I think with Greece there was a leadership void under Ranieri. Samaras, Sokratis, Salpingidis, and Torosidis couldn't fill it. Katsouranis would have been the influence Samaris and Tachtsidis needed who could have helped them out and improve their game, in the same way Zagorakis acted as a mentor to Katsouranis. Looking back on it now, I think in that regard he was essential to the transition between the old Euro 2004 guard and this current generation.
At midfield though, he was killing us and it showed most of all against Japan and we see it now with Tziolis. We can't afford to play so deep. We need midfielders who can move their asses and harass opponents, which was key for us at Euro 2004.
At CB he made more sense because that's how he played at the club level for PAOK at the time. He didn't have the legs for a midfield role. He couldn't repeat his performance against Romania in the first play-off because it would have taken too much physically out of him, something he couldn't afford at the World Cup where a series of intense matches are played 2-3 days apart. That's why he couldn't cleanly get the ball away from Colombia on their third goal and why he was sent off against Japan. He didn't have the legs to keep up with his opponents. He didn't have the legs to play at that level anymore, at least as midfielder.
With Tachtsidis, it's his physical power that standouts to me and his vision is very good. He's literally the tallest outfield player Greece has. Taller than Mavropanos. As tall as Samaras was. And he's physically very strong, unlike Samaras who was too skinny. He reminds me a lot of the young Katsouranis who played like a bit of a bonehead, like we saw against Albania as you mentioned. But at least Katsouranis was a DM/Box-to-box midfielder and did well when he played in that position. Also Katsouranis got smarter with experience and age. His game improved technically from his time in Portugal and from watching/learning from tape of the players he needed to mark. He really wasn't an AM, but he could deputize there if need by. Tachtsidis is clearly a CAM and not really an option for DM/CM. He needs much more experience actually playing at a high level before he can properly excel in a deeper role. He doesn't have the confidence and know-how to command a midfield and overrun opponents. He needs more experience for that.
At midfield though, he was killing us and it showed most of all against Japan and we see it now with Tziolis. We can't afford to play so deep. We need midfielders who can move their asses and harass opponents, which was key for us at Euro 2004.
At CB he made more sense because that's how he played at the club level for PAOK at the time. He didn't have the legs for a midfield role. He couldn't repeat his performance against Romania in the first play-off because it would have taken too much physically out of him, something he couldn't afford at the World Cup where a series of intense matches are played 2-3 days apart. That's why he couldn't cleanly get the ball away from Colombia on their third goal and why he was sent off against Japan. He didn't have the legs to keep up with his opponents. He didn't have the legs to play at that level anymore, at least as midfielder.
With Tachtsidis, it's his physical power that standouts to me and his vision is very good. He's literally the tallest outfield player Greece has. Taller than Mavropanos. As tall as Samaras was. And he's physically very strong, unlike Samaras who was too skinny. He reminds me a lot of the young Katsouranis who played like a bit of a bonehead, like we saw against Albania as you mentioned. But at least Katsouranis was a DM/Box-to-box midfielder and did well when he played in that position. Also Katsouranis got smarter with experience and age. His game improved technically from his time in Portugal and from watching/learning from tape of the players he needed to mark. He really wasn't an AM, but he could deputize there if need by. Tachtsidis is clearly a CAM and not really an option for DM/CM. He needs much more experience actually playing at a high level before he can properly excel in a deeper role. He doesn't have the confidence and know-how to command a midfield and overrun opponents. He needs more experience for that.
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