Hellas Football

Dr. Vangelis and Mr. Pavlidis: The Paradox By Numbers. With AZ and now Benfica, Vangelis Pavlidis has been a goal machine—unstoppable at times. Yet, it’s a completely different story when it comes to the Ethniki. Let’s unpack it: from the 2023/24 to the 2024/25 season with his clubs, and since 2021/22 with the national team. Pavlidis with AZ (League + Europe, 2023–24): 49 games played 35 goals (0.80 per 90 minutes) 1 goal every 125 minutes 7 assists (0.92 goal involvements per 90) 129 shots (2.62 per 90) 60 shots on target (65% accuracy) 30.71% of shots resulted in goals Pavlidis with Benfica (League + Europe, 2024–25, ongoing): 42 games played 24 goals (0.76 per 90 minutes) 8 assists (0.95 goal involvements per 90) 1 goal every 125 minutes 78 shots (2.38 per 90) 48 shots on target (67% accuracy) 30.5% of shots resulted in goals These are the numbers of a world-class striker—someone who can score anytime he gets the opportunity, while also contributing actively across the frontline. He...

 Should Greece between 2004 to 2014 be considered a golden generation? By Stephen Kountourou According to Wikipedia, a “Golden Generation” is “an exceptionally gifted group of players of similar age, whose achievements reach or are expected to reach a level of success beyond that which their team had previously achieved.”  There are many examples of this in international football. Some reached the pinnacle of the sport and fulfilled their potential by winning major accolades or consistently qualified and were competitive in major tournaments beyond what was expected of them.  Others, despite producing a talented crop of players that have or had the potential to become some of the greatest teams in the world, fell short, underperformed or never lived up to expectations, only being remembered for missed opportunities and what might have been moments.  Off the back of the excellent video on this topic by HITC Seven, which I would recommend any football fan to watch his ...

 Olympiakos vs FK Bodø/Glimt:  UEFA Europa League Round of 16 Preview By Stephen Kountourou UEFA Europa League Round of 16 Second Leg: 13/03/25 Kick-off Time: 19:45 Greek Time Venue: Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium, Piraeus Where to Watch: Cosmote Sport 4 HD It was almost a year ago since Olympiakos lost the first leg of the Conference League round of 16 tie against Maccabi Tel Aviv 4-1, only to stage one of the most miraculous comebacks on the continental stage, winning 6-1, and qualifying for the quarter-finals at the expense of the Israeli side.  Now, Jose Luis Mendilibar and his players face a similar but much more daunting task, this time against FK Bodø/Glimt. Thrylos were well beaten 3-0 in Norway and, barring perhaps a conciliation goal in the second half, did not deserve anything from that game and now have the task of replicating what happened last season, at the Georgos Karaiskakis Stadium on Thursday.  Despite a hopeful optimism from the fan base that Thrylo...

FK Bodø/Glimt vs Olympiakos:  Europa League Round of 16 preview By Stephen Kountourou UEFA Europa League Round of 16: 06/03/25 Kick-off Time: 22:00 Greek Time Venue: Aspmyra Stadion, Norway Where to Watch: Cosmote Sport 3 HD The end is nigh, for the 2024/25 season at least. Teams are starting to get to the business end of their campaigns, whether that be domestically or on the European stage, but with still so much left to play for. Truer words have never been spoken of Olympiakos and where they find themselves currently.  Thrylos, under Jose Luis Mendilibar, are on a roll. In all competitions, they are currently 26 games unbeaten, five points clear at the top of the Greek Super League table with one game of the regular season left to play.  In the Greek Cup, the Piraeus side has one foot into the final, after defeating AEK 6-0 in the first leg of the last four and in the UEFA Europa League this season, where they have qualified for the round of 16 automatically, they wil...