Suggested Call Ups/Starting 11

[Don Giovanni]

It might be a couple of years before Vagiannidis really finds himself. He has it good at Inter. He'll get to train alongside Hakimi and Candreva. He'll learn a lot. Inter also play three at the back.

[Dean97]

If I was coach I’d be tempted to play young talented players but I don’t think it’s realistic Vagiannidis plays as he hasn’t played enough men’s football. But I would like to see him to see what he’s got. We haven’t got depth there and he could be better than Bakakis.

[Don Giovanni]

Right now all eyes are on Vagiannidis as far as right-backs go. We could go 3-4-3 to better accommodate Limnios.

Three at the back could allow for Manolas to return while Hatzidiakos and Stafylidis can keep their places. I think it depends how much van't Schip values having Stafylidis in the eleven and whether Stafylidis can get the necessary amount of playing time at a strong enough level. It will also be hard to keep him at LB considering Giannoulis, Tsimikas, and Kyriakopoulos are all vying for that spot. The only other thing I can see being done with Stafylidis is giving him a spot in the midfield. He has a lot of the characteristics Zagorakis possessed and he could excel in that kind of role.

[Dean97]

I don’t know if Greece should play 3-5-2. It does make some sense because we have a lot of great CBs and having 2 upfront might do the job for us in terms of goals. But I don’t think we have good enough wing backs. Tsimikas could do well as a LWB but who do you put on the right? I was thinking maybe Limnios but he would have to chase back a lot, unless he is instructed not to and just concentrates on attacking and we defend with a back 4 maybe?

[Don Giovanni]

Is the 3-5-2 revolution back? Barcelona may employ it against Napoli on Saturday! The coach, Setien, had tried it before after taking over from Valverde, but his players had trouble adjusting to it and he has since not used it.

https://www.barcablaugranes.com/2020...against-napoli

[Don Giovanni]

Bakakis is quick and energetic, but he's not the best solution. We'll need to be a little patient and somebody should make an impression, hopefully sooner than later.

[Dean97]

Van’t Schip is looking to experiment in that RB spot. He even went back to the Netherlands just recently to look at Lazaros Rota play. Haven’t seen him so don’t know how good he is. We should try Masouras, Lyratzis and Marinakis there.

[Jsoul]

RB is where we struggle and potentially can get exposed. I don't think Bakakis is the answer as he gets exposed easily. He makes some nice runs but that's about it.

[Dean97]

Now that we have good LBs, we need better RBs lol...

[Don Giovanni]

We went from having serious problems at left-back to having the two best left-backs in all of Eastern Europe!

[Don Giovanni]

That's quite the compliment. If he can get Stafylidis to hit another gear, that would be quite the testament to his abilities as a coach. Rehhagel used to do this with players. Olaf Marschall, Zagorakis, etc. Let's see what happens.

[Dean97]

I remember reading this article a long time ago and by reading this I think Van’t Schip looks at Stafylidis as a Blind type player. That’s why we’ve seen play LB, CB and maybe soon CDM. He’s compared him to the Dutchman and even said he is more aggressive, faster and a better shot than him and he should be playing for Ajax. I don’t know about that...

https://m.sport24.gr/paraskinio/24o-...t.5619537.html

[Amorgos]

Really, Stafylidis shouldn’t be in any NT plans

[Don Giovanni]

Stafylidis might just be stop gap for the time being. He does have a great left foot, but as a defender he's too much of a liability, especially when isolated. I too think he would have been better as a defensive midfielder, but I don't think he has the composure to play simple passes with the necessary consistency of a holding midfielder and I think lacks the intelligence for the role. If he had been developed in that role from a young age, things may have been different for him. It might be too late for him to make the switch. LCB may be his last hope to resurrect himself.

Kyriakopoulos looks to have a bright future and may prove to be a better option at LCB. I haven't seen enough of him to really say.

Koutris has almost fallen off the map since Tsimikas has come into his own, but he is arguably better than Stafylidis. In the "friendly" match against Turkey, however, he didn't inspire confidence.

[Dean97]

I wouldn’t put Stafylidis ahead of Koutris either. Also Kyriakopoulos has been playing a lot lately and been doing well. I read once Van’t Schip was thinking of putting Kyriakopoulos as a LCB as he wants a left footed CB.