Greece Major Tournament Hopes Boosted by Poyet
Greece Major Tournament Hopes Boosted by Poyet
The World Cup has provided little to cheer about for Greek football fans over the years. The national side first qualified for the tournament in 1994 and has only appeared twice since. Their best performance came in their last appearance in Brazil eight years ago where they progressed from the group stage for the first time. But can Greece ever eclipse that performance on the global stage?
False hope after 2014
Their 2014 record of one win, two draws and one defeat gave hope for the future. But it was short-lived as the side failed to reach Russia or Qatar. As a result, Greek football fans will have to watch on as the 32 teams battle it out in 2022 with Brazil the tournament favourites at 3/1 in the FIFA World Cup odds ahead of Argentina at 17/2. However, there is a reason for optimism in for Greece the next few years following the arrival of Gus Poyet in February 2022.
A surprise appointment
Gus Poyet's appointment until the end of 2023 sparked mixed reactions in Greece. His previous managerial record was unremarkable, bar a successful spell at Brighton and Hove Albion, which included promotion to the Championship.
Although, his best win record came during a spell in charge of AEK Athens in 2015/16. That was enough to convince the Hellenic Football Federation to interview him for the role, where his impressive vision saw him hired with Euro 2024 qualification in mind.
A positive start for Poyet
Despite reservations, Poyet enjoyed a strong start, guiding the team to five wins from six games in League C of the 2022 UEFA Nations League. This promoted Greece to League B for the next campaign. On a negative note, they also slumped to their first defeat to Cyprus in 21 years and failed to beat Malta (2-2) and Hungary (2-1) in subsequent friendlies.
All eyes will now turn to the Euro qualifying campaign, which begins in Gibraltar in March. If things go well, Poyet has the option to extend his contract beyond the end of 2023.
Euro play-offs guaranteed
Greece was drawn in a tough Euro 2024 qualifying group with France, Netherlands, Republic of Ireland and Gibraltar making up the five. But crucially, their Nations League Group win means they are guaranteed a place in the playoffs, even if they do not qualify as one of the top two teams in their group. The playoffs will consist of semi-finals and finals, with 12 teams competing for three places.
The teams that are assured a playoff spot are:
League A: Croatia, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands
League B: Scotland, Israel, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia
League C: Turkey, Greece, Kazakhstan, Georgia
This renewed format means Greece have a much-improved chance of qualifying for what will be their first European Championship in 12 years since they reached the quarter-finals in Poland/Ukraine in 2012. Greece has only featured in four Euros but famously won the event in 2004 under the guidance of Otto Rehhagel.
World Cup hopes remain slim
A strong Euro performance would be welcome for Greece and a new format for the next World Cup means there will be more places up for grabs ahead of the trip USA, Canada, and Mexico in 2026. However, the qualification process has yet to be decided, so Greece's path remains unclear. But for the first time in years, there is reason to be optimistic.