Third Time’s the Charm: How Greece are Looking to Change Fate and Qualify for their First Major International Tournament Since 2014.

European national team setups are gearing up for international action once again, with the first two rounds of the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying campaign set to take place March 21st-26th.  The bar could not have been set any lower during the previous Euro qualifying campaign (2016), as Greece finished bottom of their group, losing twice to the lowly Faroe Islands. But after a creditable World Cup 2018 qualifying campaign where the Ethniki got knocked out in the qualification playoffs to eventual finalists Croatia, Greek fans will be hoping their team returns to European football’s biggest stage in 2020.  

Four Months Under Anastasiadis

The new head coach responsible for guiding the Ethniki back amongst Europe’s elite is the experienced Aggelos Anastasiadis, who abruptly took over after Michael Skibbe was fired in the middle of the last year’s inaugural UFEA Nations League campaign.  Anastasiadis was tasked with implementing his tactics and squad selection on a short notice last October, and as a result, Greece finished third in a pedestrian group C after beating Finland and losing to Estonia in two dull matches in Athens.

Fortunately, Anastasiadis has now had significant time on his hands to shape the Ethniki in the way he wants to.  Since the end of the Nations League, he has popped up in the stands of various Greek Cup and Superleague matches, prompting speculations as to whether or not there will be some surprise additions to the squad next March.  At these matches Anastasiadis was seen with esteemed former players (and Euro 2004 winners), Aggelos Basinas and Stelios Giannakopoulos, who have since been confirmed as members of the Ethniki coaching staff by Greek media.  

Scouting and Possible Squad Selection

(The first squad selection under Anastasiadis)

All three coaches have been seen scouting Greek talents both in Greece and abroad, meaning Anastasiadis’ squad selection may include even more new faces to the Ethniki.  Especially given that many players who have been mainstays recently may not be called up due to injury (i.e. Kostas Manolas, Dimitris Pelkas, Vasilis Torosidis) or a significant dip in form (i.e. Tasos Bakasetas, Petros Mantalos, Nikos Karelis). 

Here are some possible new additions:

• Efthymis Koulouris, ST Atromitos: The Superleague’s leading scorer (with 16 markers) was set to join the first team for the final call-up of the Nations League, but after negotiations with the U21 coach, Antonis Nikopolidis, he was kept with the U21’s.  Expect the prolific striker to get many more first team opportunities during this campaign.
• Giannis Masouras, RB Panionios: After several eye catching appearances at AEL last season, Masouras was snapped up by Olympiakos.  In great form this season on loan at Panionios, the attacking minded right back has forced his way into the call up conversation. Masouras may be hugely important going forward with current captain Vasilis Torosidis nearing retirement.  
• Dimitris Giannoulis, LB PAOK: Leonardo Koutris and Kostas Tsimikas both got chances in the Nations League, but he starting left back role is far from being cemented by any particular player.  Giannoulis has been in fine form for PAOK and has forced his way into their first team on several occasions, and should definitely be considered to start and show his worth against Liechtenstein.  
• Lazaros Lamprou, Winger Fortuna Sittard: Yet another young Greek loaned out by PAOK this year, Lamprou is playing the best football of his career in Holland, netting 8 goals and 6 assists in 19 games for Fortuna Sittard.  The Ethniki have been in dire need of creative players who can take defenders head on, and Lamprou could be a great fit into the first team if he can replicate this play on the international stage.
• Dimitris Kolovos, Winger Omonia: Greek news outlets are reporting that enigmatic forward Dimitris Kolovos will be included in Anastasiadis’ next call up.  Kolovos was an exciting prospect for Olympiakos a few years ago, but after a serious ACL injury he suffered while on loan in Belgium, he has been out of the picture since 2017.  Now, in a shock decision by Anastasiadis, it appears as If he will be back with the Ethniki for the first time since his injury after some good performances on loan with Omonia in Cyprus.
• Other Greeks in the callup conversation: Tasos Donis (Winger, Stuttgart) has returned from injury and has been consistently featured as one of the men off the bench for Stuttgart ever since. In the Superleague, Kostas Galanopoulos (CM, AEK) and Dimitris Limnios (Winger, PAOK) have both been waiting for senior team opportunities. And young defensive talents Dinos Mavropanos (Arsenal) and Panos Retsos (Bayer Leverkusen) have been struggling with injuries this season, and as a result have not been playing as much   

Matchdays 1 and 2 Preview

With the way Anastasiadis has gone about his business these past months, there is reason to believe these fringe players will get their opportunities in this campaign.  But after dropping the final game in the Nations League to Estonia 0-1, Anastasiadis’ Ethniki has shown that they are still prone to abysmal performances against “weaker” teams, just as they have been ever since 2014.  The Estonia game showed Greek fans that fielding an experimental starting 11 with players that rarely play together can easily backfire. And Anastasiadis must be able to find a balance between playing the veterans of the Ethniki as well as the up and coming youngsters in order to get results while also integrating new members into the team.  

The Ethinki will travel to Liechtenstein for the opening match of their Euro qualification campaign on March 23rd, and then face a tough match against a familiar foe in Bosnia-Herzegovina on March 26th.  

And given that the Pankritio Stadium in Heraklion will not be ready to host the first two home games against Italy and Armenia (being played in the hugely unpopular OAKA Stadium in Athens instead), it is all the more critical that Greece take a full six points from their first two away games.  There are still questions being asked of Anastasiadis, but if he can successfully overcome these stadium woes and bring the Ethniki back to top tier international football (where they belong!) via a top two finish in a manageable Group J, he will quickly turn his criticisms into praise.

By Nick Gargano for Hellas Football