Torosidis takes over the reins from Seitaridis as best Greek right-back of the decade

Vasilis Torosidis takes over the mantle from Giourkas Seitaridis as the best right-back for the Greek national team in the last decade.

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Right-back is a position that requires a high level of fitness to be able to cover one flank of the pitch, especially in the modern game. Full backs are often expected to possess attacking qualities such as good crossing abilities while maintaining defensive play associated with defenders.

Giourkas Seitaridis was undoubtedly the best right-back for the Greek national team in the decade of the 200’s. He made his debut as a 20-year-old under Otto Rehhagel in 2002 and never looked back. He was outstanding throughout Euro 2004, where Greece stole the show in the ultimate underdog story.

He won the penalty in the first match against Portugal, which was converted by Angelos Basinas en route toa 201 Greek victory, and in the final, he won the corner which led to the all-important goal from Angelos Charisteas. He was also named in the team of the tournament.

With his career on an upward trajectory, he joined Porto from Panathinaikos (he was strong for the Greens and had already played in the UEFA Champions League). While his career did not end on the best terms, he also played for Atletico Madrid and featured for the national team at Euro 2008 and the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

However, the Ethniki can count their blessings that a reliable option in Vasilis Torosidis emerged. The experienced 34-year-old is comfortably Greece’s best right-back in the decade of the 2010s.

Torosidis was already featuring for the national team while Seitaridis was still playing, but he quickly became the new first choice. He made his debut against Turkey in a Euro 2008 qualifier and was selected in the squad for Euro 2008. However, his best memory for the Ethniki came in the following major tournament at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

In an eventful second match of the group stage against Nigeria, he was fouled, and it led to Nigeria playing the rest of the game with ten men. He then went on to score a memorable and landmark match-winning goal deep in the second half. He was in the right place at the right time and poked the ball into the back of the net from close range. This sparked wild scenes and led to Greece winning their first-ever World Cup match.

By this stage, he was a regular at Olympiacos and cemented his place in the Ethniki squad. He scored another late match-winning goal against Malta in a Euro 2012 qualifier and played in all four matches for the Ethniki in the showpiece tournament in the summer of 2012.

His strong performances saw Roma swoop him up as the 2014 FIFA World Cup was inching closer. He went out of his comfort zone by leaving a club where he was the undisputed first choice, winning titles, and playing European football. However, he showed his true character in Rome, where he maintained his high level of consistency, featuring for a decent-sized club in a relatively strong league.

“Toro’ was his usual, reliable self in Brazil throughout a dramatic and successful but bittersweet tournament for Greece. He played in every match as Greece lost to Costa Rica in the Round of 16 on penalties.

Torosidis then moved to Bologna and is currently back in Greece with Olympiacos. He took over the captain’s armband as the Ethniki encountered a rough patch after the 2014 World Cup.

Seitaridis and Torosidis were two exceptional players with different qualities, entrenching themselves in Ethniki folklore forever. The former was a key part of the fairytale Euro 2004 triumph, and the latter made over 100 appearances in blue and white, playing a pivotal role in Greece’s successful span from 2007-2014.

Who will be the next best right back? Michalis Bakakis of AEK has emerged as the new first choice and has been in the setup since 2014, but has been inconsistent at times. A left-field option has also recently emerged in George Baldock of Sheffield United. The British-born full-back is eligible to play for Greece due to his grandmother, and the 27-year-old is enjoying a great season to date in England’s top flight with the Blades. For those taking a look into real, future prospects, 18-year-old Giorgos Vagiannidis of Panathinaikos has been touted as the “next Seitaridis.’ The youngster has a wealth of talent, and fans will hope he can fulfill the high expectations set on him.

Image Source: contra.gr

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