Prediction: Greece vs Ireland

Verdict: Home win

Best odds: 11/10

Bookmaker: ZetBet

Greece and the Republic of Ireland are set for a duel at the Agia Sophia Stadium in Athens, also known as the OPAP Arena for commercial purposes, on Friday evening. The match is to be a part of the second round of the Euro 2024 qualifying process in Group B, where France, Netherlands and Gibraltar have already played two games each.

These two teams are relatively close to each other in the FIFA rankings, with Greece currently occupying place number 52, and Ireland three spots above in 49th.

Greece

Greece got off to a strong start in their quest for Euro 2024 qualification when they comfortably secured a 3-0 victory against the underdog team Gibraltar in late March.

The team scored two goals in the first half, courtesy of Giorgos Masouras and Emmanouil Siopis, and added a third goal from Anastasios Bakasetas just before the 60-minute mark. This early success earned Gus Poyet’s side three points in their opening match.

Having failed to qualify for the previous two Euro tournaments, Greece faces a challenging task this time around in Group B, which includes strong teams like France and the Netherlands. However, a win on Friday, followed by a positive result against the Netherlands in their home stadium next Monday, would instill optimism in Poyet and his team, increasing their chances of finishing inside the top two.

Although Greece managed only a goalless draw in a friendly match against Lithuania after their victory over Gibraltar, they have never played against the Republic of Ireland in a competitive fixture. However, they have faced each other in three previous friendly matches, with Greece winning 1-0 in November 2012 and April 2000.

The Piratiko team has been impressive at home, having lost only one of their last 16 matches across all competitions, which was a 1-0 defeat to Spain in November 2021. Furthermore, they have won three of their last four matches on their home turf, which provides a positive outlook ahead of Friday’s game.

Team News

Poyet will likely select a strong starting lineup for this match, which may feature Liverpool’s left-back Kostas Tsimikas alongside Pantelis Chatzidiakos, Konstantinos Mavropanos, and George Baldock in the defensive line.

The team’s captain, Bakasetas, holds the record for the most appearances (55) and goals (11) among all players in Poyet’s current squad. The 29-year-old is expected to play in an advanced midfield position, positioned just ahead of Siopis and Petros Mantalos.

The center-forward position will see competition between Vangelis Pavlidis and Giorgos Giakoumakis, while wingers Masouras and Dimitris Pelkas will occupy the flanks.

Republic of Ireland

Ireland had a disappointing start to their Euro 2024 qualification campaign, but manager Stephen Kenny will have found at least some positives in the narrow 1-0 loss to World Cup finalists France in March.

Following a 3-2 victory over Latvia in a friendly at the Aviva Stadium, the Irish team suffered a defeat against France due to a remarkable long-range goal by Benjamin Pavard early in the second half. Despite the loss, Kenny could take encouragement from his team’s performance against a strong opponent in Dublin.

During this month’s international break, the Republic of Ireland has two matches against Greece and Gibraltar, which appear to be favorable fixtures. Kenny will be eager for his team to accumulate points in these games and position themselves well for a top-two finish in Group B.

However, Friday’s match is not guaranteed to be a straightforward victory, considering Ireland’s recent away form. Over the past nine years in Euros Qualifying, they have won only two of their last 10 away matches, and both of those victories came against Gibraltar.

Team News

Chiedozie Ogbene has been excluded from Kenny’s 25-man squad due to his ongoing recovery from a hamstring tear. However, midfielders Alan Browne and Jeff Hendrick have been called up after overcoming fitness concerns of their own.

Kenny has made the decision to omit experienced players Robbie Brady, Connor Hourihane, Shane Duffy, and Enda Stevens from the squad. Meanwhile, two uncapped players, Liam Scales from Celtic and Jack Taylor from Peterborough United, will be hoping to earn their first international caps in Friday’s match.

Evan Ferguson, a promising talent from Brighton & Hove Albion, scored his first international goal in March and could be given a starting position in the attack. He may be paired with either Troy Parrott, Michael Obafemi, or Adam Idah, with the latter yet to find the net in his 14 appearances for his country.

Conclusion

With Kenny encouraging his players to go to Athens in search of a historic victory to boost their chances of qualifying for the main tournament next year, the contest is set to be a tight one. However, Greece have considerable quality in their ranks and their fine home record is expected to play a part.

Verdict: Home win

Best odds: 11/10

Bookmaker: ZetBet