Greece 2-1 Ireland
Hello and welcome to tonight’s liveblog.
It’s a game Greece boss Gus Poyet has described as a “must-win” for both sides, and it’s hard to argue with that assessment.
Apart from the Gibraltar double-header, Ireland won’t be especially confident of picking up three points in any of their upcoming encounters.
As the group’s fourth seeds, Greece are conceivably the most likely team they can beat.
It won’t be easy, however, as the hosts have taken points off the likes of Spain, Sweden and Romania within the last two years.
One ostensible positive is the weather — many people were anticipating very humid conditions in Athens but it’s unlikely to be unbearable by any means in that regard and there was in fact heavy rain and stormy weather in the city earlier.
Kick-off is at 7.45pm.
The Ireland starting XI below, with Darragh Lenihan, Will Smallbone and Adam Idah among the slight surprises…
STARTING XI | Greece v Ireland
— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) June 16, 2023
Evan Ferguson & Adam Idah start up front as Will Smallbone comes into the midfield 💚
Darragh Lenihan starts in defence with kick-off at 7.45pm (9.45pm local) ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/mQjhmNnq5L
Here is the Greece starting XI…
Odysseas Vlachodimos; George Baldock,Dinos Mavropanos, Pantelis Chatzidiakos, Kostas Tsimikas; Dimitris Kourbelis, Tasos Bakasetas, Petros Mantalos; Giorgos Masouras, Vangelis Pavlidis, Dimitris Pelkas.
Liam Brady gives his thoughts ahead of the game…
"It's a game we mustn't lose."
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) June 16, 2023
Liam Brady assesses Stephen Kenny's starting XI for Ireland's crucial qualifier against Greece. #Euro2024 #RTESoccer
📺 Watch: https://t.co/4qNNceBCQB
📻 Listen: https://t.co/Vpls4Lx8IW
📱 Updates: https://t.co/lHOKS7jxfP pic.twitter.com/eyChK2FPGL
We’re underway.
Ireland have won a corner in the opening seconds.
It’s been a pretty scrappy opening.
Collins has just been penalised for a foul on Dimitris Pelkas.
Kostas Tsimikas floats in a cross but O’Dowda heads it out for a corner.
Moments later, Bazunu does well to keep out Dinos Mavropanos’ hooked effort.
Ireland are under the cosh in the opening stages.
Tasos Bakasetas drills a shot from the edge of the area that Bazunu tips over.
These are nervy moments for Ireland fans.
Ireland are looking very sluggish and nervy.
Cullen has just mis-controlled a pass from Smallbone, leading to another Greek attack.
Penalty to Greece!
A Baldock cross has come off O’Dowda’s hand.
GREECE 1-0 IRELAND (BAKASETAS 15)
Tasos Bakasetas hammers the ball straight down the middle and into the net.
It’s a deserved lead, as Greece have been comfortably the better team.
Ireland are seeing a bit more of the ball since going behind.
They’ve yet to create a chance though — as I type Doherty overhits a pass towards Smallbone.
GREECE 1-1 IRELAND (COLLINS 28)
Ireland are level after a lengthy VAR check.
Smallbone’s corner is headed on by Ferguson and the onrushing Collins is adjudged to be onside as he converts it at the back post.
Here’s a look at how the opening goal came about…
Ireland fall behind to a Bakasetas penalty after O'Dowda is penalised for handball following a lengthy VAR check. #Euro2024 #GREvIRL #RTESoccer
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) June 16, 2023
📺 Watch: https://t.co/4qNNceBCQB
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📱 Updates: https://t.co/lHOKS7jxfP pic.twitter.com/COqlFJCy3d
Greece open up Ireland again.
Dimitris Pelkas runs through on goal but he can’t quite get a proper connection on his finish from a tight angle and his shot goes wide.
Moments later, Bazunu has to be alert to save Tasos Bakasetas’ shot from a distance.
Smallbone is penalised for a foul on Kostas Tsimikas.
Greece are dictating play again after the setback of going behind.
Greece are leading 9-1 in attempts, which gives some idea of how this game has gone.
They will wonder how they are not ahead.
Here’s a look at Ireland’s equaliser…
Nathan Collins draws Ireland level! It’s originally flagged for offside but VAR intervenes and awards the goal. #Euro2024 #GREvIRL #RTESoccer
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) June 16, 2023
📺 Watch: https://t.co/4qNNceBCQB
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An audacious attempt by Ferguson, who spots the goalkeeper off his line from distance but can’t find the target.
Down the other end, Doherty does well to block a goalbound Dimitris Pelkas shot.
Moments later, Tasos Bakasetas’ shot from the edge of the area is deflected wide.
It’s been a fairly uneventful last few minutes.
Smallbone put in a dangerous free kick but no Irish player could get a proper connection on the ball.
We’re on the brink of half-time now.
HALF-TIME: GREECE 1-1 IRELAND
So 1-1 at half-time, but that’s about the only positive from an Irish perspective.
Greece have dominated the play and created far more chances, while Gavin Bazunu has been easily Ireland’s best player.
The hosts have controlled the midfield and opened up the Boys in Green on a couple of occasions.
While the current scoreline is encouraging, you get the feeling Stephen Kenny will need to make some changes as Ireland are being overrun.
It might be a situation where Jason Knight’s energy is ideal, as the visitors have really struggled to combat their rivals.
Hundreds of Irish fans were locked out of the game minutes before kick-off, with several people expressing their frustration via social media.
You can read our full report here.
This is what Seán Crowe, Ireland fan and Sinn Féin TD for Dublin South West, had to say…
At the Ireland Greece game in Athens crazy & dangerous set up for Irish fans trying to get into the Stadium & hopefully no one hurt
— Seán Crowe (@SeanCroweTD) June 16, 2023
Ireland are making a change at the break.
Mikey Johnston is coming on for Adam Idah, who was fairly ineffectual in that first half.
The second half is underway…
GREECE 2-1 IRELAND (MASOURAS 48)
Greece are back ahead.
Tasos Bakasetas plays a clever through ball for Masouras, who finds the corner of the net with his finish.
Collins tries to keep it out but can only help it into the net.
Two changes for Ireland.
McClean and Knight replace O’Dowda and Smallbone.
Just as they did when they went 1-0 up, Greece are sitting back now and allowing Ireland to come onto them.
Do Kenny’s men have enough left in the tank to find a second equaliser?
Not too much of note has happened in the last few minutes.
Greece look comfortable but they are no longer attacking with the same level of conviction.
Vangelis Pavlidis has just been booked for a late challenge on Jayson Molumby.
Ireland have looked a bit better in recent minutes but still aren’t creating chances.
Here’s a look at that second goal for Greece…
Disastrous start to the second half for Ireland as Masouras finds the bottom corner after being played in by Greece captain Bakasetas. #Euro2024 #GREvIRL #RTESoccer
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) June 16, 2023
📺 Watch: https://t.co/4qNNceBCQB
📻 Listen: https://t.co/Vpls4Lx8IW
📱 Updates: https://t.co/lHOKS7jxfP pic.twitter.com/PqKK2hblk4
Collins almost gets a second.
The ball falls to him on the edge of the area, and his powerful shot is parried away by Odysseas Vlachodimos.
That’s Ireland’s best attacking moment in the second half so far.
Greece nearly punish Ireland on the counter after Collins gives it away.
Giorgos Giakoumakis receives the ball on the edge of the area with the goal at his mercy but his effort goes well over the bar.
An attacking change for Ireland with 10 minutes remaining.
Obafemi replaces Jayson Molumby.
McClean gives it away.
Baldock crosses for Giorgos Giakoumakis, but Collins does well to get his body in the way of a goalbound shot.
Frustrating for Ireland.
They have a corner but Johnston overhits it and it goes straight out of play.
People questioned whether a draw would be a good result before kick-off — it certainly would be now.
Greece are really sitting back now.
Unfortunately, Ireland aren’t creating chances and don’t look good enough to break them down.
As I type, another attacking change sees Parrott replace Lenihan.
Ireland are basically playing with a four-man attack now.
Gavin Bazunu is Ronnie Whelan’s choice on RTÉ for man of the match.
It was slim pickings, to be fair.
There will be four minutes of stoppage time.
Can Ireland find an unlikely equaliser?
Johnston’s free kick is floated in.
It ultimately falls to Doherty on the edge of the area, but Vlachodimos gets down well to make a save to keep out his low shot.
That’s probably their last chance of the match.
Matt Doherty has been sent off late on for an off-the-ball incident.
One or two Greece players appeared lucky to escape the same fate.
FULL-TIME: GREECE 2-1 IRELAND
So that’s that.
A pretty ordinary performance from Ireland, who can’t really have any complaints with the outcome.
Greece were the better team for large spells and would have been further ahead were it not for a few good saves from Bazunu.
Ireland struggled to create chances of note, with no one really, aside from Bazunu, emerging with any credit.
Sort of reminiscent of the game against Armenia last year, the Irish team looked sluggish and out of sorts.
Greece played well and are clearly better than their fourth seeding suggests, but this outcome is a hammer blow to Stephen Kenny’s side in the short and probably the long term too.
Any faint hopes of automatic qualification look very unlikely now.
Here’s a look at that red card for Doherty in the dying stages…
Matt Doherty sees red in the closing stages to cap off a miserable night for Ireland in Athens. #Euro2024 #GREvIRL #RTESoccer
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) June 16, 2023
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Right, that’s all from me for now.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
We’ll have plenty more reaction to come shortly.
