To News Bulletin 247 and the veteran international was hosted on the show of Vaios Tsuchikas “Pressing”, George Samaras.
The former striker referred to Euro 2024 and in its course England that he could not see, her image Netherlands in the semi-finals that he did not represent, but also the players that stood out in the tournament.
At the same time, he emphasized that Greek football should benefit from the conquest of the Conference League by Olympicwhich was not done with the success of the National team in 2004.
Samaras revealed special stories from his years at Celticwhile he also spoke about Greece’s progress in the 2014 World Cup, for which he emphasized that everyone felt that they could reach the semi-finals.
In detail, what Giorgos Samaras reported to News Bulletin 247:
For England reaching the final: “I didn’t see the English getting to where they are now because there wasn’t a game or a half where I saw a plan, a tactical approach. They were lucky because of the intersections, which was an easier part. Still, Switzerland and Slovakia were competitive and pleasant surprises of the tournament».
On the image of the Netherlands in the semi-final: “The Dutch people did not like the approach, they want as a people to play football and let them lose. Unfortunately with England they only had a defensive function. At half-time Koeman took off Mullen and put on Wenghorst. They didn’t play, they didn’t control the match in any way and they paid for it in the worst way.
The Netherlands did not lose happily. Defeated due to tactics and approach. She has gotten used to us being more relaxed in terms of her playing style and in this Euro she was full, organized, to “take care of our defense”. In this part they lost it. Holland was more concentrated, which is not usual to see like that».
On the players who stood out at the Euros and the disappointment of the tournament: “The Raiders who brought out elements that I had not seen in Milan. Saliba also had leadership characteristics, who climbed the track. I was disappointed by Italy and Portugal. Italy does not have big names as a whole, while on the other hand Portugal had many».
On the scene with the orange boots at Celtic: “I get a transfer to Celtic and we play the first game against Kilmarnock. My shoe company brought me an orange pair and on debut I managed to score. The next day at training I see my coach with a newspaper, which had a shoe down with zoom and criticism. He starts laughing and explains to me that orange is the Queen’s color, where Scotland is opposite».
On whether he wanted to play somewhere and didn’t in his career: “No, in any case, if someone has the opportunity to live the experience abroad, go. The training structure seemed like a different world to me, I felt like I hadn’t been training before. The change from Holland to England is completely different. In Holland I didn’t have a day off for five years, in England I had a Wednesday-Sunday match and then five days off. I thought they were kidding me.
The English prepare hard and their schedule is relaxed, which also applies to the preparations with Scotland. The ideal for me is to play Saturday-Tuesday, Saturday-Wednesday. Rest was the games and everyday life was the difficulty for me».
On whether he would fit in at Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City: “You can’t compare, football has changed since I stopped and you can’t enter into such a comparison. I stopped at 30 years old, I fought it for 2-3 years with a problem but I didn’t like it as a player and I decided to quit football».
On Celtic’s 2012 win over Barcelona: “I didn’t touch the ball that night. Anyone watching the match will have a stroke. The game was for the 4th matchday of the groups and the previous one we played in Barcelona against Barcelona. I score 0-1 and at one point I land badly on Adriano’s leg and come off as a substitute. I was sure I wouldn’t be competing in Glasgow, but I was on the mission. In training on the day of the match, the coach calls me to his office and tells me “you are our captain, I need you and you will start”. I tell him that this scenario is not playing out.
The game had only runs. The coach does not substitute me and in the end places me on the left, where I had Dani Alves. In the sprints there were punches and kicks and in the 80′ I tell him that I can’t stand it. At the final whistle he came and told me they had two weeks to sit out but I needed a month».
For Greek football: “I want to believe that from now on and after Olympiacos wins the Conference League, the authorities will understand that we can do things. We did not take advantage of the success of 2004 at all. We need to review some things and believe in ourselves. In the last two seasons there is a fight to the end for the title and this brings out a football health and one makes the other more competitive».
For the match against Russia in 2012 and the 2014 World Cup: “I kept the ball a lot in that game, which was one of my best with the National Team. At the World Cup in Brazil we felt that we would reach the semi-finals if we got past Costa Rica, we believed so much. That night the ball didn’t go in, the phases we had done were for four goals».
On whether he thought of becoming a coach or dealing abroad with the administrative part: “No, it never crossed my mind to become a coach. I wouldn’t be able to get into that process. I wouldn’t do it for family reasons and I wouldn’t want to do it in Greece. I lived alone for 17 years and my desire is to stay here».
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.
