UEFA Nations League Preview: Greece -v- Republic of Ireland
- Macdara Ferris
- Sat, Oct 12 2024
GREECE
After their famous first ever win over England during the week at Wembley, Greece will host the Republic of Ireland on Sunday night (kick off 7.45pm Irish time) in what will be a poignant game following the death of Greek international George Baldock this week.
The Panathinaikos player lined out against Ireland last year and Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrímsson spoke about the player on the eve of the match. “Moments like this just bring not only them, people together and make you realise life is more than football,” said the Irish Head Coach.
“I am a little bit connected to this because he played for my home-town club (IBV) back in Iceland when he was 18. He played a season there. We, of course, give condolences to his family and everyone around."
The home side are seeking their fourth win over Ireland in 17 months and are in a rich vein of form having only lost once in their last dozen home matches. They only missed out on the Euros, losing on penalties in a play-off to Georgia (who went on to have an eye catching tournament in Germany).
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
After Ireland’s confidence boosting away win over Finland this week, the Boys in Green are looking to win consecutive competitive matches for the first time in five years since March 2019 when they beat Gibraltar and Georgia, both by a 1-0 scoreline.
It was a come from behind victory in Helsinki (Ireland’s first for 11 years), thanks to a Liam Scales' header and superb strike from Robbie Brady two minutes from time.
“A win always lifts morale,” said Ireland midfielder Josh Cullen on the eve of the game. “It helps with the mood around the camp, of course. It’s a tough game that we’ve had to prepare for really quickly.
“The way you win games is in details and a lot of smaller parts that you have to make sure you get right to earn the right to win games. We did that on Thursday. We know we have to prepare right and be ready to go."
Referee: Joey Kooji (Netherlands)
MATCH STATS
The Boys in Green are without a win in their six previous meetings with Greece, losing five of those matches including the last four in a row.
Greece have won each of their last four matches, keeping a clean sheet in three of those, and could make it five wins on the trot across all competitions for the first time since October 2016.
Greece have lost just one of their last dozen home matches across all competitions (W8 D3) and are unbeaten in each of their last four on home soil (W3 D1) since a 1-0 loss to the Netherlands in a European Championship qualifier in October 2023.
PREDICTION
2-1 home win
Macdara Ferris is a contributor since 2007 to Hoops Scene (Shamrock Rovers' match day programme) and is the co-author of two books on Shamrock Rovers - 'Tallaght Time: Shamrock Rovers 2009 to 2012' (with Karl …
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