After a score-less draw in Athens on Saturday, Greece secured their spot in next summer’s FIFA World Cup in South Africa on the final day of qualifying. A sweet pass from Giorgos Samaras found Salpingidis with plenty of space as he slipped past the Ukrainian defense and released a grounded effort past Andriy Pyatov, which flirted with the right post before catching the corner of the goal.

It wasn’t just Salpingidis or Samaras that contributed to the Greek victory. No, Greece isn’t a team that revolves around one player’s performances. It’s a team that plays and wins like a team. Therefore, the performance of Alexandros Tzorvas in the Greek goal should be duly noted. The Panathinaikos ‘keeper was sensational as he turned away Oleksandr Aliyev, and Andiry Shevchenko on numerous occasions.

Furthermore, the Greek defense, despite late injuries to Vasilis Pliatsikas and Vaggelis Moras after substitutions ran dry for Otto Rehhagel, gave a performance that resembled the magical run from EURO 2004.

Giorgos Karagounis has truly evolved into the team leader, and seems fit to play the same role that Thodoris Zagorakis feature in as captain of the EURO 2004-winning Greek squad, while Kostas Katsouranis’ move back to Greece is paying off on his international career.

In attack, the golden-boy Angelos Charisteas was a surprise starter for me as I expected Theofanis Gekas to partner up with Samaras, but he did his country proud with another blue-collar performance. Samaras, however, as my friend put it “looked like a real Spartan out there.” Granted the Celtic striker is actually from Crete, he managed to earn a second hometown with a commanding performance in the Greek attack as he looked untouchable at times when dribbling through a handful of Ukrainian defenders.

So thanks to a moment of brilliance and a lot of hard work, or what can be classified as a near replica of a 1-0 win over Turkey that clinched a berth at EURO 2008, Greece are heading back to the World Cup for the first time in nearly sixteen years and for just the second time in their history.

Their maiden-appearance at USA ’94 saw Greece finish the group-stage with a winless record as Argentina, Bulgaria, and Nigeria claimed wins to leave the Greeks at the foot of the table and on the first charter back to Athens.

It might be that sort of legacy that allows for fans of the game not pledging to the Blue-and-White to conspire against Greek football, with remarks such as “I hate to say it, but the loser here isn’t Ukraine, but SA 2010 if Greece qualify. 90 mins of naptime,” or “Greece are through, by the by. So 31 watchable teams at SA2010 at most.”

As you can see there is a lot of hate towards Greek football, just because the Ethniki doesn’t employ talents such as Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi. But on a night where France’s Thierry Henry showed talent comparable with compatriot and NBA star Tony Parker to provide an assist for William Gallas and mastermind an undeserved defeat of the Irish in Paris, Greece isn’t the side that is undeserving of their World Cup berth.

In fact, teams like France and Portugal displayed anything but “watchable” football as their play-off detour suggests – particularly Titi with his criminal activity against the Irish.

So to all the anti-Greeks out there, I tell you to “F*** OFF, and have a good day!” To the rest of the lot, “See you in South Africa!”

Beating Latvia and Luxembourg on the final two matchdays of preliminary play in Europe was not enough to book a direct ticket to South Africa, despite a 0-0 draw for the Swiss against Israel.

So play-offs is the route we must take, a slight detour from the once thought direct passage to South Africa. Last Friday’s release of the October FIFA World Rankings confirmed Greece’s spot as one of the four seeded teams in Monday’s draw in Zurich.

We were joined by France, Portugal, and Russia as the four seeded teams, while Ukraine, the Republic of Ireland, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Slovenia were placed in the unseeded pot.

Although it is obviously a great benefit to have been a seeded team in the draw – eg. we avoid Russia, France, Portugal (we kick their ass every time) – the way the draw results worked out it still seems like Greece is an unseeded team. Not because Ukraine is our opponent, but the fact that some bullshit manoeuvre by FIFA sees Greece host the first match on 14 November, and play visitor in the second leg four days later.

Like seriously, what kind of bullshit move is that? We were ranked as a seeded team, so in my opinion, and traditionally UEFA’s as well, we should have home advantage on the second matchday. That’s what they use for the UEFA Champions League, it was used for the UEFA Cup, and it will be used again for the UEFA Europa League. So why the fuck does it not apply for international competitions? Beats the fuck out of me.

Anyway, I’m not going to complain too much about that. I have the utmost confidence in the national team to beat a really solid Ukraine team. In all fairness to Ukraine, but from the most objective perspective I can take, Greece is the more complete team in this tie – despite the whole Shevchenko factor (who, might I add, is NOT the only Ukrainian player I know).

There are many Ukrainians which pose a threat, and Greece has encountered this threat in recent qualifying campaigns – notably during their bid to reach the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Greece tied Ukraine in the first fixture in Kiev, before slipping to defeat in Piraeus – thanks to that schmuck Basinas.

The draw in Ukraine, the more admirable of the results leads me back to some vintage Greek videos. The clip below is Greece’s strike from ex-footballers Vassilis Tsiartas, who AEK Athens FC fans know as their clutch free-kick taker.

That right there is a GOLARA my friends.

Author’s Note: It’s obvious after yesterday’s post by offside.com and worldcupblog.org blogger Chris on the main page that Greece is not taken seriously on this website, and that’s fine by me – Greeks will take the underdog ranking any day.

FIFA or UEFA rankings for us mean absolutely nothing. They’re never accurate so when Greece is ranked highly all you’ll hear – from a general standpoint – is a “meh”. We only care about being ranked above our bitter rivals/thorns in our side “nations” – eg. Turkey, Albania, Bulgaria, FYROM (the parentheses around nation refers directly to the last named chunk of land we in Greece refer to as Skopia) Note: Lack of political correctness…awesome

It was supposed a win for Greece, it really was. After starting my second year of studies at York University earlier in the day, my return home was supposed to be a relaxing end to the day; however, a miserable night in front of goal caused me and many Greeks fans across the globe, to suffer a stressful evening.

It wasn’t all bad; in fact, a brief ten minutes of the game was perfect as Greece were clinging on for a 1-0 lead over Moldova, while the Swiss were losing to Latvia, 2-1 in Riga – results that would have set up for a three-way tie at the top of the Group 2 standings.

But if Eren Derdiyok’s equalizer in Latvia was any indication of how Greece’s night was going to end, Otto Rehhagel’s men were caught off-guard as second-half substitute Andronic etched himself onto the score-sheet on the  stroke of stoppage time.

It was a bitter blow for the Greeks as Theofanis Gekas was the lone striker to solve Moldovan ‘keeper Stanislav Namasco, despite a wealth of possession in the Moldovan end throughout the match.

While the draw doesn’t completely write-off Greece for a spot in South Africa next summer, they’re still tipped to at least grab second spot in the group, next month’s meeting with Latvia in Athens is all the more important.

After the Latvians beat Israel over the weekend, basically gaining ground on Greece, a draw with the Swiss on Wednesday leaves them level on points with the Greeks – only an inferior goal differential keeping them just behind the 2004 European Champions.

So with two games left in qualifying, Switzerland top the table with 17 points, Greece and Latvia next up with 14, Israel – who romped Luxembourg 7-0 on Wednesday – remains in fourth on 12 points, while minnows Luxembourg and Moldova round up the group with 5 and 3 points respectively.

While Greece hosts Latvia on 10 November, Switzerland travel to face Luxembourg – the lone side to have beaten them during this campaign, and Israel tackle Moldova at home.

Four days later, on 14 November, Greece conclude their campaign at home to Luxembourg, while Israel visits Switzerland, and Latvia hosts Moldova.

Match report

Highlights:

Anyway, first off, I am deeply sorry for abandoning you, my readers, I think there is like two, oh wait one of them is I think my colleague Chris, so yah that other guy that’s reading, this one’s for you…

Okay. In a match featuring the top two teams in Group 2 of the UEFA zone of qualifiers for next summer’s FIFA World Cup in South Africa, Greece travelled to St. Jakob Park for a highly-anticipated meeting with Switzerland.

With such high stakes on the line, a late first-half red card for Loukas Vyntra, was the ultimate, and solitary catalyst, for a late, very late, Greek meltdown.

Despite give it their all for just about eighty-minutes, about forty-one of those shorthanded, Greece conceded on eighty-three minutes to trigger a cave-in late in the second half.

A free-kick from Hakan Yakin was headed home by Stephane Grichting, while Marco Padalino confirmed the win for the Swiss with a tally of his own five minutes after Ottmar Hitzfeld’s side grabbed the lead.

Despite the shortage in men, Greece had previously come close to scoring a goal of their own just after the hour mark. A team-mate of Vyntra’s at Panathinaikos FC, Nikos Spyropoulos nearly netted his first goal for the Greek National team when he fired a shot on-goal, only to have Diego Benaglio save the effort, but not well enough to avoid Greek fans slipping to the edge of their seats.

In fact, it must have been the most tormenting play of this qualifying campaign thus far, the saved effort eluding the Swiss goal before brushing against the post, only to have an offside-call on Giorgos Samaras end Greece’s best chance in disappointing fashion.

So the Swiss beat us again Belgian referee Frank De Bleeckere (I’ve found multiple names for him since Vyntra’s dismissal) handed Switzerland another win; he was the same referee who was in charge of that decisive second-leg play-off tie the Swiss had with Turkey in qualification for World Cup 2006. Guess who won that? ‘Nuff said.

And a recent posting on the very popular Greek site, www.sport24.gr, further backs notions that he is a poor referee – still UEFA chose him to officiate the recent UEFA Super Cup title between FC Barcelona and FC Shakhtar Donetsk. If you don’t believe me about how much of a screw-up he really is, check the videos on that sport24.gr link labeled as “posting”.

Now I have embedded a video to support my argument, sadly it’s German so I don’t really understand what the commentator is saying, but it shows enough of a replay to support my arguments.

While Vyntra and Magnin were both warned by De Bleeckere about the pair testing his patience, there seemed to be an added grudge towards Vyntra. And with one of the Swiss players pulling a pick-and-roll type maneuver found commonly in basketball, Vyntra easily lost his balance as he tried to keep up with Magnin.

But apparently placing one hand on a player, is not okay anymore, or wait, let me phrase: placing a hand on an opposing player is not allowed any more if a Greek does it.

Well, for now that is enough of a rant. You guys watch the video and decide if De Bleeckere made the right choice by leaving a comment below. Don’t worry, I don’t bite.

Match Report

Yes, the manager of the Greek National Team is raw with his comments, and a recent featured article of FIFA.com exposed Rehhagel’s greatest, and most unique, moments behind the microphone. I’ll warn you now; some phrases are classics, while some will leave you scratching your head. I’m sure you all can tell the difference.

“Everyone’s free to say what I want.”
Rehhagel on his attitude to criticism

“Verbals haven’t won a game yet.”
Rehhagel on pre-match jibes issued by an opposing coach

“I told the lads: don’t be too afraid if Thierry Henry appears in your dreams at night.”
Rehhagel ahead of a quarter-final meeting with France at UEFA EURO 2004

“I want to know the aftershave used by every player in Europe.”
Rehhagel on getting his players to stick to their men

“Saving easy shots is easy. Saving difficult shots is always difficult.”
Rehhagel on goalkeeping

“Some you lose, and some are won by your opponents.”
Rehhagel after a bitter defeat

“If you finish first, you’re in the right. So I’m in the right. You can speak to me again when I finish fifth.”
Rehhagel to a reporter unconvinced by success

“We play our best football when there’s no opposition.”
Rehhagel asked how he would return a team to winning ways

“The truth is out there on the field.”
Rehhagel answering criticism of his defensive tactics

“Football is like maths, two plus two makes four. If you reckon two plus two makes five, you lose.”
Rehhagel attempting to explain football

“If I lose a couple of matches, the people who were throwing flowers at me suddenly throw the pots as well.”
Rehhagel asked what would happen if a losing streak continued

“In the past, they all did as they pleased. Now, they all do what they can.”
Rehhagel on the secret of his success with Greece

“I started thinking about the Swedes back in 1958, when Pele scored his first goal.”
Rehhagel on opening day opponents Sweden at UEFA EURO 2008

“I need players who are better with the ball than with a microphone.”
Rehhagel on media interest in his players

See the full article at fifa.com

Four days after being held to a 1-1 draw in Tel-Aviv, Greece hosts Israel in the second half a double-date when both sides rekindle their challenge for top spot on Wednesday.

The Greeks’ hopes of qualifying for just their second World Cup Finals are still intact, but Saturday night’s draw with Group 2 rivals Israel took its toll on their lead at the group’s summit – which now flimsily stands on goal differential over Switzerland.

Israel, meanwhile, are still one point back of the joint group leaders with nine points to their name; but a win in Greece on Wednesday would be a big boost for Dror Kashtan’s men, whose captain, Yossi Benayoun, faces another race to fitness.

Cretan Cruise

The game might not be a cruise in the Cyclades, but Greece will be hoping the island-like surroundings of the Pankritio Stadium in Heraklion allow Otto Rehhagel’s men to set sail in Crete.

The last time the former European Champions hosted opposition on the southernmost Greek island was during qualification for last summer’s European Championships. A sturdy Greece stood tall against Hungary and Moldova; paving the way to top spot in the group.

If their place atop the group standings this term is to hold firm for yet another matchday, a full three points will be required of the Galanoleuki. While the feat may be strenuous, Saturday’s performance showed Greece has the right tonic to collect maximum points on Wednesday.

The only flaw, however, was several miscommunications in a potent attack that has long-expired its boiling point.

Shine like a “Sahar”

The road to South Africa from an Israeli standpoint is highlighted by Jewish history, as Israel look to return to the promise land after a forty-year wait. Their desired destination doesn’t require a refresher in history, but they’ll have to improve on their performance from the weekend.

Their hopes traditionally stemmed through Benayoun, but another Israeli prodigy has made his way into the limelight. Ben Sahar showed scintillating skill on the weekend, as his pace and ability left the Greek defense flat-footed on many occasions.

On the contrary, their home record doesn’t hold much to be admired; so a trip to Greece, with the dire need to grab full points a priority, could revitalize Israel.

The crowd on hand at the Ramat Gan Stadium jeered their squad during the interval; a reaction not forgotten by the Israel squad. An equally pressured atmosphere, this time with the Greeks under the microscope, could allow Israel to recapture their zest and squeak ahead of their hosts.

FORM GUIDE

Israel

Oct 11.    Luxembourg 1-3 Israel    (World Cup Qualifier)
Oct 15.    Latvia 1-1 Israel    (World Cup Qualifier)
Nov 19.   Israel 2-2 Ivory Coast   (Friendly)
Feb 11.    Israel 1-0 Hungary    (Friendly)
Mar 28.   Israel 1 -1 Greece      (World Cup Qualifier)

Greece

Oct 11.    Greece 3 – 0 Moldova    (World Cup Qualifier)
Oct 15.    Greece 1 – 2 Switzerland    (World Cup Qualifier)
Nov 19.    Greece 1 – 1 Italy    (Friendly)
Feb 11.    Greece 1 – 1 Denmark    (Friendly)
Mar 28.   Israel 1 -1 Greece      (World Cup Qualifier)

TEAM NEWS

Israel

Pre-match news continues to revolve around the health of Benayoun, but the Liverpool midfielder could again upset his English employers and suit up for his country. Gal Alberman, however, did not travel with the team to Greece and will not take part in the crucial match in Crete.

Probable Starting XI: Dudu Aouate – Klemi Saban, Tal Ben Haim, Dekel Keinan, Dedi Ben Dayan – Ben Sahar, Gil Vermuth, Tamir Cohen, Yossi Benayoun – Omer Golan, Elyaniv Barda.

Greece

Greece’s bill of health continues to sparkle, but precautions have overtaken the fitness of inspirational midfielder Giorgos Karagounis. The Panathinaikos midfielder followed an individual training session on Tuesday, but should be ready for Wednesday night.

Probable Starting XI: Kostas Chalkias – Vasilis Torosidis, Avraam Papadopoulos, Sotirios Kyrgiakos, Giourkas Seitaridis – Angelos Basinas, Kostas Katsouranis, Giorgos Karagounis – Theofanis Gekas, Angelos Charisteas, Giorgos Samaras.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Israel

Ben Sahar’s brilliance makes him a spectacle to monitor, as the Chelsea prospect frustrated the Greek defense in Tel-Aviv. The 19-year-old, however, has the ability to make the players around shine. The Greek back-line might be more familiar with what they’re dealing with now, but a dynamic Sahar will likely fight through.

Greece

Theofanis Gekas rose to the occasion on Saturday, while Angelos Charisteas was left perplexed by his lack of effiecency in front of goal. Expect the latter to redeem himself as Greece’s golden boy as the man charged with winning the European Championships for Greece back in 2004 aims to set the record straight in Crete.

PREDICTION

Pressure now lies on the shoulders of Greece as their grip on top spot has been breached, and it will be challenged yet again on Wednesday. Expect Otto Rehhagel’s side to answer their critics with a similar performance from Saturday, but the home crowd should instil more confidence in the Greeks.

Greece 2-0 Israel

Peter Katsiris

Greece’s lead at the top of the Group 2 standings took a hit as Israel provided a come-back display to hold the Greeks to a 1-1 draw in Ramat Gan.

Theofanis Gekas revealed his skill-set was not rusty when he opened the scoring ahead of the interval, but Israel pegged back just after half-time with an equalizer through Omer Golan.

Greece still held true their hopes of reaching the World Cup Finals with a continuously creative performance in attack; however, a sloppy night in front of goal kept the score-line level at Ramat Gan’s National Stadium.

With their inability to claim full points, the Greeks saw their lead at the Group 2 summit disappear with Switzerland’s win in Chisnau – raising the stakes ahead of Israel’s visit to Crete on Wednesday.

First Half

Once both sides overcame a brief test of nerves, it was Israel who emerged with the lion’s share of possession; however, the Greeks were the first to come close to an early tally.

Avraam Papadopoulos provided a headed pass into the Israeli box, where Traianos Dellas potently slapped a header of his own past ‘keeper Dudu Aouate; but the effort was ejected when an alert Tal Ben Haim cleared the effort off the line.

Israel looked to their captain and Liverpool midfielder Yossi Benayoun for inspiration, but the left-winger was frustrated by a strict Greek defense.

As a passionate crowd continued to cheer on the home side, Israel managed to creep into the Greek half through wunderkind Ben Sahar. The teenager troubled the Greek defense on the right flank, but not to the required extent to permit a chance against ‘keeper Kostas Chalkias

At the other end, a suddenly confident Greek attack resumed its services when a creative combination featuring Angelos Basinas and Giourkas Seitaridis would have silenced the crowd had the latter not flashed his effort wide.

It was three minutes before half-time that Greece stunned their hosts, as Theofanis Gekas cheekily poked a loose ball past Aouate to give Greece the lead ahead of the interval. The Portsmouth striker was sharply positioned and clinical with his finish despite being left to rot at Fratton Park.

Second Half

Israel returned for the second half with urgency in their attack, as it appeared words from manager Dror Kashtan inspired the hosts to look for an early equalizer.

The quest for a leveller got off to the appropriate start as Benayoun raced into the Greek box before providing a cross into the box. Chalkias was quick to foil the play, but the bigger problem for Israel was a swift Greek counter-attack.

While their objective was to score, Israel nearly conceded for a second time when Giorgos Karagounis was allowed into the box on fifty-four minutes. The Panathinaikos midfielder, however, wasted the chance as it rocketed over the bar.

Not discouraged by their shortcomings in defense, Israel still pushed towards the Greek goal and completed their mission when Omer Golan slotted past Chalkias. Again it was Benayoun zooming into the box before threading a pass to Golan who finished to the delight of the home crowd.

Forced to find another goal, Greece remained the stronger side in attack as a second goal was now mandatory. The wait was nearly put to an abrupt end when Gekas found himself in a familiar circumstance in front of Aouate’s goal; however, there was no brace as he fired into the side netting.

Ten minutes later it was Israel in-line for a go-ahead goal as sloppy defending from Dellas allowed substitute Barak Itzhaki to break towards Chalkias. The replacement for Elyaniv Barda was not as elusive against the Greek shot-stopper, who parried the effort away for a corner.

Mere moments later Israel suffered the loss of the talismanic Benayoun to injury and from that point on Israel’s attack lacked creativity.

The Greek attack had also turned dull but had the opportunity to seize a late lead when a header from Sotiris Kyrgiakos required a sharp header away from defender Klemi Saban.

Determined to seal maximum points, Greece stubbornly sped towards Aouate’s goal with Giorgos Samaras laying-off a pass for Christos Patsatzoglou after a dynamic run from the Celtic forward. Known for his heavy foot, Patsatzoglou didn’t hesitate to release a driven effort but a slight deflection forced the effort wide.

Unable to beat Aouate yet again, the final whistle came with a dose of disappointment, as the replay in Heraklion now holds a must-win importance if Greece are to remain frontrunners for World Cup Finals in South Africa.

Israel 1-1 Greece
Golan 55′ – Gekas 42′

Yellow Cards:
Israel – Sahar 49′.
Greece – Dellas 11′.

Israel (Dror Kashtan): Aouate, Saban, Ben Haim, Keinan, Ben Dayan, Sahar, Alberman, Cohen (85′ Vermouth), Benayoun (77′ Kayal), Barda (60′ Itzhaki), Golan.

Greece (Otto Rehhagel): Chalkias, Seitaridis, Papadopoulos, Dellas, Kyrgiakos, Torosidis, Tziolis (87′ Patsatzoglou), Basinas (62′ Samaras), Charisteas, Gekas, Karagounis.

Referee: Roberto Rosetti (Italy)

Venue: National Stadium, Ramat Gan, Israel.

In cooperation with Goal.com:

Ramat Gan plays hosts to a table-topping battle this weekend as Israel hosts Greece, with the former bottling aspirations of overtaking their guests for top spot in Group 2; however, the EURO 2004 winners will be keen to put up a fight in the first of a doubleheader with Israel…

The preliminary round might just be reaching its interval, but Saturday night holds great importance for either side’s hopes of reaching the World Cup Finals in just over a year’s time. With one-point separating the sides, a tactical battle is expected ahead of the biggest challenge for either side thus far.

Home Advantage

Israel’s hopes of qualifying for their first World Cup Finals in forty years will depend heavily on their form at home, as the national team’s loyal supporters have the potential to sway the game.

Knowing both sides will meet again in the coming week, this match holds a must-win feeling for the hosts. It will also be a time to rebound for Dror Kashtan’s side after a disappointing draw with Latvia in their last World Cup qualifier. They remain the only undefeated side in the group, and can take confidence from their recent friendly win over Hungary.

On the contrary, Israel has struggled against Greece historically, having collected just two wins compared to Greece’s seven. With that poor form against their Balkan guests, Israel’s ambitions will be hinted with what appears to be a bright future for Israeli football.

Restoring Pride

Greek Independence Day was celebrated earlier in the week, but pride in the Greek National Team has been lacking in recent months. Greece will be urged to win back their fans with a strong showing on Saturday.

Winless since their defeat to Switzerland in a World Cup Qualifier in Piraeus, Greece’s lacklustre form is a worrying point for manager Otto Rehhagel. A potent attack has lacked success in front of goal, while troubles in the backline have stemmed from inconsistency; yet Greece has still managed to hold down top spot.

A resolute Greece squad must be in attendance if the Galanoleuki are to withstand Israel’s pressure, and remain frontrunners for next year’s World Cup. A traditional defensive formation will be the key, but a dose of youth might be necessary to keep pace with a sharp Israeli midfield.

FORM GUIDE

Israel

Sep 10.    Moldova 1-2 Israel    (World Cup Qualifier)
Oct 11.    Luxembourg 1-3 Israel    (World Cup Qualifier)
Oct 15.    Latvia 1-1 Israel    (World Cup Qualifier)
Nov 19.   Israel 2-2 Ivory Coast   (Friendly)
Feb 11.    Israel 1-0 Hungary    (Friendly)

Greece

Sep 10.    Latvia 0 – 2 Greece    (World Cup Qualifier)
Oct 11.    Greece 3 – 0 Moldova    (World Cup Qualifier)
Oct 15.    Greece 1 – 2 Switzerland    (World Cup Qualifier)
Nov 19.    Greece 1 – 1 Italy    (Friendly)
Feb 11.    Greece 1 – 1 Denmark    (Friendly)

TEAM NEWS

Israel

Yossi Benayoun remains questionable for Israel as the Liverpool midfielder has not reached full fitness, but his status will be revaluated ahead of kickoff for the opportunity of being a game-time addition.

Greece

A slight training ground injury to Giourkas Seitaridis appears to be Greece’s only problem, but the Atletico Madrid man is likely to sit out the match as Loukas Vyntra provides cover.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Israel

With Benayoun doubtful for the match, the rest of the Israel squad will have to provide cover in the absence of their captain. Ben Sahar could be a vital part of the squad as the wunderkind will undoubtedly cause Greece problems down the flank.

Greece

Aside from the squad’s traditional performers, it will be interesting to see if Theofanis Gekas will make his presence felt after a long stint on the sidelines at Portsmouth FC. Team-mate Angelos Basinas has also been part of a conspiracy keeping the Greece duo on the bench at Pompey, and it now seems their time with the national team will be their best chance of earning a spot in the Portsmouth line-up.

PREDICTION

With top spot hanging in the balance both sides have their sights set firmly on securing a win. Israel’s passionate crowd gives them the edge, but an experienced Greece shouldn’t be disregarded. A low-scoring draw could be what both sides are destined for come kick-off.

Israel 1-1 Greece

A very experienced core of players continue to hold their spots with the ‘Ethniki’, including Angelos Basinas who has since left AEK Athens to join English side Portsmouth FC.

Fellow midfielder Giorgos Karagounis joins the former AEK midfielder, as does Olympiacos midfielder Christos Patsatzoglou.

Evangelos Mantzios has missed out on call-up after returning to the squad against Italy. His Panathinaikos teammate, however, Dimitrios Salpigidis, has been named as the lone domestic striker.

In defense there isn’t much change to a regular back line presented by the Greeks, as Vasilis Torosidis leads a charge of domestic defenders which also include Sotiris Kyrgiakos and Nikos Spyropoulos.

Kostas Chalkias remains on the list of goalkeepers selected by Rehhagel, but the PAOK shot stopper is joined by Super League rival Alexandros Tzorvas. The Panathinaikos ‘keeper impressed in a 1-1 draw with Adriatic rivals Italy, and could potentially start against the Danes next Wednesday.

The German bench boss has passed on the likes of Greek youngsters Sotiris Ninis and Vasilis Koutsianikoulis, even though the pair were called up for a friendly with Italy back in November.

This will be Greece’s final test before meeting Group B rivals Israel for a back-to-back meeting with the second placed side in Group B.

Greece (Otto Rehhagel):

Goalkeepers — Konstantinos Chalkias (PAOK), Alexandros Tzorvas (Panathinaikos).

Defenders: Traianos Dellas (Anorthosis Famagusta), Sokratis Papastathopoulos (Genoa), Loukas Vyntra (Panathinaikos), Avraam Papadopoulos (Olympiacos), Vasilis Torosidis (Olympiacos), Nikos Spyropoulos (Panathinaikos), Giourkas Seitaridis (Atletico Madrid), Sotiris Kyrgiakos (AEK Athens), Vangelis Moras (Bologna)

Midfielders: Kostas Katsouranis (Benfica), Alexandros Tziolis (Werder Bremen), Christos Patsatzoglou (Olympiacos), Angelos Basinas (Portsmouth), Giorgos Karagounis (Panathinaikos).

Strikers: Theofanis Gekas (Portsmouth), Nikos Lyberopoulos (Eintracht Frankfurt), Dimitrios Salpigidis (Panathinaikos), Angelos Charisteas (Bayer Leverkusen), Giorgos Samaras (Celtic).

While the EPO had originally planned to schedule Greece’s final two qualifying fixtures in Crete, the lack of support shown in Greece’s last home qualifier against Switzerland and most recent encounter with World Champions Italy has forced Greece’s governing body to intervene.

While Greece’s first action of the New Year, a friendly against Denmark in February, was relocated from its original location of Olympiacos’ Giorgos Karaisakis Stadium to Panthessaliko Stadium in Volos, the ‘Galanoleuki’s’ first competitive home encounter also follows the path of relocation from Piraeus to the Pangkritio Stadium in Heraklion.

While the latter half of Greece’s back-to-back set of fixtures against Israel has now been settled, the EPO also has intentions of the possible relocation of Greece’s first fixture against Israel as violence in Gaza continues. Currently the fixture is scheduled in Ramat Gan, a mere 45 miles away from the Gaza Strip.

It is expected the EPO will contact FIFA through an appeal to reschedule, or more likely relocate the fixture to a less conflicted location.