Make or break against Moldova

After an undefeated start to their World Cup qualifying campaign late in 2009, most people didn’t expect Greece to hit such a dry patch in the latter stages of their quest to reach the final tournament in South Africa.

Unfortunately, with just three matches left, what once looked so promising now looks barely achievable. Having been jipped for a 2-0 loss to the Swiss on Saturday, Greece face Moldova in Chisinau today (Wednesday), and anything but a win could potentially see Greece miss out on a trip to the World Cup, again.

Trailing Switzerland by three points for that automatic qualification spot, the hope for top spot is not completely lost; in fact, if Latvia can do Greece a favour and beat the Swiss today, that result alongside a Greek win would catapult the 2004 European Champions back to the summit of Group 2 – only this time the Latvians and Swiss would join Greece for a here-way tie for first.

But Moldova has never been an easy place to play for the Greeks, even in Athens Otto Rehhagel’s men have struggled to get a result. Bar their recent meeting with the Moldovans at the Giorgos Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus, Greece has just managed slim 1-0 and 2-1 wins against the minnows of the group – Nikos Liberopoulos netting a dramatic winner in the dying seconds, twice.

So if Greek fans are a bit worried this evening, they have reason to be. Expected to come through, Greece are tipped to take the first step to recovery at the Zumbru Stadium, but for a country that hasn’t qualified for a World Cup since USA ‘94, a play-off spot berth is like walking down a dark alley.

Thankfully their guiding light has been declared fit to play tonight, Giorgos Karagounis is expected to the line-up after missing the weekend fixture in Basel – news certainly welcomed with open arms by Greek fans everywhere.