Greece’s World Cup hopes took a hit in a damaging defeat to Denmark in Athens, delivering a critical blow to their dream of qualifying directly to the tournament.
The “Ethniki” fell 0-3 to the Danes at “Georgios Karaiskakis” Stadium on Tuesday morning (AEST) in the second matchday for Group C in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, going down to third place with three points in the process.
Denmark caused immense chaos with their pressing, which forced numerous errors by Greece when in possession and helped them create many chances without scoring.
They eventually broke through in the 32nd minute after a successful press saw Mikkel Damsgaard receive the ball outside the box and expertly put it into the bottom right corner.
It was a deserved goal for the visitors after overwhelming Greece in their own half all throughout the opening 45 minutes.
The “blue-whites” came out of the break returning fire with pressing of their own that gave them a little momentum, but it soon came to a halt in the 62nd minute when the travellers scored their second.
The goal came from centre half Andreas Christensen after he drove forward with the ball and struck it from distance into the bottom right corner in a goal very reminiscent to their first.
Denmark added the final nail in the coffin in the 81st minute when a counter-attack saw Patrick Dorgu take the ball past keeper Konstantinos Tzolakis (who came well outside his box) and shoot for goal, with it ricocheting off the post before being tapped in by Rasmus Hojlund.
The result pushes the Danes up into first place of the group with four points, level with Scotland after they beat Belarus, and resigning Greece to third.
It is still early doors for the qualifying campaign, though the result sows doubt that the Greeks can secure direct qualification to the FIFA World Cup.
Greece’s next qualifiers will see them take on Scotland and Denmark away in October, with the outcomes likely to show where their chances stand of finishing either in first or second (the play-offs spot).
