Fresh from an emotionally charged victory over England, Greece welcomes the Republic of Ireland to Piraeus for their next UEFA Nations League clash on Sunday. Both teams enter this match with a sense of optimism, looking to secure vital points in their respective campaigns.
Match Preview:
Greece comes into this match riding high after a significant 2-1 victory over England at Wembley, a game marked by emotion following the tragic death of former player George Baldock. The Greek team, inspired by their performance, currently sits at the top of League B Group 2, having won all three of their matches so far, including a previous victory over Ireland last month.
Under new manager Ivan Jovanovic, Greece has shown strong form, winning their last four matches across all competitions. A victory on Sunday would see them achieve their first five-match winning streak since 2016 and further solidify their position for automatic promotion to the top tier of the Nations League.
In contrast, the Republic of Ireland is coming off a hard-fought 2-1 win against Finland, where Robbie Brady played a crucial role in their comeback. Despite this victory marking Heimir Hallgrimsson’s first win as head coach, the Boys in Green have struggled historically against Greece, having lost five and drawn one of their last six encounters.
Team News:
Greece:
Greece will have to make some defensive adjustments, as centre-back Konstantinos Koulierakis is suspended after picking up a second yellow card. Pantelis Hatzidiakos and Panagiotis Retsos are in contention to replace him. Additionally, there is uncertainty surrounding left-back Kostas Tsimikas, who missed the England game due to illness. Jovanovic may consider rotating the squad to maintain freshness, possibly promoting players like Dimitrios Pelkas or Petros Mantalos to the starting lineup.
Possible Greece starting lineup:
Vlachodimos; Rota, Mavropanos, Retsos, Giannoulis; Kourbelis, Siopis; Masouras, Bakasetas, Tzolis; Pavlidis
Republic of Ireland:
Ireland has suffered a setback with the loss of defender Callum O’Dowda to injury. However, they remain otherwise fit for the trip to Greece. Heimir Hallgrimsson made four changes for the win against Finland, including introducing Brighton’s Evan Ferguson to the starting XI. Ferguson had a disallowed goal but did not find many chances to score, which may lead Hallgrimsson to consider Adam Idah or Troy Parrott for more attacking options.
Possible Republic of Ireland starting lineup:
Kelleher; O’Shea, Collins, Scales, Brady; Cullen, Knight; Ogbene, Azaz, Szmodics; Ferguson
Prediction:
Greece’s strong form and home advantage against a Republic of Ireland team that has historically struggled in this matchup give the hosts a clear edge. While Ireland is coming off a win, they face a much tougher challenge against a well-drilled Greek side determined to extend their winning streak.
Prediction: Greece 2-0 Republic of Ireland
This result would bring Greece one step closer to a coveted spot in the top tier of the Nations League, further enhancing their credentials as contenders in the competition.
