Greece is now just one game away from making this year’s UEFA European Championship after battering Kazakhstan, with their final obstacle awaiting them next week in Georgia.
The “Ethniki” dominated their opponents in a 5-0 drubbing at “Agia Sophia” Stadium on Friday morning (AEDT), securing their place in the Euro 2024 decider match against Georgia as they strive to make their first international tournament since 2014.
The game started perfectly for the Greeks as winger Dimitrios Pelkas won a penalty, which captain Anastasios Bakasetas drilled into the top right (9′).
The playmaker became the equal tenth top scorer for his country as a result, going level with Giorgos Sideris on 14 goals for the national team.
The team soon doubled their advantage when winger Georgios Masouras’ cross was headed into the top left by Pelkas (15′), with Masouras playing a big role again in the third as he delivered an excellent pass for striker Fotis Ioannidis to tap in (37′).
Greece would continue to assert their dominance with another goal just minutes later when a left back Kostas Tsimikas delivered a ball in following a short corner, with midfielder Dimitris Kourbelis meeting it in the air and guiding it into the bottom left (40′).
The goal effectively put the game to bed as the “Ethniki” walked into half time with a four-nil lead, though they would find the back of the net one last time in the second period.
Tsimikas delivered a proper ball from a corner kick which troubled the Kazakhstan defence too much as they unintentionally guided it into their own goal, with the final touch coming off defender Aleksandr Marochkin (86′).
Greece will now face Georgia away next Wednesday after they won the other League C semi-final against Luxembourg 2-0.
The stage has been set and it is now all up to Greece to step up at the crucial moment and earn their Euro 2024 spot.