Greece delivered a commanding performance in Dublin on Tuesday, defeating host Ireland 2-0 on Day 2 of the UEFA Nations League, with both goals scored in the second half.
Fotis Ioannidis and Christos Tzolis extended Greece’s winning start to the tournament that currently brings them up to the top spot in the group ahead of favorites England on goal difference. Greece’s next game is on October 10 against England at Wembley.
Ioannidis’ accomplished 50th-minute finish was matched by Tzolis three minutes from time to make it a third-successive win over Ireland – and a second in Dublin – since June last year.
After a balanced first half, Greece struck five minutes after the restart. Bakasetas picked out Ioannidis 22 yards out and, with the home defense sitting off, he took a touch before curling a left-footed shot past the helpless goalkeeper.
Tzolis went in for the kill, side-stepping the defender after being played in behind the Irish defense and firing emphatically past the Irish goalkeeper.
Coach Ivan Jovanovic in his second game in charge of Greece said: “We have talented kids and we can play nice and calm football. We were in no danger from Ireland today. The results give us the boost and a better mentality for the next games.”
Commenting on Greece’s top spot in the table of the group he said: “The improvement of the team and not the current ranking is the important thing. The good psychology after two wins makes the situation easier.”
Greece’s winning start in the Nations League
Last week Greece made a winning start in Group 2 of League B in the Nations League by winning against Finland 3-0 at the Karaiskakis stadium.
At the debut of coach Ivan Jovanovic on the Greek bench, striker Fotis Ioannidis excelled scoring twice.
Euro 2004 marked the highest point in Greece’s football history when they won the tournament in only their second participation.
Dismissed as rank outsiders before the tournament, Greece defeated some of the favorites in the competition including defending European champions France and hosts Portugal twice. During the tournament, Greece defeated the hosts in both the opening game of the tournament and again in the final.
The UEFA Nations League is a biennial international football competition played by the senior men’s national teams of the member associations of UEFA, the sport’s European governing body.
The first tournament began in September 2018. The four group winners from League A qualified for the finals, played in Portugal in June 2019.
The competition replaces the international friendly matches previously played on the FIFA International Match Calendar, with European national teams engaging in more frequent competitive matches against other European national teams on a comparable level.