In the build-up to the halftime break at Wembley on Thursday evening, Giorgos Masouras of Greece made a decisive move with the ball, swiftly advancing towards the midfield. The Greek side had shown signs of threat on the counterattack, proving to be a brisk force on the field.
The English team seemed discomposed. The strategy coming into play, commonly referred to as Lee Carsley’s ‘False 9’, was not having the intended impact, leading to a growing feeling of impending failure amongst the Wembley audience.
Indeed, the tension was palpable even on the field as Bukayo Saka of England resorted to a foul, felling Masouras mid-run to temporarily disrupt the Greek advance. He was sanctioned with a yellow card for this action.
The outcome certainly could not have been to Saka’s preference, who might have preferred the play to develop differently. The recurring issue, it seems, stemmed from certain strategic decisions – the reluctance of left-footed wingers to progress forward. This dichotomy, aggravated by the presence of Saka and Anthony Gordon on the flanks, contributed to an oddly subdued performance from England.
The impact of Saka’s foul on Masouras indirectly highlighted the ongoing balance of power in the match – as well as the resurgence of the Greek side. The English players, seemingly out of sync with their plan, were rattled, but not necessarily due to their own shortcomings. There was undeniable pressure from a well-composed Greek side.
The Greeks showcased tenacity and precision through their team plays and individual contributions. This was despite the sobering news of George Baldock’s tragic passing in Athens, a development which had led the Greek FA to ask for the match’s postponement. Instead of being thrown off-course, the Greek team managed to harness their grief and translated it into a monumental win.
Historically, Greece had always fallen short against England, never scoring a goal at Wembley, let alone winning a match against them. Moreover, they hadn’t defeated a team from FIFA’s top five in two decades. Yet, on this day, they not only met these challenges head-on but passed them with an emphatic display of football – a remarkable “hat-trick” performance complete with three disallowed offside goals. The narrative wasn’t limited to England’s discipline waning; it was as much a case of Greece stepping up and taking the victory.
To Irish fans, this turn of events may not seem out of the ordinary. Merely five weeks ago, the Greeks won against Ireland in Dublin with a 2-0 margin. It was Greece’s third victory against Ireland in a span of 15 months, leading to them gaining a reputation as a formidable adversary. This recent victory over England only serves to emphasise their emergence as a significant player on the football field.
Ivan Jovanovic has replaced the outgoing Gus Poyet who was renowned for his chattiness. Ian Wright described Jovanovic and his crew as “wily”, a compliment that may not fully capture their breadth. Previous comments from John O’Shea, ahead of their clash last month, urged people not to underestimate the Greek squad. Despite the common Irish perception of ‘oh, it’s just Greece’, a closer examination of the team’s composition reveals a group of hardened, experienced players.
O’Shea didn’t forget that Greece failed to appear at the recent Euros because of a penalty shoot-out loss in Georgia. He remembers them almost overpowering France last November, ending in a 2-2 draw, and only being defeated by Germany and the Netherlands with goals in the final minutes. Perhaps the English team should take note of this – the tendency to overlook one’s opponents isn’t unique to Irish football.
People continue to downplay Greece’s potential, even as the team ascends. They are expected to be Pot 2 for the upcoming World Cup draw in December and have now secured a significant win that highlights their emerging force. There is a Croatian-like blend of power and finesse in their gameplay.
On Friday, chatter in Greece was bubbling with excitement, praising the fast and effective work of 62-year-old Jovanovic, the Serbian who is viewed as a unifier post-Poyet era. Jovanovic brings his experience from managing three Greek clubs, including Panathinaikos, and leading Apoel of Cyprus into the Champions League quarterfinals a dozen years ago—with a team worth just €1 million performing admirably against big spenders Real Madrid.
In their last three Nations League games, Greece has earned victories in all and only let in one goal whilst scoring seven. Jude Bellingham’s last-minute equaliser did raise some doubts about the abilities of goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos, who has seen only 45 minutes on the field for Newcastle United since transferring from Nottingham Forest in the summer. This is an aspect for Heimir Hallgrímsson to mull over.
In spite of Fotis Ioannidis’s injury sidelining him from last weekend’s game and from the upcoming match in Piraeus, Vangelis Pavlidis has stepped up, scoring Greece’s most recent goals. Although not universally acclaimed in Greece, his performance for Benfica suggests he would easily make the starting lineup for Ireland.
The first Greek goal in Dublin was courtesy of Ioannidis and Christos Tzolis netted the second. Tzolis, a stand-out performer in Thursday’s game, is yet another player who, if he were French or Dutch, may have commanded more attention and a higher financial value. Having joined Norwich City at the age of 19 in 2021, along with Adam Idah, his tenure wasn’t deemed a success. Now aged 22, Tzolis currently represents Bruges, scoring in the Champions League. Speculation suggests we could see him playing for Brighton or Brentford in the near future.
Konstantinos Tsimikas, Liverpool’s player, was another significant absence from the winning match at Wembley. Despite being lined up for the prematch press conference, he was unwell by kick-off. However, Greece’s ability to adapt without key players speaks volumes about their squad depth. Come the November internationals, their current Fifa ranking of 48th is set to be revised.
Of course, there’s always a risk of overreaction. While attempts to cast Carsley as a fantasy-driven coach rather than one who is experimenting seem excessive, there’s a chance Greece’s praises could be sung too loudly. That said, the positive sentiments towards Greece increased as the game went on, suggesting a rectification to previous underestimation.
Clearly, the reality of Greece’s increasing proficiency isn’t lost on O’Shea and Hallgrímsson, as the Irish team departed Helsinki after a morale-boosting 2-1 win over Finland. Sunday’s game, unlike the match at Wembley where the Greeks possessed the ball just 36% of the time, is expected to be a different affair. Despite winning a 3-0 against Finland in Piraeus last month with less possession, Greece, with a fresh triumph behind them, are predicted to take the lead. However, whether they’ll maintain control of the ball remains to be seen.
Given the Greeks’ tactical play against England, where they allowed the defenders to control the ball only to seize upon any blunders, it’s likely that Irish defenders will need to up their game. Unlike England’s defense, the Irish will need to ensure that they tackle effectively.
“This moment will be charged with feelings. The social media of the Greek Football Association have undergone a transition to black and white to pay tribute to George Baldock, a reflection of his Number 2 jersey through two goals they noted. Their cohesion and authenticity were affirmed by the players’ reactions to the sad incident involving Baldock. Now, Greek virtues have been amplified by a newfound sense of purpose. They are unified as a team.”