In their quest to recover from back-to-back losses in Euro 2024 qualifying Group B, Greece is set to host Gibraltar at the Agia Sophia Stadium in Athens on Sunday night.
Greece, led by Gus Poyet, suffered a 3-0 defeat at the hands of the Netherlands in their last outing, where Denzel Dumfries wreaked havoc by assisting all three Dutch goals.
Marten de Roon’s half-volley within 17 minutes put Greece on the back foot. Cody Gakpo and Wout Weghorst, both beneficiaries of Dumfries’ precise crosses, sealed Greece’s fate before halftime.
This defeat pushed Greece down to third place in the rankings after a promising start that included victories over Gibraltar and the Republic of Ireland.
Despite their recent struggles, Greece remains in contention, thanks to their promotion to the second tier of the Nations League in 2022-23.
Only goal difference separates them from the Netherlands in second place, with the Dutch holding a game in hand.
Greece has shown strength in their European Championship qualifiers at home, going unbeaten in their last four matches, with three consecutive wins.
However, it’s worth noting that they haven’t kept a clean sheet at home since 2011, offering Gibraltar a glimmer of hope.
In Group B, where five teams vie for qualification, Gibraltar has faced a series of defeats. Their most recent loss came at the hands of Malta, where Joseph Mbong’s 58th-minute strike secured a 1-0 victory for Malta.
Gibraltar’s Euro 2024 qualifying campaign has been tough, with four 3-0 losses to France, the Netherlands, the Republic of Ireland, and Greece, leaving them at the bottom of the group standings with a -12 goal difference.
They share the ignominious distinction of being one of only three teams without a point or a goal in the qualifiers.
Gibraltar’s away record in Euro qualifying is equally bleak, with just two goals scored away from home, and they recently lost 3-0 to Greece.
Team News
For Greece, Dinos Mavropanos is back from suspension and likely to return to the defense. Kostas Tsimikas, one booking away from suspension, might make way for Dimitris Giannoulis. Vangelis Pavlidis is expected to lead the attack.
Gibraltar’s left-back Bernardo Lopes is nursing an injury, potentially opening the door for Ethan Jolley, Jayce Olivero, or Joseph Chipolina in defense.
Roy Chipolina, the team captain, is set to earn his 70th cap. Liam Walker and Tjay De Barr are likely to feature in the attack alongside 18-year-old Nicholas Pozo.
Predicted Lineups
Greece:
- Vlachodimos
- Rota
- Mavropanos
- Chatzidiakos
- Giannoulis
- Kourbelis
- Bouchalakis
- Masouras
- Bakasetas
- Mantalos
- Pavlidis
Gibraltar:
- Coleing
- Sergeant
- Santos
- Hartman
- R. Chipolina
- Olivero
- Walker
- Britto
- Ronan
- De Barr
- Pozo
Match Prediction: Greece 4-0 Gibraltar
Greece, aiming to bounce back from their Dutch debacle, will be a formidable opponent for Gibraltar.
While Greece has a safety net with their Nations League success, they are expected to secure an emphatic victory with several goals.