Greece vs Spain
What is probably one of the longest names for a stadium anywhere in the world, the Athletic Center of Athens “Spyros Louis”, Athens, is the venue for this World Cup 2022 qualifying encounter on Thursday night.
Group B is delicately poised with Spain and Sweden vying for top spot and qualification for next year’s tournament in Qatar.
However, as unlikely as it sounds, Greece can’t quite be ruled out.
After all, they were in a similar position in March when they delivered the ultimate smash n’ grab in Granada.
Talking Points
That was the night when World Cup qualifying highlights became a reality for John van t’ Schip and his charges.
Greece went to Granada in hope more than expectation but delivered a showing which consigned the phrase ‘Beware Greeks bearing gifts’ to the annals of history.
Indeed, many more defensive displays like that and it will need to be rewritten because it was a performance in which they gave their illustrious opponents virtually nothing and came away from Spain with a point – despite only having 20 per cent possession and one shot on target across 90 minutes.
The Greeks may have been content for their hosts to dominate the ball but they restricted Spain to just two efforts on target themselves in a resolute showing.
After Alvaro Morata opened the scoring, a penalty from captain Anastasios Bakasetas earned a share of the spoils for the visitors.
Since then, Greece have beaten Sweden, defeated and drawn with Georgia and been held in Kosovo.
Unfortunately for them, their last outing looks to have put the skids on their unlikely qualification bid.
Their trip to Sweden last month had started well and, but for the woodwork (twice), and a goal by Giorgos Masouras ruled out for offside, they would have led at the break.
It wasn’t to be and, after Alexander Isak won a penalty that was converted by Emil Forsberg, Isak then netted himself to move the Swedes to the top of the group, two ahead of Spain with two games left to play.
To rub salt into the wounds, Pantelis Hatzidiakos was shown a second yellow card late on and will be suspended this week.
In fact, anything but victory in this one will end Greek hopes.
The expectation and pressure, though, is all on Spain who meet Sweden in their final group match on Sunday.
Fresh from seeing off European champions Italy before going down to France in the Nations League Final last month, La Roja are in the unfamiliar position of playing catch-up.
On saying that, even if Luis Enrique’s side suffer a calamitous collapse and drop out of the top two, their Nations League ranking will still see them advance to the playoffs.
Enrique will not be considering such a scenario, though.
Neither am I.
History
Greece have only won once in their 10 meetings which, perhaps, is hardly surprising.
That victory came in 2003 in qualifying for Euro 2004 when future Bolton star Stelios Giannakopoulos netted the only goal.
Both nations qualified for the tournament and met again in the group stages, on this occasion drawing 1-1 with Angelos Charisteas and Fernando Morientes trading goals.
Amazingly, Greece went on to win the tournament.
Of course, the draw in March was a terrific result.
That, and a 1972 friendly draw aside, are Greece’s best results against the Spanish national team who have won all of their other seven clashes.
The most recent came at Euro 2008 when Spain won a group encounter 2-1, on their way to being crowned European Champions.
Again, Charisteas scored for Greece before Ruben de la Red and Daniel Guiza turned the match in Spain’s favour.
Betting Tip
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Greece vs Spain | Spain First Half Asian Handicap -0.50 @ 2.11 |
| November 12, 03:45 (GMT+8) |
Spain are overwhelming favourites with the SBOTOP World Cup qualifying betting odds.
They can be backed First Half 1X2 @ 2.10, 1X2 @ 1.47, First Half Asian Handicap -0.50 @ 2.11 and Asian Handicap -1.25 @ 2.17.
Another draw will earn you a payout of @ 4.00, while a shock Greece win is available to back 1X2 @ 5.80 and Asian Handicap +1.00 @ 2.05.
Even for the Greeks to lead at half-time will earn you a nice number with odds of First Half 1X2 @ 4.90 and First Half Asian Handicap +0.50 @ 1.78.
As for a re-run of eight months ago, Correct Score 1-1 is on offer @ 7.80.
For goals, how about total goal 0-1 @ 2.64, 2-3 @ 1.85 and 4-6 @ 4.00 or over 2.50 goals @ 2.14.
I do think Spain will exact revenge this time around and my *** tip is First Half Asian Handicap -0.50 @ 2.11.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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|---|---|---|---|
| = €20 (Highly confident) |
 = €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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