Prediction: Greece vs Finland

Verdict: Greece win

Best odds: 4/6

Bookmaker: Olympusbet

Greece will host Finland at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus on Saturday as both teams begin their UEFA Nations League campaigns. This match marks Greece’s first appearance in League B, following their promotion from League C in 2022.

Both teams will see this clash as an opportunity to set the tone for their Nations League journey and stake their claim for a successful campaign.

Greece

Greece begin a new chapter under manager Ivan Jovanovic following their failure to qualify for Euro 2024, a campaign that ended with a shocking playoff loss to Georgia, a nation that had never reached a major tournament. Jovanovic’s task is to end a string of failed qualifications that stretches back to the 2014 World Cup, with the team seeking to revive their fortunes on the international stage.

This will be Greece’s first appearance in League B of the UEFA Nations League, having taken three attempts to climb out of League C. Their struggles in previous editions highlight the challenges the team has faced in recent years. In 2018, they finished behind Finland and Hungary, and in 2020, they fell short to Slovenia. However, they finally secured promotion last time out, topping a group that included Kosovo, Northern Ireland, and Cyprus.

Greece’s decline since their famous Euro 2004 triumph under Otto Rehhagel is stark, but parallels can be drawn between the current situation and the one Rehhagel faced when he took over a struggling team in 2001. While replicating the miracle of 2004 seems unlikely, recent successes at the club level, particularly Olympiacos’ strong performance in the Conference League, could provide a spark. The national team will hope to draw inspiration from this and rebuild with a core of players who have been part of that success.

Team News

With changes afoot in the Greece national team, goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis is expected to replace Odysseas Vlachodimos as the country’s first-choice between the posts. Vlachodimos has found playing time hard to come by at Newcastle United since his summer transfer from Nottingham Forest, which may have opened the door for the younger Tzolakis to step in.

Midfielder Dimitris Kourbelis has been left out of the squad following his recent move to Saudi Arabia, a decision that suggests a shift towards players competing in more prominent European leagues. In contrast, striker Vangelis Pavlidis, who recently joined Benfica after several successful seasons at AZ Alkmaar, could see his transfer elevate his status within the squad and lead to a breakout campaign for Greece.

There have also been notable omissions in defense, with right-back George Baldock, as well as Panagiotis Retsos and Giorgos Kyriakopoulos, missing from the squad. This trio formed part of the backline in Greece’s last match against Malta, signaling that new coach Ivan Jovanovic is likely seeking fresh defensive options.

Finland

Finland enter their Nations League campaign knowing that with England in their group, the chances of securing promotion are slim unless the Three Lions underperform. Markku Kanerva’s side have shown they can compete at this level, having secured promotion to League B in 2018 and maintaining their status since then. Their goal will likely be to remain competitive and avoid relegation, while possibly punching above their weight again.

Despite the disappointment of missing out on back-to-back European Championship appearances, Finland earned their Euro 2024 playoff spot through a strong Nations League performance. However, their hopes were quickly dashed with a heavy 4-1 defeat to Wales in Cardiff.

Nevertheless, Finland have demonstrated resilience in recent away fixtures, winning seven of their last 13 competitive matches on the road and keeping five clean sheets along the way. Although their defensive solidity has been a strength, their summer games showed a more adventurous approach, evidenced by a 4-2 loss to Portugal and a thrilling 2-2 draw in Scotland. This suggests that Finland may continue to strike a balance between pragmatism and ambition as they look to remain competitive in a tough group.

Team News

Finland will be without two important attacking players, Lech Poznan’s Daniel Hakans and Middlesbrough’s Marcus Forrs. Without them, there can be little doubt about Teemu Pukki leading the line and needing all of his vast experience in what will be his 123rd cap.

Midfielder Robert Taylor, who rejected the call-up on the last two occasions as he chose to focus on his obligations towards Inter Miami, has now been left out.

Conclusion

With their attacking line severely depleted, Finland may find it hard to get any kind of positive result as the home side seeks to take advantage of the situation. Greece should therefore be able to start the campaign with an important win.

Verdict: Greece win

Best odds: 4/6

Bookmaker: Olympusbet