After an embarrassing loss its group opener against Romania (0-1), Greece is desperate to get back in form to make sure it contests another European Cup.
It takes on two qualifying matches in the space of three days: today it’ll take on Finland and Tuesday it takes on Northern Ireland.
New Greece coach Claudio Ranieri knows his fortunes must change to prove his worth, and to keep Greece stable in its rankings after a phenomenal World Cup campaign.
Already his dream team is getting depleted, with defender Jose Holebas ruled out of both qualifying games after picking up a groin injury in a weekend Serie A match.
The 30-year-old left winger, a World Cup standout for Greece this year, has been replaced by Kostas Giannoulis of Olympiakos.
It is the second injury substitution since Greece announced its squad.
Defender Avraam Papadopoulos is out because of a cheekbone injury, while Udinese midfileder Panagiotis Kone is doubtful.
Despite leading the scorers’ chart in the Turkish league, Fanis Gekas has once again been benched, as Ranieri opted instead for Panathinaikos’s Nikos Karelis.
At least Greece has history on its side for their upcoming match. Finland has never made it past the qualifying stage, and Northern Ireland haven’t in 28 years.
Ranieri still maintains that Greece is Group F’s favourite, and expect these two matches to show once again, how deserving Greece is of its top 20 ranking.
“We made a lot of mistakes in the defeat, but I’m not angry,” Ranieri said of the Romania match.
“It was the first match and nothing has really changed. Greece and Romania remain the favourites in the group.”
The full squad:
Goalkeepers: Orestis Karnezis, Panayiotis Glykos, Stefanos Kapino and Sokratis Dioudis.
Defenders: Vassilis Torosidis, Loukas Vintra, Jose Holebas (out), Costas Manolas, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Vangelis Moras, Costas Stafylidis and Yiannis Skondras (a last-minute replacement for injured Avraam Papadopoulos).
Midfielders: Yiannis Maniatis, Costas Fortounis, Panayiotis Tachtsidis, Andreas Samaris, Alexandros Tziolis, Panayiotis Kone, Charis Mavrias, and Lazaros Christodoulopoulos (injury doubt)
Forwards: Dimitris Salpingidis, Costas Mitroglou, Nikos Karelis, Stefanos Athanasiadis and Giorgos Samaras.