Nations League 20/21

[Don Giovanni]

https://www.uefa.com/uefanationsleag...eague-is-back/

How does 2022 World Cup qualifying fit into this?

World Cup qualifying initially remains largely the same, with ten group winners advancing directly to the finals in Qatar. The format of the play-offs has evolved, though, and will now consist of two knockout rounds from which three teams qualify. It will involve the ten group runners-up plus the best two UEFA Nations League group winners (based on their overall UEFA Nations League rankings) who did not directly qualify or reach the play-offs.

(emphasis mine)

That could open the door for us. Most of the teams that finish top of their Nations League group in the A and B divisions are likely to qualify directly or at least reach the play-offs. We need to finish first with as many wins and goals as possible.

[Jsoul]

When it says it will take TWO nation league winners based on their overall rankings i assume that would mean only the winners of group A and B would have a chance and group C winners have no chance of advancing from the nations league or am i missing something?

[Jsoul]

^^^^
You are correct with your description on form . A good example is Fetfa, plays with Aris, in form most of the year, especially since January, not included. On the other hand, Limnios, up and down year, very good beginning, but dropped off, ironically enough around January. Him and Biseswar really trailed off and you saw PAOK struggle in the second half of the year. Note to Fetfa, don't show up late for team meetings, some coaches hold grudges and in their mind for the sake of team unity, they'll sacrifice talent, ie Fetfa and Manolas, for team cohesion, ie, Stefalidis

In all fairness with regards to Fetfa, he had a falling out with JVS because he was late to a team meeting and then complained about playing time during the last campaign and it seems like JVS is not putting up with that. But your other points i agree with.

[Don Giovanni]

Van't Schip had to say on making his selections:

Η επιλογή μου δεν έχει να κάνει με το αν παίζω στη Σέλτικ. Αλλά με το αν είμαι καλός στην προπόνηση.

Good trainer.

επιλέγουμε παίκτες με βάση τη φόρμα, παίκτες που έχουμε δει, που είχαμε μαζί μας τον Σεπτέμβρη, τον Οκτώβρη, το Νοέμβρη

Are in form, have been seen, have been with the team since September.

Η επιλογή που έχουμε κάνει είναι παίκτες στους οποίους πιστεύουμε με βάση τα όσα έχουν δείξει και για το μέλλον.

They have shown potential.

Αν έχεις την ελληνική υπηκοότητα, έχεις καλή αγωνιστική παρουσία και θεωρούμε ότι ταιριάζεις στα πλάνα μας με στόχο να χτιστεί μια ομάδα για το Κατάρ, τότε υπάρχει η πιθανότητα να κληθείς. Οπότε δεν αποκλείω κανέναν, είναι επιλογή του προπονητή.

He has not excluded anyone from consideration. Whoever has citizenship, competitiveness, and fits the plan for Qatar, then they can get called.

SportDog says this is how we will lineup:

Συγκεκριμένα, το πιθανότερο είναι η Ελλάδα να ξεκινήσει με σύστημα 4-2-3-1. Ο Μπάρκας θα είναι κάτω από τα δοκάρια, με τους Μπακάκη και Τσιμίκα στα άκρα της άμυνας και τους Σβάρνα-Σταφυλίδη στο κέντρο, αν και υπάρχει η επιλογή του Σιόβα.

Κατά τα άλλα, Ζέκα και Μπουχαλάκης είναι το επικρατέστερο δίδυμο για τα χαφ, με τους Μπακασέτα, Λημνιό και Μασούρα να κινούνται πίσω από τον Παυλίδη.

If I'm not mistaken, Svarnas would be making his debut. I think Masouras has been given the start mainly because Tsimikas will start.

Barkas
Bakakis---Svarnas---Stafylidis (Siovas?)---Tsimikas
Zeka---Bouchalakis
Limnios---Bakasetas---Masouras
Pavlidis

[tantra]

he's building internal competition. very good. when it comes to NT .... they all need to be on their toes.
now they need to build the winning culture that was getting watered down pre-2014 and completely lost post-2014.

[Reaper]

any streams?

[Don Giovanni]

Siovas, Giannoulis and Mantalos are starting.


How to watch: https://www.uefa.com/uefanationsleag...eague/?iv=true

Greece: Open TV/COSMOTE
Cyprus: CyBC/Cyta
England: Sky
Australia: Optus
Canada: UEFA.tv
United States of America: ESPN/Univision

[Don Giovanni]

FYI Greece's u21 team is losing 4-0 to Croatia! It's not even half-time. Vrousaj is in that team.

[aek66]

not much to watch here..greece has been the better side.

pavlidis couldn't get the ball out of his feet on the goal line and we saw a similar costa rica breakout with the wrong man on the ball (bakakis). limnios with a nice dribble and dangerous cross on the line. i'd leave him in the rest of the match, he already owns the slovenia lb. he'll get plenty of space.

[LoneHorseman]

Spoke to soon on Limnios aek66, got marked out the rest of the game simce that dribble. Awful second half by both teams, good result I guess for us???

[Don Giovanni]

They doubled up on Limnios. The Slovenians were content to give Bakakis more room to operate.

[Dean97]

Van’t Schip and other coaches have to understand that Mantalos can’t do it on the wing. He needs to be in the centre. Whenever he picked up the ball from the centre we looked more dangerous and fluid going forward. Zeca and Kourbelis are like CBs. They both don’t offer anything in attack. All they can do is just shield the defence. We need more dynamism and creativity through the middle.

Bakasetas doesn’t provide the killer ball to Limnios or Pavlidis that is needed sometimes and hasn’t got enough speed to break away. Fortounis or Mantalos should play in his position.

Bakakis doesn’t provide anything with substance. He doesn’t help the team. I put down to low quality. Shouldn’t be in team let alone starting. We need to rethink this position.

Svarnas actually surprised me. Did his job and played simple. Slovenia weren’t that good either. Siovas can be a bit frustrating.

We kept possession well but I don’t think we were effective enough. What didn’t help was Pavlidis being alone upfront and Mantalos on the wing in my opinion. If we want to score goals maybe 3-5-2 is the best way to go.

The positives were Giannoulis, Limnios, Svarnas and Pavlidis for me. As I said Mantalos has to be in the centre.

[Don Giovanni]

Spain scored at the death to salvage a 1-1 draw. I saw bits and pieces. Considering the names involved I was hoping for a better game, but it never fully drew me in. Without the fans, these games lose the excitement.

[Dean97]

Yeah I agree. I felt this match kind of boring. Not enough urgency from both sides. Both side were too patient at times. Instead of trying to penetrate with force. We should’ve won though so I’m slightly disappointed..

[Reaper]

Bakasetas.. Bakakis becoming the new constant crap.

Needed some Fetfa type player down the middle.