In a sold-out OAKA, Greece welcomes (14/11, 21:45) the "Three Lions", the English national team, in the 5th - penultimate and decisive - matchday of the Nations League (B2 group). A meeting, thirty-six nights after the Greek triumph (2-1) at "Wembley" - on an emotional night at the time due to the tragic death of George Baldock - and a "damage" for which Lee Carsley's England - in his penultimate game on the bench - will try to make up - by winning by two goals -, attempting to avoid the play-off process in March (the draw is on 20 and 23/22/11) to return to the first division of the Nations League.
Where Greece wants to be - and for the first time, leader of the standings with the maximum 12 points from its four matches, with England in second, three points behind.
"We can secure first place (in B2 Group b) In this game, but we know it will be a difficult match, probably even more difficult than the first one," said ivan Jovanovic And continued: "We Are coming off four good results, including an important victory over England at Wembley. We want to show our quality again."
The game in Athens is the penultimate stop for Lee Carsley, with new coach Thomas Tuchel taking over in January.
Eight players were withdrawn from the team On Monday (11/11), leaving him with few options, but at the same time providing him with an opportunity to give playing time to several players he knows well from the Under-21 team.
Goalkeeper James Trafford (Burnley), defenders Tino Livramento (Newcastle) and Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton), as well as winger Jarrod Bowen (West Ham) joined the team after the departures of Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Phil Foden, Jack Grealish (Manchester City), Cole Palmer, Levi Colwill (Chelsea) and Aaron Ramsdale (Southampton).
Greece, who have climbed 12 places in the FIFA world rankings since July to 42nd, know that a win over England will guarantee top spot in their group with one game remaining (apart from Finland). A draw would also be enough to cement their place at the top.
Within our borders, the national team has won eight matches and drawn two of its 11 matches in the Nations League, keeping an impressive clean sheet in nine of those games.
Greece's victory in October, thanks to two goals from Vangelis Pavlidis, was their first victory over England, the 10th time they faced them.
"The atmosphere among all the players is great. The younger players respect the older players, but also the other way around, as each of us always gives our heart and soul to represent the national team. And apart from that, we all eagerly await the next call to come and play for the national team, I think that says a lot," said Tasos Bakasetas.
England - ranked fourth in the FIFA rankings - have kept just two clean sheets in their last eight games, against Ireland and Finland. They have won their last two away games in the Nations League by two goals (Finland and Ireland), while they have won all four of their previous visits to Greece by an aggregate score of 9-1.
Only against Luxembourg (5/5) do the "Three Lions" have a better away win percentage (100%) against another country.
Dimitris Kourbelis will serve a one-match suspension due to yellow cards, so either Petros Mantalos, Christos Zafeiris, or Sotiris Alexandropoulos could replace him.
Pavlidis, the scorer in the London triumph, could continue to lead the line, although Fotis Ioannidis – who scored three goals in Greece’s opening two Nations League games – is back in the squad after an injury. Greece have never lost when Ioannidis is on the scoresheet (3-1-1).
The referee of the match will be German Daniel Siebert, with assistants his compatriots Jan Seidel and Rafael Foltin, 4th referee Daniel Schlager, while VAR will be Benjamin Cortus.
Possible compositions:
GREECE – (Ivan Jovanovic): Vlachodimos, Rota, Mavropanos, Koulierakis, Tsimikas, Siopis, Mandalos, Masouras, Bakasetas, Tzolis, Pavlidis
ENGLAND – (Lee Carsley): Pickford, Walker, Konsa, Guehi, Lewis, Gomez, Gallagher, Makwebe, Bellingham, Gordon, Kane
ANTONIS VAZOGIANNIS APE – BIA
