It has been a great week for Michael Valkanis, as the Greek national team managed to escape defeat at the World Cup qualifiers against Spain and then went on to win a friendly against Honduras earlier this week.

The Ethniki assistant coach is one of many Australian football exports, but is one of the only ones in recent years to maintain his place on the team unlike Kevin Muscat, Peter Cklamovski, Harry Kewell and more recently in the Greek sphere, Tony Popovic.

Valkanis is well aware of the pressure in the European football sphere.

“For those guys, that’s what they’ll do. They’re good coaches and I’m sure they’ll get gigs and hopefully in Europe…Sometimes I think we’re like gladiators in the arena – a bad result and you get smashed,” he told SBS The World Game.

“There’ll [sic] be more Australian coaches in Europe … I have no doubt about that.”

READ MORE: Xanthi FC lets go of Tony Popovic

Despite a couple of good games kicking of the national team’s World Cup season, Valkanis is careful not to over celebrate.

“The football environment here is tough, there is no doubt about it,” he said.

“Spain are a fantastic football nation and coming into the game they’d gone around 63 unbeaten in World Cup qualifiers…It was always going to a huge ask for us, but the boys really stepped up and to get away with a point was a great start to the campaign for us…The result showed you what the culture is like within our team.”

Τέλος αγώνα 💪💪💪💪. Ισπανία vs Ελλάδα 1-1 ⚽️⚽️⚽️#europeanqualifiers #nationalteams #ESPGRE pic.twitter.com/C7b9fV0bMe

— Ethniki Omada (@EthnikiOmada) March 25, 2021

Valkanis and the team are keeping spirits high but focusing on their next Group B match against Georgia set for tomorrow at 5:45am for those watching in Australia.

“We’ve been analysing Georgia for a while – they lost to Sweden but performed really well and might even have won the game…But we’re at home – the Spanish result gave us a lot of confidence and it’s a really important game…Our next qualifier isn’t until September and we need to finish this month on a high note,” he said.

Valkanis hopes that he can be part of the crew that will hopefully bring the Ethniki back to it former 2004 European champion glory.

“We’re trying to get back to a winning culture with this team and hopefully one day the heights of 2004,” he said.

READ MORE: Greek national team shocks Spain in World Cup qualifiers

The former Melbourne City FC manager thinks back to his time in Australia, growing up with Greek heritage and how that has informed his connection with his current team.

“For me, coming from a Greek background, all my football steps were in Australia. You take that with you everywhere…It’s a funny feeling sometimes listening to that Greek national anthem and you’re also Australian..You feel that pride of being a Greek-Australian and the connection that we have,” Valkanis said.

After the team’s match with Georgia, Greece will face Switzerland in September.