Preview GEO-GRE: Only One Point from EURO 2012

October 10th, 2011 | by: nick |

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Greece will be taking on Georgia tomorrow in a bid to qualify for UEFA Euro 2012. Santo’s team sit at the top of Group F with 21 points after a heroic victory over Croatia on Friday. In order to qualify for the final tournament, Greece only need a draw in Tbilisi to cement first place. A loss would give Croatia the initiative provided they win at home to Latvia. Interestingly enough Greece faced Georgia in their final qualifier back in October of 2005 in the failed campaign to reach the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Greece
Greece are undefeated so far in all matches managed under Santos. The confidence is certainly there, after all Croatia are ranked two places above Greece in latest FIFA World Rankings and reached the quarterfinals of the last Euro after defeating Germany in their group. To take four points of the team that was widely predicted to win the group is a very good achievement. But overconfidence can get the better of players if they do not stay focused. Thats exactly what happened in the first game of the campaign against Georgia in Athens last year. A defensive lapse allowed Aleksandr Iashvili to break through the Greek back line, go one on one with Michalis Sifakis, and slot the ball into the net. Fernando Santos has already been quoted in the football press urging focus and caution.

Despite an undefeated record, Santos does have few major suspensions to cause a headache. Giannis Zaradoukas, Giorgos Samaras, and Avraam Papadopoulos received their second cautions of the campaign and will be forced to sit out the crucial encounter. Santos has called up Stelios Malezas of PAOK and Ioannis Skondras of Atromitos in an effort to cover any defensive shortcomings.

The lineup will likely feature all of the usual starters in probably a Rehhagel style 4-3-3. It seems as though Santos will probably revert to using Rehhagel’s playing system and formation because it seems to be working better than anything else he has experimented with.

Georgia
Georgia go into this game knowing a victory for them will take four points off the 2004 European champions. They will certainly be playing without pressure as they are already eliminated and have nothing to lose. Greece should be cautious of this type of opposition especially when playing away from home. Georgia’s fighting home spirit defeated Croatia this past March.

Castrol Prediction

Greece 1-1 Georgia
Goals: Iashvilli 3, Spiropoulos 72
Here are the highlights of the first game in Athens, Sept 3, 2010