on Sunday somehow beat Denmark that all changes.

Group Standings

Denmark- 7 

Scotland - 7

Greece - 3

Belarus - 0

Nothing but 3 wins now. I hope we can do it. 🙏