More in a while…
In the coach’s mind
With 3-5-2 Gustavo Poget lined up the National Team. Vlachodimos was in goal, with Retso, Mavropano and Hatzidiakos being the stoppers, while Rota and Giannoulis were on both sides. Bouchalakis and Galanopoulos would start in midfield, with Bakaseta having a more creative role. Ioannidis played at the top, with Masoura flanking him.
With 4-2-3-1 France. Samba, while the stoppers were Saliba and L. Hernandez, while Kouté was in the backs, with Fofana and Rabiot as the midfielders, Dembele and Kolo Muani were in the “wings” and Giroud at the top of the attack.
The match
France had the ball at their feet early on, as expected, with the National team keeping their lines close, pressing the ball judiciously when mostly close to the centre.
France’s first dangerous visit took place in the 6th minute, but its attempt with Dembele was left in the middle, after the blue-and-white defense “cleaned up”, which in the next descent went to get something good. Bouchalakis and Masouras worked well together, but Rota did not find a teammate with his turn.
Kolo Mouani in the 12′ was in a shooting position and a little to the left, he crossed, but Vlahodemos was ready, just like in the 15′ with Griezmann’s nice shot from outside the area with his fists, giving away a corner.
The blue and white were looking to cause damage to the opposition and with this moment they approached the guests’ area in the 19th minute, when after a steal by Bouchalakis, Masouras tried twice to serve in the area, but only got the corner.
Gradually, the National team retreated, or to put it another way, France gained ground and forced them to retreat. When he went to face off, France saw the gap behind, with Fofanas making a long precision ball for Griezmann, Hadzidiakos didn’t read the phase well and Griezmann sent the ball to the right post of Vlachodimos in 33′.
The best opportunity for the national team to do something good in the first half came in the 39th minute, with Masoura and Ioannidis working together and the Panathinaikos forward attacking from the front, but he tried to do it all by himself and was cut off, after they were effectively closed three players to cut him off.
In the 42nd minute came the goal that sent France into the dressing room with Fofana teaming up with Giroud, who made a one-on-one pass to set up Kolo Mouani, who thundered through the area. and sideways sent the ball into the net.
The scene was similar in the first minutes of the second half, with France having the ball and the National team trying to gain yards. Fofana made a long and very mistimed shot in the 50′ and from then on the switch was turned for the National Team.
Retsos teamed up with Ioannidis in the 52nd minute, but the latter’s shot was off target. Four minutes later, Greece were rewarded for their rise, finding the goal in stoppage time. After a mistake by the French, Ioannidis persisted inside the area, Masouras and Bouchalakis shot to the bodies, with the ball reaching the semi-circle of the area, from where Bakasetas volleyed the ball into the net in the 56th minute.
The national team was not satisfied with the 1-1, with Bouchalakis making an excellent opening play to the left for Giannoulis, who set up an apron for Kounde, while he then served for Ioannidis who executed from the heart of the opponent’s area, sending the ball to net in the 61st minute for 2-1.
Deschamps recruited Mbappe (as well as Coman, Kloss) in the 65th minute, seeing that the match was not going as planned. France stepped up and soon equalized. Fofana launched a fireball in the 74th minute, Vlachodimos probably found the ball a little, but it ended up in the net.
Source: Sport Fm
I am currently a news writer for News Bulletin247 where I mostly cover sports news. I have always been interested in writing and it is something I am very passionate about. In my spare time, I enjoy reading and spending time with my family and friends.
