2026 WCQ: Greece - Scotland (15 November 2025 21:45 EET, Stadio Giorgos Karaiskakis, Piraeus)

[kbxk508]

What’s happened with our defence. If it wasn’t for Vlachodimos no way we win. We could have easily conceded 4 goals and lost this one.

We have now conceded 11 in last 4. We haven’t kept a clean sheet in qualifiers. That should be a top objective in the last game.

Then we look forward to Nations League A, and up against the likes of Spain, Portugal, Netherlands, England, Italy, Germany, Croatia, Denmark, Belgium, Czech, Turkey. Hope we sort our defensive woes by then.

[paokarag4]

3 hours ago, PaokCT said:

I genuinely believe this was a “goodbye testimonial” to Bakasetas, Kourbelis, Masouras. Hence why Jovanovic started the 2 and brought in the other. It is clear we will be a top team attacking wise during the Euro Qualifiers, but as everyone is mentioning we struggle defensively. Vlahodimos saved 3 point blank chances. The fact the u21 team looks like one of the best in Europe right now is good so I assume we have a very good group coming up

Bakasetas is hanging around for another qualifying campaign, you better believe that. He wasn't initially called up for these games but called up as a replacement once Konstantelias was injured, that doesn't scream to me well planned out goodbye testimonial. 

I maintain Bakasetas has a role to play(off the bench), and to a lesser extent Kourbelis and even lesser extent Masouras. The team's defensive issues can't possibly be laid to blame at Bakasetas' feet. We created a bucket load of chances, as you mention in an attacking sense we have really turned the corner. 

Defensively we have massive issues. Individual errors which need to be rectified by the players themselves but also our structure and system doesn't seem to provide adequate protection.  

Jovanovic needs to sort it out and ASAP. You can't be going 3-0 up with 30 minutes to play and the match turns into a rodeo. We must get better at seeing out matches and playing out time to get the result. Otherwise no matter how beautiful we play or how many goals we score, qualifying for a major tournament will remain a pipe dream. 

[Ellada2004]

22 hours ago, paokarag4 said:

Bakasetas is hanging around for another qualifying campaign, you better believe that. He wasn't initially called up for these games but called up as a replacement once Konstantelias was injured, that doesn't scream to me well planned out goodbye testimonial. 

I maintain Bakasetas has a role to play(off the bench), and to a lesser extent Kourbelis and even lesser extent Masouras. The team's defensive issues can't possibly be laid to blame at Bakasetas' feet. We created a bucket load of chances, as you mention in an attacking sense we have really turned the corner. 

Defensively we have massive issues. Individual errors which need to be rectified by the players themselves but also our structure and system doesn't seem to provide adequate protection.  

Jovanovic needs to sort it out and ASAP. You can't be going 3-0 up with 30 minutes to play and the match turns into a rodeo. We must get better at seeing out matches and playing out time to get the result. Otherwise no matter how beautiful we play or how many goals we score, qualifying for a major tournament will remain a pipe dream. 

Great points, yes I can see Bakasetas sticking around through to the Euro 2028 qualifiers unless we bring in a top tier coach who will call the shots 100% with regards to player selections. I always said Jovanovich is a good manager and I  like him personally but he made to many errors that cost us like starting Kourbelis in the match in Athens vs Denmark. Its not all Kourbelis fault but he had barely played at club level in the Saudi league. That match started our downturn and Greece could not bounce back. Jovanovich did not learn from his mistake and started him again at Scotland in the key match of qualifying to keep our chance at a playoff spot and we lost. Even yesterday why did he start him again and Bakesetas in a match that we could experiment and see some younger players? His subs were not helpful and his in game management was questionable especially when Greece went up 3 goals and then Scotland started to take the match to us as our midfield players were exhausted. I heard Jovanovich may leave on his own? I think for the NT to make a major tournament we need a top tier manager who has won trophies at the International or Champions League for example someone like an Ancelotti or a Klopp. 

Greece are now going to miss yet another tournament and we are seeing the likes of Albania, Wales, Ireland, North Ireland, Scotland, Norway and even the frigin Skops qualifying for the Euros or World Cup its completely unacceptable especially this cycle given all this talent we have at our disposal! I still cant believe how Jovanovich managed to F*** up this opportunity being placed in a group with Denmark, Scotland and Belarus and we were knocked out of contention with two matches left as well. Unacceptable!