The Ethniki in June: The Takeaways

The Ethniki in June: The Takeaways

By Christian Leggas 

If you weren't impressed by what the team and Gus Poyet dished up this month, then you're an extremely hard person to please. 

Some "You shall not pass"-esc defensive schemes coupled with some excellent attacking play should be enough cause for optimism for us as fans as the Ethniki look to cement their spot at UEFA Euro 2024. 

So what did we learn this month? Let's find out:

Gus Poyet Vindicated on Tactics: 

The match against the Republic of Ireland saw an equal mix of defensive stubbornness and complete domination in the way of consistently creating clear-cut goal-scoring opportunities. Poyet's most well-balanced midfield trio did the solidity and clinically attacking job superbly, his two wingers (one 

way more noticeably than the other, mind you) worked hard both ways, and his choices up top were  fantastic at bringing his teammates into the play. Poyet's challenge for September and beyond will now be figuring out a way or more than one way that we see that more-balanced mix of both on a more frequent basis. As admirable as the France-away performance was, you shouldn't be satisfied with losses.

No Fortounis, No Douvikas? 

No Problem, Albeit for Now:

Gus Poyet shocked many fans for all the wrong reasons when he said no to selecting Kostas Fortounis and Tasos Douvikas (initially). But the more both games this month unfolded, the more I thought these calls were not catastrophic. Vangelis Pavlidis and Giorgos Giakoumakis did a fantastic job in the striker position. Taxiarchis Fountas, Tasos Bakasetas and Georgos Masouras were more than positive threats when attacking themselves. 

Were Fortounis and Douvikas worthy of call-ups based on their 2022/23 domestic season form? And on pure talent? Absolutely, but there are other factors that you have to consider, like leadership material, training standards and fitting into the system that Poyet wants to implement. For now, for whatever reason, these two are depth options. 

Mavropanos, our best centre-back? No, it's the Bloke Next to Him:

I can't put it any simpler than this. Have you ever seen Pantelis Chatzidiakos in an Ethniki shirt 

commit the following errors multiple times? Such as letting his opponent get goal-side of him, failing to cut off through balls and mistiming or incorrect challenges? In certain games, these errors by Dinos Mavropanos over nearly the last twenty-four months have helped ensure Greece has gotten no points. Not to say I don't want Mavropanos starting for this team, I do, but it's clear who our most valuable centre-back is.

Mavropanos' Absence, Can be Easily Covered:

You might think Dinos Mavropanos' suspension for the Holland-away game leaves a gaping hole next 

to, well, presumably, Pantelis Chatzidiakos, right? Well, it doesn't. Konstantinos Koulierakis and 

Panagiotis Retsos was essentially thrown into the deep end against France once Mavropanos received his marching orders, and to say they both did well would, in my view, be an understatement. Their rapid adaptation to the defensive steel Gus Poyet commanded was fantastic. 

With the help of Poyet, whether it's Koulierakis, Retsos or even Georgos Tzavellas, or whoever, the man Poyet will pick to fill the Mavropanos void will buy into the system seamlessly. 

No pressure, whoever you are.

A New MVP Contender Has Emerged:

Despite not consistently playing as a winger in recent times for D.C United, Taxiarchis Fountas has not forgotten his craft in that space and has all of a sudden catapulted himself into being a starting and MVP contender on either flank for the Ethniki, before and during this month, particularly in the Gus Poyet era, he has proven to be quite the super-sub in the way of positively maintaining or positively 

changing the way this team attacks. It's becoming clear that he needs the opportunity to do just that from the beginning of games now, and the fact that we've unearthed a new dangerous starter in a position, where we lack depth, adds to the optimism.

Giorgos Masouras deserves to start on either wing:

It's easy to only look at this guy's, at times, not up-to-scratch end product with crossing or finishing and immediately determine that he isn't worthy of a starting role and left or right-wing, but he is. 

Why? He's a damn hard-working two-way runner! Particularly this month, his efforts to help George 

Baldock on the right side of the pitch in attack and, or defence were that obvious you couldn't miss them, not to mention playing at least minor and significant roles in the goals against the Republic of Ireland. Have you got a player who works harder than Masouras both ways out wide? 

By all means, I'd love to know.

A lot of water will go under the bridge between now and September, but this is clear. It's a united group that wants to do the job for its coach and fans. 

All power to you, Gus and co. You are, slowly but surely, obtaining our trust.

Hellas Football

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