The Pirate Ship hasn’t sunk yet, but its adventure in the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign isn’t great so far. Greece will need to get things right against Latvia on Friday night…
To have an unbeaten record is always a positive sign, and that’s something which the Greek possess presently. However, they still need to click as a team on the field of play – especially in attack. Spiropoulos is the only name on Greece’s Euro 2012 qualifying campaign goal scoring sheet as Croatia denied them from breaking the deadlock in Zagreb on match-day two. But, this goal scoring issue will have to change when they host Latvia this week.
Table statistics read that the competition in Group F is still wide open although bottom and sixth-placed Malta don’t look as realistic contenders at all. Well, Greece seat just above them in fifth with 2 points like Georgia with who they drew when they opened their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign back in September.
Meanwhile, Latvia took their chances against Malta to bounce back from a thumping 3-0 home defeat against Croatia. The Euro 2004 participants therefore have a mathematical advantage over the Greeks as they occupy the third spot in Group F.
But what will match-day three reveal? A Fanis Gekas-powered Greek side defeated Latvia 5-2 last year as the 2004 European Champions eventually qualified for the finals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Whereas Friday’s visitors will try to create a much better result this time, Greece will hope for a repeat of such an emphatic victory. This kind of result will be quite a way for Fernando Santos’ men to put an end to their goal scoring problems.
One man that could diminish the Greeks’ frustration in attack is Nikos Liberopoulos. The player will feature in his first matches for the national team since retiring from international football in September 2009. It is understood that Liberopoulos, who netted 13 goals in 64 appearances for Greece, accepted Coach Fernanod Santos’ call-up to the squad. The Portuguese boss explained the situation during a press conference:
“Based on what Liberopoulos had said last year, we spoke to him to know about his intentions. I thought it was actually natural to call him, since he has been playing well and scoring goals.
“Liberopoulos is a player that can hold the ball, and that’s the kind of player we need for our upcoming [Euro 2012 qualifying] matches. He told us that he is willing to help us, so I think we can count on him.”
Nikos Liberopoulos will be assisted by Georigos Samaras in attack whereas Spyropoulos will keep his place in defense. Are the Greeks ready to send Latvia back to their country with no points in the bag?
Table statistics read that the competition in Group F is still wide open although bottom and sixth-placed Malta don’t look as realistic contenders at all. Well, Greece seat just above them in fifth with 2 points like Georgia with who they drew when they opened their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign back in September.
Meanwhile, Latvia took their chances against Malta to bounce back from a thumping 3-0 home defeat against Croatia. The Euro 2004 participants therefore have a mathematical advantage over the Greeks as they occupy the third spot in Group F.
But what will match-day three reveal? A Fanis Gekas-powered Greek side defeated Latvia 5-2 last year as the 2004 European Champions eventually qualified for the finals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Whereas Friday’s visitors will try to create a much better result this time, Greece will hope for a repeat of such an emphatic victory. This kind of result will be quite a way for Fernando Santos’ men to put an end to their goal scoring problems.
One man that could diminish the Greeks’ frustration in attack is Nikos Liberopoulos. The player will feature in his first matches for the national team since retiring from international football in September 2009. It is understood that Liberopoulos, who netted 13 goals in 64 appearances for Greece, accepted Coach Fernanod Santos’ call-up to the squad. The Portuguese boss explained the situation during a press conference:
“Based on what Liberopoulos had said last year, we spoke to him to know about his intentions. I thought it was actually natural to call him, since he has been playing well and scoring goals.
“Liberopoulos is a player that can hold the ball, and that’s the kind of player we need for our upcoming [Euro 2012 qualifying] matches. He told us that he is willing to help us, so I think we can count on him.”
Nikos Liberopoulos will be assisted by Georigos Samaras in attack whereas Spyropoulos will keep his place in defense. Are the Greeks ready to send Latvia back to their country with no points in the bag?
