Greece at the World Cup

No F in Chance

New Member
Newbie
Joined
Jan 3, 2014
Messages
63
18486796.jpg



Squad:
Goalkeepers: Panaglotis Glykos (PAOK), Stefanos Kapino (Panathinaikos), Orestis Karnezis (Granada)

Defenders: Jose Holebas, Kostas Manolas (Olympiakos), Sokratis Papastathopoulos (Borussia Dortmund), Vasilis Torosidis (Roma), Giorgios Tzavellas (PAOK), Loukas Vyntra (Levante), Vangelis Moras (Verona)

Midfielders: Lazaros Christodoulopoulos (Bologna), Ioannis Fetfatzidis (Genoa), Giorgos Karagounis (Fulham), Giannis Maniatis (Olympiakos), Kostas Katsouranis (PAOK), Panagiotis Kone (Bologna), Andreas Samaris (Olympiakos), Panagiotis Tachtsidis (Torino), Alexandros Tziolis (Kayserispor)

Forwards: Theofanis Gekas (Konyaspor), Kostas Mitroglou (Fulham), Dimitris Salpingidis (PAOK), Georgios Samaras (Celtic)

Fixtures:
COLOMBIA VS GREECE
14 JUN 2014 - 13:00 Local time
Estadio Mineirao
Belo Horizonte


JAPAN VS GREECE
19 JUN 2014 - 19:00 Local time
Estadio das Dunas
Natal


GREECE VS CÔTE D'IVOIRE
24 JUN 2014 - 17:00 Local time
Estadio Castelao
Fortaleza​
 
Last edited:
I don't see Greece getting out of that group at all, likely finish bottom. The other three have very decent sides and I wouldn't be surprised if one of them made it into the quarter finals.

What happened to Sotiris Ninis by the way? I remember him being touted as a good prospect a few years ago but haven't heard anything of him in a while.
 
They've no F in chance. It's still a mystry to me how they won the Euros back in 2004.
 
No F in Chance said:
10 years on from Euro 2004, and Greece are still one of the most boring teams in the world.

In only our 3rd World Cup, we're in a very interesting and evenly-matched Group (Greece, Columbia, Japan, Ivory Coast). How far can Greece go?

Provisional Squad:
Goalkeepers: Alexandros Tzorvas (Apollon Smyrnis), Michalis Sifakis (Atromitos), Orestis Karnezis (Granada), Panaglotis Glykos (PAOK), Stefanos Kapino (Panathinaikos).

Defenders: Avraam Papadopoulos, Dimitris Siovas, Kostas Manolas, Giannis Maniatis, Jose Holebas (all Olympiakos), Sokratis Papastathopoulos (Borussia Dortmund), Giorgios Tzavellas (PAOK), Loukas Vyntra (Levante), Vasilis Torosidis (Roma).

Midfielders: Alexandros Tziolis (Kayserispor), Andreas Samaris (Olympiakos), Kostas Katsouranis (PAOK), Giorgos Karagounis (Fulham), Panagiotis Tachtsidis (Torino), Sotiris Ninis (PAOK), Ioannis Fetfatzidis (Genoa), Kostas Fortounis (Kaiserslautern), Lazaros Christodoulopoulos (Bologna) Panagiotis Kone (Bologna).

Forwards: Dimitris Papadopoulos (Atromitos), Dimitris Salpingidis (PAOK), Giorgios Samaras (Celtic), Konstantinos Mitroglou (Fulham), Theofanis Gekas (Konyaspor).
Click to expand...

I think your list is wrong. Karabelas, Karelis and Moras are for sure in the list while Siovas and Ninis are not. Anyway, Avraam, Katsouranis, Gekas, Tziolis and Tzorvas should not be in the World Cup.
 
Mystry said:
I don't see Greece getting out of that group at all, likely finish bottom. The other three have very decent sides and I wouldn't be surprised if one of them made it into the quarter finals.

What happened to Sotiris Ninis by the way? I remember him being touted as a good prospect a few years ago but haven't heard anything of him in a while.
Click to expand...

He was absolutely fantastic at Panathinaikos, went to Serie A and things didn't work out. He definitely should have left Greece a lot earlier but delayed moving for too long and as a result he stalled.

Hopefully it doesn't become a trend with highly-rated young Greek players. Fetfatzidis was really hyped up before Euro 2012 as being one of our most exciting players. Played 0 minutes and now no one ever mentions him much
 
  • Like
Reactions: Penna
This is probably the slowest midfield in the tournament and both ball winning CMs, Maniatis and Samaris are out of form since February and the United games.

The defense is pretty solid but it would be better if Kyriakos Papadopoulos wasn't injured. He and Sokratis make a quality pairing at the back. I usually don't fancy teams playing with two attacking minded FBs but given our midfield problems, we depend highly on both Holebas and Torosidis to build up attacks from behind. And it's almost certain that Santos will use an anchorman in a 3 man midield (Katsouranis or Tziolis).

The main problem is that we'll face teams with pacey players, who play in a fast tempo with direct passing. We usually struggle whenever we can't slow things down and control the game.

There are many ways to lose a game and should we suffer three heavy defeats, i'll hold Santos accountable. He hasn't done anything to solve the disputes between the PAOK and Olympiacos players and the journalists report that the atmosphere in the dressing room is toxic with some players not even talking to each other.

And i really hope Santos' stubbornness to keep Moras out of every final squad will not return to haunt him. Manolas and Siovas are inexperienced and Avraam hasn't played in a competitive game for nearly 2 years.

If we have mathematical chances to qualify to the knock out phase after the first 2 games i'll be happy.
 
TheRedDevil'sAdvocate said:
This is probably the slowest midfield in the tournament and both ball winning CMs, Maniatis and Samaris are out of form since February and the United games.

The defense is pretty solid but it would be better if Kyriakos Papadopoulos wasn't injured. He and Sokratis make a quality pairing at the back. I usually don't fancy teams playing with two attacking minded FBs but given our midfield problems, we depend highly on both Holebas and Torosidis to build up attacks from behind. And it's almost certain that Santos will use an anchorman in a 3 man midield (Katsouranis or Tziolis).

The main problem is that we'll face teams with pacey players, who play in a fast tempo with direct passing. We usually struggle whenever we can't slow things down and control the game.

There are many ways to lose a game and should we suffer three heavy defeats, i'll hold Santos accountable. He hasn't done anything to solve the disputes between the PAOK and Olympiacos players and the journalists report that the atmosphere in the dressing room is toxic with some players not even talking to each other.

And i really hope Santos' stubbornness to keep Moras out of every final squad will not return to haunt him. Manolas and Siovas are inexperienced and Avraam hasn't played in a competitive game for nearly 2 years.

If we have mathematical chances to qualify to the knock out phase after the first 2 games i'll be happy.
Click to expand...

I agree with all of that.

I've heard about the trouble between the Oly and PAOK players but assumed it's just rumours blown out of proportion because of the fight in the Greek Cup Semi.

Not having Kyriakos is a massive blow. However, I have been impressed with Manolas when I've watched him. He was very solid against United in the first leg of the Champions League.

What would your first choice XI be?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Massive Spanner
No F in Chance said:
I agree with all of that.

I've heard about the trouble between the Oly and PAOK players but assumed it's just rumours blown out of proportion because of the fight in the Greek Cup Semi.

Not having Kyriakos is a massive blow. However, I have been impressed with Manolas when I've watched him. He was very solid against United in the first leg of the Champions League.

What would your first choice XI be?
Click to expand...

No its not just rumours. They actually had a fight with each other. Mine would be
Karnezis
torosidis----manolas-sokratis----karabelas
maniatis-----samaris
kone
salpi-----------------------fetfatzidis
samaras
 
Could do with them going out. Can't stomach the thought of them parking the fecking Titanic all the way to the final.
 
Greece were a lot more entertaining when they started games and their first ever World Cup match by defending like this:

 
Ι am from Greece. I don't see us playing in style, but you can never write us off. We have a quite easy group too.
 
No F in Chance said:
I agree with all of that.

I've heard about the trouble between the Oly and PAOK players but assumed it's just rumours blown out of proportion because of the fight in the Greek Cup Semi.

Not having Kyriakos is a massive blow. However, I have been impressed with Manolas when I've watched him. He was very solid against United in the first leg of the Champions League.
What would your first choice XI be?
Click to expand...
Some journalists have chosen to talk openly and they say that Santos has chosen to rather sweep the problems the conflict between Maniatis and Katsouranis has created under the carpet than confront them. This national team has achieved so many things, since the Rehhagel era, because of the good relationships among the players and their ability to keep the "domestic hatred" away from the national team. That's the main reason first Rehhagel and now Santos prefer to call in the squad players who play abroad but don't start too often than others who play in the national League.

Manolas' improvement this season has been impressive and Michel has to take full credit for that. He has become a better CB, he is way more comfortable when he has to defend outside the box or move out of position and chase down forwards. But he still commits a lot of unforced errors in areas we can't lose the ball and he hasn't learned to control his nerves. It's tough luck we don't have Kyriakos Papadopulos or Avraam who was by far the best Greek CB before his injury, under Valverde.

As for the starting xi :

Karnezis is most likely to be the GK. He has started in only 6 games for Granada (though his performance against Barcelona in that 0-0 draw was superb) but none of the others has really made an impression this season. Plus he's been Santos first choice during the qualification stage.

Sokratis is going to start at the back. Most people believe that Manolas will also start, but i have my doubts. I believe Santos is going to exhaust the chances to start either Avraam or Siovas (they're not fit). We are going to face Falcao (or Bacca) and Drogba and we really need a strong physical presence in the box and a man who can win aerial duels against them. Manolas and Papastathopoulos are both kinda short. Well, Papastathopoulos has learned how to use his body against forwards and defend his space, so we might see him and Katsouranis (in a sweeper role) at the back.

Torosidis and Holebas will be the FBs and i really hope Holebas doesn't repeat his nightmarish performances in the last Euro. Still if we need to adopt a more cautious approach or defend a lead in a game, Vyntra can come in for Holebas. That way we'll give Torosidis the opportunity to play as a wing back and we'll always have 3 men at the back.

We are really poor in the midfield. My guess is that Tziolis will be the anchorman in a reversed triangle, Santos has aways trusted him and has started him in every single game. Maniatis will be the ball winning/box to box midfielder. He will be the team's barometer, if he can press the player with the ball in our half for 90 minutes, we'll be able to absorb much of the pressure and increase our chances as the game progresses. Katsouranis will be the deep lying midfielder, but if he's used as a CB, we'll probably see Karagounis in the midfield. If Santos decides that Karagounis has to start (it's his last tournament with the national team and he holds the record for most caps), Tziolis will be dropped and Katsouranis will play as anchorman.

Up front, Mitroglou will start if he's fit. If not Gekas will take his place. On the wings we'll see Salpi (inside forward, great defensive contribution) and Samaras (the only player alongside Maniatis who can run with the ball) as an advanced play maker.
 
Greece never fail to amaze me. Always such a laboured if smacking of mediocrity side that usually fluke their way out of the group/qualification. They were the worst team in their group in Euros 2012 yet went through against all the odds. How did we (Poland) fail to beat them in the opener I'll never know.
 
Greece, who didn't even qualify for European Championships 23004 yet they went on to win it.

Never write off their tiresome, defensive, laborious and tumescent Moyes like football - because sometimes crap like this rises to the top.
 
redtilldead123 said:
Greece, who didn't even qualify for European Championships 23004 yet they went on to win it.

Never write off their tiresome, defensive, laborious and tumescent Moyes like football - because sometimes crap like this rises to the top.
Click to expand...

Think you're mixing it up with Denmark '92... Greece won their qualifying group (ahead of Spain even!) for Euro 2004.
 
I think that Greece are an organized side but would hardly call it an easy group?Ivory Coast and Colombia have to be favourites to progress.
 
No F in Chance said:
Fetfatzidis was really hyped up before Euro 2012 as being one of our most exciting players. Played 0 minutes and now no one ever mentions him much
Click to expand...

He's had a good season at Genoa, he's the real deal unlike Ninis. So are Kone, Lazaros and Tachtsidis who've all made it in Serie A. What a sickening site it will be to see a midfield of Maniatis-Katsouranis-Tziolis. Two CBS and a former right back when we actually have decent options in that area, Samaris included
 
  • Like
Reactions: Randall Flagg
Tomuś said:
Greece never fail to amaze me. Always such a laboured if smacking of mediocrity side that usually fluke their way out of the group/qualification. They were the worst team in their group in Euros 2012 yet went through against all the odds. How did we (Poland) fail to beat them in the opener I'll never know.
Click to expand...

We went down to 10 men with a shocking sending off decision, we had a clear penalty denied, we missed a penalty, we had a goal ruled out for offside yet you think you were unlucky not to win?

Don't blame us for your poor performance. If we didn't qualify, Russia would have, you finished dead last.
 
Mr.Plow said:
We went down to 10 men with a shocking sending off decision, we had a clear penalty denied, we missed a penalty, we had a goal ruled out for offside yet you think you were unlucky not to win?

Don't blame us for your poor performance. If we didn't qualify, Russia would have, you finished dead last.
Click to expand...
I pity ourselves because you were so shit and we couldn't win not because we were unlucky not to win.
 
Fair enough. I don't deny that we're shit. We got dominated by the likes of Liechtenstien and Lithuania in qualifying. We're an absolute joke of a team because our manager is so stubborn and negative.
 
No F in Chance said:
10 years on from Euro 2004, and Greece are still one of the most boring teams in the world.

In only our 3rd World Cup, we're in a very interesting and evenly-matched Group (Greece, Columbia, Japan, Ivory Coast). How far can Greece go?
Click to expand...

can you add your fixtures to the OP? would save me looking it up.
ta!
 
About Euro 2004 they only team that really deserved it back then was Nedved and Co.. About the world cup, its getting really boring that 10 years after we still use the same tactics. I m glad that Santos will leave after the world cup. I really hope that the rumours about bielsa are true. But the criticism sometimes its unfair. When was the last time England or France played attractive football? In the last Euro, England was defending for 120 minutes against Italy...
 
  • Like
Reactions: Eboue
Some corrections, Moras (Hellas Verona) is in the provisional squad, so is Karabelas (Levante). You have also forgotten Athanasiadis (PAOK) and Karelis (Panathinaikos) who has taken Ninis' place. The final squad will be announced on Monday.

As for the fixtures : 14/6 Colombia-Greece (17:00, English Time)
20/6 Japan-Greece (23:00)
24/6 Greece-Ivory Coast (21:00)
 
_MTR_ said:
Every one of Cote d'Ivoire, Colombia and Japan are offensively minded teams, so actually Greece can make a surprise and qualify to last 16.
Click to expand...

I think it's much harder to park the bus against non-European teams because of the difference in physicality.
 
Next door neighbour is Athenian so I expect him to do the right thing when the games are on by cooking some awesome greek food and inviting his neighbours over.
I think that's the only way to watch their games. Otherwise it's way too boring.
 
Mr.Plow said:
Fair enough. I don't deny that we're shit. We got dominated by the likes of Liechtenstien and Lithuania in qualifying. We're an absolute joke of a team because our manager is so stubborn and negative.
Click to expand...
Pissed me off no end how you lot managed to stay level on points with us the whole way through, while we convincingly won almost every game and you lot scraped by with 1-0's against pretty much everyone :lol: Regardless of your lack of quality or negativity, the team does know how to grind out results which could be useful.
 
Can't believe they keep getting to tournaments off the back of 2004. They'll stink the place out, as usual.
 
Mr.Plow said:
Fair enough. I don't deny that we're shit. We got dominated by the likes of Liechtenstien and Lithuania in qualifying. We're an absolute joke of a team because our manager is so stubborn and negative.
Click to expand...
Chin up, at least you weren't the worst team (along with Ireland) of the tournament you hosted despite being in a relatively easy group, collecting 2 fecking points.
 
bosnian_red said:
Pissed me off no end how you lot managed to stay level on points with us the whole way through, while we convincingly won almost every game and you lot scraped by with 1-0's against pretty much everyone :lol: Regardless of your lack of quality or negativity, the team does know how to grind out results which could be useful.
Click to expand...

Yea, honestly it would have been a huge injustice if we'd got in ahead of you. You guys play football the right way and nearly scored as many goals in your first game as we did in 10 matches :lol:

There were so many poor teams in that group and our tactic would be to nick a goal then spend the rest of the game defending. It's one thing being defensive but it's another to park the bus with 3 DMs against the likes of Lithuania and Liechtenstein. We have creative players getting regular game time in Serie A but this joke of a manager is so stubborn that he'll play the same way against San Marino as he will against Spain. Even against you, his reaction to going 3-0 down was to take off one DM, Tziolis, for another one, Maniatis. The guy's just a joker.

That group was the perfect chance to rebuild our team but instead we're going to another WC with the same team from 4 years ago that was complete shit, the only difference is all our old boys are another 4 years passed their prime so we'll be even worse.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Eboue
I post in a facebook forum with a lot of Greek posters. Malaka, Re, Gavros are the most often used words. They are pretty funny to hang out with, and they don't have high expectations from the group.
 
fishfingers15 said:
I post in a facebook forum with a lot of Greek posters. Malaka, Re, Gavros are the most often used words. They are pretty funny to hang out with, and they don't have high expectations from the group.
Click to expand...

Who they calling wankers?
 
Tomuś said:
Greece never fail to amaze me. Always such a laboured if smacking of mediocrity side that usually fluke their way out of the group/qualification. They were the worst team in their group in Euros 2012 yet went through against all the odds. How did we (Poland) fail to beat them in the opener I'll never know.
Click to expand...


No offense but I must say I agree.

They keep defying the odds every time, quarter final in 2012, and I still remember how they beat Nigeria in 2010 as well...anyone remember that INCREDIBLE YAKUBU MISS?!? Oh i just looked it up again...apparently was against South Korea haha, damn!

THAT MISS THO!!!
 
better to be lucky than good?

someone mentioned that all the other teams in their group are offensive minded which I agree should play right into the Greeks hands.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.