Rehhagel's 23 for the Euro...

AMOROSO! · May 24th, 2004, 01:15

Here's the squad:

Goalkeepers
Antonis Nikopolidis (Panathinaikos)
Kostas Chalkias (Panathinaikos)
Fanis Katergiannakis (Olympiakos)

Defenders
Takis Fyssas (Benfica, Portugal)
Giannis Goumas (Panathinaikos)
Traianos Dellas (Roma, Italy)
Giourkas Seitaridis (Panathinaikos)
Nikos Dabizas (Leicester City, England)
Stelios Venetidis (Olympiakos)
Michalis Kapsis (AEK)

Midfielders
Padelis Kafes (Olympiakos)
Thodoris Zagorakis (AEK)
Vassilis Lakis (AEK)
Aggelos Basinas (Panathinaikos)
Giorgos Georgiadis (Olympiakos)
Stelios Giannakopoulos (Bolton, England)
Kostas Katsouranis (AEK)
Giorgos Karagounis (Inter, Italy)
Vassilis Tsartas (AEK)

Forwards
Aggelos Charisteas (Werder Bremen, Germany)
Dimitris Papadopoulos (Panathinaikos)
Demis Nikolaidis (Atletico Madrid, Spain)
Zisis Vryzas (Fiorentina, Italy)

Certainly noone can blame Otto for being unpredictable...

As expected, same old faces... the ones you could argue they "miss" out (although they never really ever had a chance anyway) are Stoltidis, Amanatidis, Salpiggidis, Zikos and Kirgiakos.

This would be MY starting 11:

Nikopolidis

Seitaridis - Dellas - Kapsis - Venetidis

Basinas - Katsouranis

Giannakopoulos - Karagounis

Charisteas - Nikolaidis

Otto's (

) probable 11:

Nikopolidis

Dabizas

- Dellas - Kapsis (or Goumas

)

Seitaridis - Basinas (or Goumas

) - Zagorakis

- Fyssas

Giannakopoulos - Karagounis

Vryzas

(or Charisteas)

g00nis · May 24th, 2004, 01:49

well the only players i really dont want on there are:

katergiannakis (preferably giannou)
georgiadis (preferably amanatidis)
goumas (preferably kyrgiakos)

but hes got us this far, lets see how it goes

AMOROSO! · May 24th, 2004, 01:55

Nah, Georgiadis is still much better than Amanatidis. Let Amanatidis fullfill his role with the U-21 then do the step... let's not forget that had it not been for Otto's tendency to call up anyone who plays in Germany and is not total rubbish (like Kostas Konstadinidis) Amanatidis would have not have got the chance to play for the national team so early anyway...

Giannou... I don't know. The kid is talented, but he is nowhere near NT material. It's even debetable whether he should be the starter in the U-21 even...

Basically, both Chalkias and Katergiannakis are going because noone else is actually available. Eleftheropoulos has been scratching his balls for 6 months and has been crap for about 3 years, Chiotis is benchwarming at AEK and the rest are not worth a look even...

Thrylos · May 24th, 2004, 03:21

Our defenders who were all doing great during qualifying have all ****ed up lately.

Nikopolidis (GK) - PAO management ****ed him hard...very sad.

Dabizas - moved to relegated Leicester and gave up penalties and goals and own-goals. Honestly, I didn't see any games, and assume that some of the blame has to go to his shitty teammates, but he has also dropped in form.

Antzas - his career was ruined by the Olympiakos management, very sad.

Dellas - Hasn't been playing at Roma...not sure about his form of late.

Kyrgiakos - got injured and hasn't recovered sufficiently...from what I saw of his "playing" in the derby at least...

Patsazoglou - injured for a very long time now

Goumas - does not deserve to wear the NT shirt, he is nothing above average IMO

Kapsis - unimpressive as of late.

Seitaridis, Fyssas and Venetidis have all been pretty good lately though, but our central defense looks very shaky.

The defensive mids will have to do A LOT OF WORK, and this is why Tsiartas should not be playing because even as an AM, he needs to check back, but never does.

Up top, besides Papa who has been a star in Greece this year, our forwards have all gone out of form...

I hate to say it (especially since I'll be in Portugal to watch this team I love) but our qualifying may have been a brief flare....but I still don't need any Spaniards or Portuguese to tell us about it...

Oh man, I guess we have to wait a few more weeks.

ELLAS - PANTA MAZI SOU

Christos7 · May 24th, 2004, 20:05

If Otto plays the right midfield and doesn;t leave us exposed (see Holland) we will be ok... we will atleast have a fighting chance.

Kostas · May 27th, 2004, 16:01

Amo i think that Rehagel will not leave Demis warming the bench.

My opinion:
As i have said before our strength is that we're a TEAM.Not that we lack of talent but against teams like Spain we must play like in Zaragoza.This defensive-destroying football and let the efficient players like Giannakopoulos,Karagounis,Demis up front to create an other surprise.

We haven't the quality to play offensive against big teams but i strongly believe that we'll have a great Euro and will reach AT LEAST the quarters.

The eleven (with 2 attackers,as i prefer and as i hope that Rehagel will finally choose):
Nikopolidis - In small duration & big competitions the responsibilities of the GK are much more and he has the personality to succeed.

Dellas - He doesn't play in Roma but just training with this club gives him experience.Still he is our better central def over the last games.

Kapsis - Probably Rehagel will start him and there is no reason to disagree with that.

Dabizas/Goumas - Whoever of them will start must try a lot not to destroy us.:P

Seitaridis - You may have noticed my admiration for this player.Great talent but in Euro he should give a bit more attention to his defensive responsibilities in order to ignore an other 4-0...

Fyssas - In a football dictionary he would be the opposite word of "Seitaridis".He has not the skills to create dengers from the left side but he's a strong boyl,concentrated on his defensive duties.

Zagorakis - Rehagel will start him for sure.He's the captain.Experience and love for the team gives him a plus over Katsouranis and Basinas.Even if he's not better.

Giannakopoulos - I believe on him.His dangerous efforts from both sides will cause many problems to the opponents.

Tsartas/Karagounis - Rehagel as it seems is not sure who will be the starter.Tsartas will be a good solution for a team that will play us more closed (probably Russia) and he will add fantasy in our game with his great passing/crossing skills and cooperation with Demis.Karagounis is a valuable player too as he's not only skilled but runs (too much) and marks.I prefer a bit more Karagounis.

Nikolaidis - He can make the difference up front.

Vryzas/Charisteas - As Pap isn't the best partner for Demis,Rehagel will begin one of them if he prefers a 3-5-2 formation.I don't think they will make Europe talk for them but possibly and hopefully they will help with a desicive goal.

15 days to go and....ANTE RE ELLADARA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ikaros · May 27th, 2004, 18:03

WEll i really hope that our team game can let us through too the next round. Although im pessimist about our chances over there in Portugal i still have hope .

SteVen_7 · May 27th, 2004, 23:15

For me it should be Karagounis who starts.
----------------------------Nikopolidis--------------------------
---------------Dellas------Kapsis-------Dabizas--------------
--Seitaridis--------------------------------------Fyssas--------
----------------------------Zagorakis---------------------------
---------Karagounis---------------------------Stelios---------
------------Charisteas--------------Nikolaidis----------------

with Basinas as a sub to Charisteas if we need defensive play, as in the first match against Portugal and Tsartas in for Stelios if we need creativity as against Russia.
For me Papadopoulos was great this year but doesn't have the experience to play at this level (even if with Couto as a center back we may see some interesting battles-he is really fast, remember the match vs AEK when he made Amponsah get the red card) and all the others are there to cover us up.

Also Vryzas could play some part but I doubt it after his recent form with Viola.

g00nis · May 28th, 2004, 03:55

i like your formation though i dont think its a good idea to play karagouni on the right wing

and i think zagoraki is too old to handle the middle of the field all by his lonesome -- i think well see karagouni as an amc and lakis on the right wing

SteVen_7 · June 1st, 2004, 00:22

Quote:

Originally posted by g00nis
i like your formation though i dont think its a good idea to play karagouni on the right wing

and i think zagoraki is too old to handle the middle of the field all by his lonesome -- i think well see karagouni as an amc and lakis on the right wing

No, don't expect to see Lakis in the starting-11. Rahhagel doesn't trust him. I think he is there just to fill up the roster. If we play with AMC, then Tsiartas will take this role with Giannakopoulos going to the right and Venetidis coming in as a left back. Fyssas would then be the left half. I have seen so many Greece games under Rehhagel, I think I have understood the way he thinks. And I don't think it will change it now, before such a crucial tournament. He would mess the whole team up! Trust me, I think the formation will be one of those I have described...

AMOROSO! · June 1st, 2004, 00:47

I'm actually quite worried about the third central defender. Dabizas and Goumas are just crap, and we could really use some speed back there since both Kapsis and Dellas are dinosaurs... In any case, I prefer Dabizas over Goumas.

Left back: In my opinion Venetidis is better than Fyssas, period. Fyssas is a mindless goat (katsiki).

I really think Basinas should be in the starting line up. He cover so much space and his foot could come in handy at free kicks and corners. Zagorakis is going to play anyway, so hopefully Otto plays with two defencive midfielders.

Up front... well, I'd rather see Charisteas on his own.

Nikopolidis

Kapsis - Dellas - Dabizas

Seitaridis - Basinas - Zagorakis - Venetidis

Giannakopoulos - Karagounis

Charisteas

g00nis · June 1st, 2004, 21:02

Quote:

Originally posted by AMOROSO!
I'm actually quite worried about the third central defender. Dabizas and Goumas are just crap, and we could really use some speed back there since both Kapsis and Dellas are dinosaurs... In any case, I prefer Dabizas over Goumas.

Left back: In my opinion Venetidis is better than Fyssas, period. Fyssas is a mindless goat (katsiki).

I really think Basinas should be in the starting line up. He cover so much space and his foot could come in handy at free kicks and corners. Zagorakis is going to play anyway, so hopefully Otto plays with two defencive midfielders.

Up front... well, I'd rather see Charisteas on his own.

Nikopolidis

Kapsis - Dellas - Dabizas

Seitaridis - Basinas - Zagorakis - Venetidis

Giannakopoulos - Karagounis

Charisteas

I disagree, if we are to score any goals we need two strikers

none of our strikers can work by themselves

we need demis to be healthy and the charisteas of 2002

and i agree that venetidis should start over fyssa, we need hsi forward runs

i really wish he wouldnt play zagoraki, he simply doesnt have the required mobility or stamina to handle world class center midfielders anymore - i would much prefer karagounis playing alongside basinas with two forwards

AMOROSO! · June 1st, 2004, 21:54

Exactly, I tottaly agree about Zagorakis. But Rehhagel is going to play him anyway, that's why I want Basinas next to him.

Christos7 · June 2nd, 2004, 02:19

Zagorakis will play.... It should be Basinas 100%. He is the better player by far. Plus I think he works better with Karagouni in the middle.

This is what I would use personally:

------------------------- Charisteas
----------------------------------------- Papadopoulos
------Giannakopoulos
--------------------------------- Karagounis
-------------------- Basinas

Fyssas ---------------------------------------------- Seitaridis

------------ Kapsis ---- Dellas ---- Katsouranis

------------------------ Nikopolidis

AMOROSO! · June 2nd, 2004, 02:36

Interesting team. But Katsouranis as a central defender? He played this role for AEK few times, but it was an emergency... I doubt he's "solid" enough if you know what I mean...

g00nis · June 2nd, 2004, 18:01

---------------------- Charisteas
----------------------------------------- Demis

------Giannakopoulos
----------------------------------- Karagounis
-------------------------- Basinas

Venetidis ------------ Katsouranis--------------- Seitaridis

--------------------- Kapsis ---- Dellas

------------------------ Nikopolidis

modified it slightly...

Katsourani would be more of a hidden cb (much like zikos in the cl final), when we want to play defensive he can go back to CB but if we want to play a more controlled game in the middle of the park he can support basinas in the above fashion

venetidis and seitaridis would have free reign on the flanks

giannakopoulos and karagounis would be complete liberos, they can both play both sides and the middle and they can be very useful harrasing the opposing teams attackers coming back and defending (as witnessed v spain)...

id run this formation against portugal and see how it does, against russia id replace katsouranis with tsiartas and move tsiarta to basinas position with basinas playing in katsouranis previous role

Christos7 · June 2nd, 2004, 21:10

AMO, I agree but I feel better with the idea of Katsouranis in their than Dabizas.... Otto tried him out in a couple friendlies, he did well. As did he with AEK when playing defense.

He is a good tackler, solid player. Better than seeing the forwards for Spain and Portugal run by Dabizas.....

Not to mention a backline of Kapsis - Dellas - Dabizas is just so damn slow. Katsouranis will add some needed qualities I think.

AMOROSO! · June 2nd, 2004, 22:15

I doubt we'll see Demis at all during the Euro. The guy is injured yet Rehhagel does not call a replacement... pfff.

The most logical thing would be to play Papadopoulos instead, but knowing Otto, if he goes for two strikers he'll play Vryzas in the area and Charisteas as a forward...

Riquelme-BJ · June 5th, 2004, 17:20

What are the expectations of your national team our there in Greece? i mean u ended up before Spain during the qualifications, but ever since it doesnt lookso impressive..

what do u guys think Greece can achieve here?

Christos7 · June 5th, 2004, 17:52

After Spain we had a 13 game winning streak.... I wouldn't exactly say that wasn't impressive.

But realistically, I don't think we will advance. I just want us to play hard, play with our hearts and that will make me proud. Whatever happens from there we will see...