Prediction: Greece vs Ireland

Verdict: Home win

Best odds:

Bookmaker: 888sport

Greece will be riding high on confidence after their stunning 2-1 win over England at Wembley, a result that not only shocked many but also demonstrated their resilience and tactical discipline. Backed by this emotionally charged victory, the Balkan side will look to build on their momentum when they return home to face the Republic of Ireland on Sunday in their next UEFA Nations League clash.

Similarly, Ireland will enter the contest on a positive note after securing a 2-1 victory over Finland. The Boys in Green have been looking to solidify their place in League B Group 2, and a win over Greece would keep them on track.

Greece

The tragic passing of former Greece international and Sheffield United right-back George Baldock cast a somber shadow over Thursday evening’s Nations League clash with England. Greece, deeply affected by the loss, requested a postponement, but UEFA denied the appeal. In response, Ivan Jovanovic’s men honored Baldock’s memory in the most fitting way possible – by delivering a stunning 2-1 victory over England.

Wearing black armbands as a mark of respect, Greece outplayed England and secured their first-ever win against the two-time European finalists. Vangelis Pavlidis starred with a second-half brace, overcoming a Jude Bellingham equalizer to maintain their perfect start to the 2024/25 Nations League. Greece now sit atop the League B Group 2 standings with a three-point lead, having also beaten Finland and their upcoming opponents, the Republic of Ireland, last month.

Greece’s ambition for promotion to League A is firmly in sight, with only the top spot guaranteeing their elevation. The Pirate Ship’s remarkable resurgence under new boss Jovanovic is evident, as they ride a four-game winning streak in all competitions, including three victories under his leadership. Sunday’s hosts are showcasing their potential to compete at the highest level of European football, and their momentum will be difficult for Ireland to stop.

Team News

Jovanovic will be forced to make at least one defensive change for Sunday’s UEFA Nations League clash against Ireland, as centre-back Konstantinos Koulierakis is suspended due to picking up his second booking of the tournament.

Pantelis Hatzidiakos and Panagiotis Retsos are the top candidates to step in for the suspended Koulierakis, while there are doubts over Liverpool left-back Kostas Tsimikas, who missed Thursday’s win over England due to illness.

Jovanovic will ideally want to field the same starting XI that shocked England, but fatigue could play a role after the emotionally charged victory. This may prompt him to consider freshening up the attack with Dimitrios Pelkas or Petros Mantalos, who could be brought into the forward line to ensure Greece maintains their attacking threat.

Republic of Ireland

Victory for Greece on Sunday would mark a significant milestone, as they aim for five consecutive wins for the first time since 2016. However, the Republic of Ireland arrives in Piraeus with newfound confidence following their 2-1 comeback win over Finland on Thursday.

Despite falling behind to Joel Pohjanpalo’s opener, Robbie Brady inspired a dramatic second-half resurgence for the Irish. Brady assisted Liam Scales’ equalizer and then struck an 88th-minute winner, securing Ireland’s first victory in the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League and lifting them to third in League B Group 2. This result puts them in contention for a promotion/relegation play-off next year.

Thursday’s triumph was also Heimir Hallgrimsson’s first win as Ireland manager and marked the team’s maiden away victory in the Nations League. However, the Boys in Green have yet to secure back-to-back victories in the competition.

Ireland will look to break that streak on Sunday, but recent history is not on their side. Just over a month ago, they suffered a 2-0 defeat to Greece in Dublin, extending their poor head-to-head record to five defeats and a draw in six encounters. Moreover, they have only scored once in all those meetings against the Pirate Ship, making Sunday’s clash a challenging task for the visitors.

Team News

Hallgrimsson is managing a relatively healthy squad for the trip to Piraeus, despite the loss of Cardiff City defender Callum O’Dowda to injury before the victory over Finland. Following the recent win, the Ireland boss made four changes to the side that previously lost to Greece, with one of those changes being the inclusion of Evan Ferguson from Brighton and Hove Albion.

Although Ferguson had a goal disallowed early in the match against Finland, he struggled to create clear chances. As a result, Adam Idah and Troy Parrott are both viable alternatives to bolster the attacking options for Sunday’s encounter.

Conclusion

Greece will likely prove a completely different challenge to Finland for the Irish, and Jovanovic’s men are expected to bring joy for the home supporters.

Verdict: Home win

Best odds:

Bookmaker: 888sport