Koutsianikoulis Makes Greece Squad

In cooperation with Goal.com:

Ergotelis midfielder Vasilios Koutsianikoulis is the surprise inclusion in Otto Rehhagel’s 20-man Greece squad to face Italy on Tuesday.

The friendly will be played at the Giorgios Karaiskakis Stadium, where in-form Panathinaikos striker Vangelis Mantzios might make an appearance against the reigning world champions after also being called up to the German’s squad.

However, the inclusion of Koutsianikoulis and his potential international debut will undoubtedly be the pre-match focus of fans and pundits alike.

The 20 year-old has barely established himself as a starter with his club Ergotelis, with home he stole headlines as he inspired his side to a stunning 3-2 win away at Panathinaikos last month, scoring two-goals and providing an assist at the OAKA Spiros Louis Stadium.

Panathinaikos’ teen prodigy Sotiris Ninis has also earned a place in the squad, as has AEK’s Vassilios Pliatsikas.

Greece squad: Konstantinos Chalkias (PAOK), Alexandros Tzorvas (Panathinaikos), Traianos Dellas (Anorthosis Famagusta), Sokratis Papastathopoulos (Genoa), Kostas Katsouranis (Benfica), Theofanis Gekas (Bayer Leverkusen), Nikos Lyberopoulos (Eintracht Frankfurt), Vangelis Mantzios (Panathinaikos), Loukas Vyntra (Panathinaikos), Avraam Papadopoulos (Olympiakos), Vasilis Torosidis (Olympiakos), Nikos Spyropoulos (Panathinaikos), Alexandros Tziolis (Panathinaikos), Christos Patsatzoglou (Olympiakos), Angelos Basinas (AEK Athens), Giorgios Karagounis (Panathinaikos), Dimitris Salpiggidis (Panathinaikos), Vasilios Koutsianikoulis (Ergotelis FC), Sotiris Ninis (Panathinaikos), Vasilis Pliatsikas (AEK Athens)