Greece has begun their European Championship 2024 campaign with a convincing win over Gibraltar.

Considered perhaps the weakest team in the qualifying phase, Gibraltar was the ideal opponent for Greece’s confidence.

The national team managed a 3-0 win without being pressured and whilst it will give the team a boost the real challenge lies ahead in their other Group B opponents.

Greece will also have to contend with world superpowers France, Netherlands and the always challenging Ireland.

Gus Poyet’s players, who surprised all by selecting Giakoumakis from the start instead of the in-form Pavlidis, were constantly on the attack, creating (and missing) chances.

In the 6th minute, Yiakoumakis’ header from Tsimika’s cross went wide but in the 11th minute the score was opened up with a signature Masouras goal, who finished off a play that started from Mandalos’ turn to Baldock and the latter’s “break” to the Olympiacos forward.

At 23 minutes, Yiakoumakis misplaced a shot from a goal-scoring position, and at the 30 minute mark his header went wide, at the 34th minute Mandalos’ strike was off target and two minutes later Pelka’s shot hit the crossbar of Coleing, who deflected Mandalos’ shot in the 41st minute.

Finally, Greece’s superiority surfaced in the 45th minute for their second goal. Pelka turned the ball on the penalty area boundary and Siopis left the goalkeeper… upright, who had no field of vision.

At the 58th minute it was the captain’s turn to score. Mandalos shot a wonderful ball from the back of the defence, met by Bakassetas who perfectly chested the ball to drop and take an accurate shot on goal for the final 0-3.

Greece continued to roam the inside area and Pavlidis was unlucky in the 70th minute when his strike on goal hit the left post, and three minutes later Mandalos also caught the post with a header from Tsimikas’ cross.

PAOK’s talented midfielder Yannis Konstantelias made his first international appearance for the Men by coming on for Pelka in the 62nd minute.

With AMNA