Ethniki Omada Squad Selection Analysis | Konstantelias’ Stunning Exclusion & More

Ethniki Omada Squad Selection Analysis | Konstantelias’ Stunning Exclusion & More

By Konstantinos Massaras,

Thankfully, for Gustavo’s sake, he has had a good amount of success since he took over the Ethniki in January of last year because, as far as the fanbase goes, this selection was arguably a fireable offense. Now, fans are usually upset after a national team squad selection, and that mostly has to do with fans wanting to see their favorite players from their favorite clubs in the team. However, this selection represents the largest disconnect between organization and fanbase that I have ever seen. 

I would have bet my life that Konstantelias, among others, would be in this squad today. I also, for some odd reason, continue to believe that the day will come when Giorgios Tzavellas is not called up. I have been forced that Poyet just happened to forget to a game last season, because that would explain how he missed Konstantelias’ breakout year, Douvikas winning the Golden Boot in the Eredivisie, and Bouchalakis play about 20 minutes in 20 matches for Olympiakos.

It is not as if this is a crucial international break for us or anything, where our chances to qualify through the group are practically decided. Prior to today, the complaints have mostly been because we wanted to see some of the younger talent get a chance to be in the squad. Now, For the first time in Poyet’s Ethniki stint, even though I think all of his selections have not been ideal, he has single-handedly hurt the team by not picking the best players available.

In this blog, I breakdown every single selection and non-selection by Gustavo Poyet.

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GK: Odysseas Vlachodimos (29-Nottingham Forest)

Easily the best Greek keeper at the moment, and it doesn’t seem like that is going to change anytime soon. Vlachodimos just recently completed a move to Nottingham Forest, where he will get much more playing time than he would at the previously rumored Manchester United.

GK: Alexandros Paschalakis (34-Olympiakos)

Paschalakis has strung together a few very good performances for Olympiakos recently, especially in their Europa League matches. He is the clear backup to Vlachodimos.

GK: Giorgios Athanasiadis (30-AEK)

Athanasiadis has split time with Cican Stankovic for AEK this season, with Stankovic getting a majority of the minutes so far. While it’s probably the most inconsequential selection, another option here could have been Vasilis Barkas, who is entering his second season as FC Urecht’s number one option. Barkas however has had some poor performances with the Ethniki in the past, which could have definitely influenced this decision.

CB: Konstantinos Mavropanos (25-West Ham)

After a very strong stint at Stuttgart, Mavropanos will finally play in the Premier League once again. And he will play a massive role for West Ham, as he will be slotted in as an everyday center back to help their somewhat weak defense. He is and has been one of the most important players in this squad.

CB: Pantelis Hatzidiakos (26-Cagliari)

Another center back on the move, and this time it is a player who has never played a match for another club. Hatzdiakos has spent his entire eight-year career with AZ Alkmaar, but has finally left for Serie A side Cagliari. It’s a fine step in the right direction for him, and he will continue to be paired with Mavropanos at the back for the Ethniki.

CB: Kostas Koulierakis (19-PAOK)

Koulierakis does not get the attention he deserves, which probably has a lot to do with Konstantelias taking the spotlight, but he played nearly every single minute for PAOK last season until he fell to injury. He has continued his great form for PAOK this season, and, like Konstantelias, has unlimited potential. I could definitely see him taking over for Hatzidiakos down the line.

CB: Panagiotis Retsos (24-Olympiakos)

The fact that Retsos has managed to keep his career afloat really validates his level of talent. A once very highly touted prospect, Retsos’ career has been all downhill from when he left Leverkusen. He has been decimated by injury his whole career, and the return move to Olympiakos seemed like a real step back. However, once he started getting more consistent minutes, he has found his top form yet again. He played a crucial role in helping Olympiakos qualify for the Europa League, and has all the time in the world to turn his career around.

CB: Giorgios Tzavellas (35-Pendikspor)

You really have to think Poyet is trolling the fanbase at this point. Why anyone in the world would think Tzavellas should be selected, I do not know. I have mentioned before that Poyet most likely sees some kind of leadership role in Tzavellas, but the man has not been a factor for at least five years. I expect to see him as I always do; when he is subbed on in the 90th minute against Gibraltar, starts a fight, and gets sent off.

LB: Kostas Tsimikas (27-Liverpool)

I always wished Tsimikas went to a club that didn’t have one of the best left backs in the world, but he seems to have enjoyed his time at Liverpool. His transfer value is currently the highest it has ever been, even though he only played about 25% of the minutes last season. He still remains one of the best players in the squad. 

LB: Dimitris Giannoulis (27-Norwich City)

Giannoulis will play a crucial role in getting Norwich back into the Premier League this season. While he may not be the star Norwich wanted when they signed him, they definitely cannot complain as he has molded into a very solid everyday left back for them. And he is definitely a strong backup to Tsimikas.

RB: George Baldock (30-Sheffield United)

Baldock has remained the starter for Sheffield United this season after he helped them gain promotion back to the premier league. Ever since acquiring Greek citizenship, Baldock has been one of the most entertaining players to watch for the Ethniki. And we needed him to solve our revolving carousel at the right back position. The depth has gotten better however since Baldock arrived. 

RB: Lazaros Rota (26-AEK)

To me, this was a tossup between Vagiannidis and Rota. They had both put in some solid performances in Europe, but it did feel like Vagiannidis had an edge on him. As always however, Poyet went with the player he felt more comfortable with. It has been a goal of his ever since he got the job, to establish a very consistent 26-man squad, but it has left him with no room for necessary altercations. In this situation however, it doesn’t bother me too much. It definitely doesn’t bother me as much as some of his other selections.

CM: Manolis Siopis (29-Cardiff City)

It has only taken about five minutes at Cardiff City for him to become a fan favorite. He has been one of the few very consistent players on the team, and should continue to be in the starting eleven moving forward.

CM: Dimitris Kourbelis (29-Trabzonspor)

Siopis’ partner in the midfield has always been a solid contributor to the Ethniki, but never anything extraordinary. He joined Bakasetas and Fountas at Trabzonspor this season, but missed today’s match with an unknown injury. His availability for the match against the Netherlands in six days is not yet known, but I would assume he will be fit enough to go.

CM: Giannis Papanikolaou (24-Raków Częstochowa)

We have never seen much of Papanikolaou in the Ethniki, but we can be sure that he has been putting in some exceptional performances in Poland. Because he is still so young, I would assume he will be selected plenty more in the future.

CM: Andreas Bouchalakis (30-Hertha BSC)

This is where Poyet really starts to lose the fanbase. Again, I understand the idea. He wants to select players he is familiar with and maintain a consistent squad. However, because Bouchalakis is so low on the pecking order at this point, why go with him over some of our very promising young talent? He rarely ever played for Olympiakos last season until he got sent to Turkey, and has not played a single minute in just under three months. This is where I thought we were sure to see Alexandropoulos, Tsigarras, or even Galanopoulos. And knowing Poyet, I am sure Bouchalakis will find a way to get more minutes than Papanikolaou, who is way more deserving at this point. Not to mention Bouchalakis has had a large portion of the fanbase against him for much of his career.

CAM: Tasos Bakasetas (29-Trabzonspor)

The story of Bakasetas can not really be explained. He left AEK for Turkey in 2019 for a measly 1.5 million. At that point, he had not yet scored a goal for the national team. He then had a great run of success for Alanyaspor, and then became somewhat of a star at Trabzonspor, practically carrying them to their first title in almost forty years. In that time, Bakasetas has become the most capped player on Greece, and has scored double the amount of goals than any other player in the squad. After being one of the most hated players in the team for a long time, he is now two goals away from being a top 10 goalscorer in the history of the national team.

CAM: Petros Mantalos (32-AEK)

I have to be honest, not my favorite player in the squad. Maybe it isn’t as much Mantalos I have a problem with, but it is who I think should be in his place. He will make fans lose their minds for 90 minutes, but also show a few flashes of brilliance. Definitely one of the more inconsistent players on the team, but again, he is one that consistently finds his way in the squad.

CAM: Dimitris Pelkas (29-Basaksehir)

This is where I lose my mind. You can not tell me that Dimitris Pelkas is a better option right now than Konstantelias. As far as I am concerned, there isn’t even an argument to be made. Yes, he has been on the team for a while. But what has he done? Anything more than scoring two goals and a few assists against Malta and Gibraltar in over 30 matches? I have watched Konstantelias resurrect a PAOK team that so desperately needed someone who can hold the ball at their feet, beat defenders by themselves, and create. Do you know who else needs that with Fortounis gone? I bet you can guess. Next season, Konstantelias will be on the verge of being sold for upwards of 20 million euros, and almost definitely to one of the best leagues in the world. Pelkas on the other hand will be lucky if he’s playing for Panachaiki. Now maybe I’m being too harsh on Pelkas, it’s not him who deserves all the hate, but not selecting Konstantelias directly hurts the team's chances of beating the Netherlands. It just makes zero sense.

Winger: Georgios Masouras (29-Olympiakos)

Masouras will probably be the best option for that right attacking midfield role in Poyet’s 4-2-3-1, and he fits into it fine. His finishing will make fans lose their minds, but he brings pace to a team without much of it. He has turned in some fairly decent performances in his recent matches.

Winger: Dimitrios Limnios (25-FC Koln)

Limnios has played about two games in the last year. Now, you may think that is not a lot, but I can reassure you that it is enough to make the Greek National Team in 2023. All kidding aside, Limnios has had a really difficult last few seasons due to injury and a severe lack of playing time. He needs to make a move out of the Bundesliga and back to a league like the Eredivisie, where he put together a really good season in 2022. He’s a player that has shown flashes for the Ethniki, but I can’t imagine we’ll be seeing too much of him against the Netherlands.

Winger: Tasos Chatzigiovanis (26-Ankaragucu)

Anybody else tired of seeing Chatzigiovanis getting called up? I understand our right side is extremely weak, but I still don’t see him as the type of player who deserves to be selected without a second thought. He has never recorded a single stat for us in eleven appearances, and hasn’t really even shown any flashes. His current role is a substitute for Ankaragucu, a team that finished one point above relegation in Turkey last year. Now, would I rather give someone like Lamprou a chance? Yes I would. Simply because we’ve seen Chatzigiovanis. And I am sorry to say, I just don’t think he is that good.

ST: Vangelis Pavlidis (24-AZ Alkmaar)

It seems like the center-forward position has been cursed for the Ethniki ever since Mitroglou retired, but I do think Pavlidis is the best option we have. Even though he has infuriated fans at times, I do believe his performances at AZ Alkmaar will show up for the national team. With his current value being the highest it has ever been, he will most likely be sold next season for somewhere around 15 million euros. 

ST: Giorgos Giakoumakis (28-Atlanta United)

Giakoumakis has had a very good start to his life in the MLS with Atlanta United, and it was demonstrated as he was selected as an All-Star halfway through the season. He has not had any luck with the Ethniki, but we will probably see him come on as a substitute for Pavlidis against the Netherlands.

ST: Taxiarchis Fountas (27-Trabzonspor)

I have to believe Tasos Douvikas was not fit enough to be selected for the squad. That, or something to do with him just being transferred to Celta Vigo. I just have to believe that, because the alternative is Poyet forgot to write down Douvikas’ name. This is Tasos Douvikas, the golden boot winner in the Eredivisie last season. It just seems unfathomable that he is not in the squad. Now, Fountas is a player with a lot of versatility, and he can actually bring something unique to the team. But again, as I have said, if it is in place of Douvikas, I don’t want any part of it.

ST: Fotis Ioannidis (23-Panathinaikos)

You can also make the case for Douvikas over Ioannidis. Now I understand Ioannidis scored two huge penalties for Panathinaikos, three if you count the shootout, but does that really beat out the top scorer in the Eredivisie. But yes, it must be his fitness, or whatever. As for Ioannidis, I think there is some potential there, but I can’t imagine we see him against the Netherlands.

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Best Possible Lineup:

GK: Odysseas Vlachodimos

LB: Kostas Tsimikas

CB: Dinos Mavropanos

CB: Pantelis Chatzidiakos

RB: George Baldock

CM: Dimitris Kourbelis

CM: Manolis Siopis 

LAM: Petros Mantalos

CAM: Tasos Bakasetas

RAM: Georgios Masouras

ST: Vangelis Pavlidis

Most Likely Subs:

ST: Taxiarchis Fountas

ST: Giorgos Giakoumakis

Winger: Dimitrios Limnios

CAM: Dimitris Pelkas

CM: Giannis Papanikolaou

Let’s go!

Hellas Football 

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