The curse of Finland was broken and the National Team locked the 2nd group!

It caused a reaction and ended its presence in the Nations League in an ideal way National. His team Ivan Jovanovich found two goals at the beginning of the second half and passed for the first time in its history from Finlandprevailing 2-0.

This three points was enough for the “blue and white” to secure their participation in the 2nd capacity group for the World Cup qualifiers draw on December 13.

At the same time, Greece finished 2nd in their group in a tie with England, having a record 5-1-0a sign that it is progressing and reminds again of the good old National Team. As for promotion to the first division of the Nations League, they will play one of the third League A in double legs.

In the coach’s mind

With 3-5-2 Markus Karneva brought down Finland. Joronen at home, with full-backs Alho, Hakans and triple stoppers Hoskonen, Ivanov, Pikarainen. The axis trio consisted of Lod, Kairinen and Kamara, with Kalman, Pogianpalo being the duo in attack.

Ivan Jovanovic lined up Greece with the classic 4-2-3-1. In the goal, Vlachodimos and Rota, Mavropanos, Koulierakis, Tsimikas in the four defense. Twins on the axis are Kourbelis, Mandalos, in front of them is Bakasetas and on the wings are Masouras, Tzolis. At the top of the attack is Pavlidis.

The match

Greece showed a will to control the game at the start, with the Jolie in the 8th minute to threaten the opponent’s goal, but the shot he attempted from the edge of the area was countered and passed for a corner. The National team won several static phases and mainly corners, which they did not take advantage of, while their development was slow. The tempo remained low, which suited her Finland which mainly tried with a quick transition to create phases, but was unable to threaten his goal Vlachodimos.

THE Bakasetas saw him Joronen to deflect the cross shot he attempted in the 32nd minute, while six minutes later o Pavlidis pucked in the opponent’s area but o Hoskonen took the bite out of his mouth. The minutes passed, the “blue and white” did not have the required energy and intensity due to frustration and fatigue from the match with England (the same players started on 9/11 as the last game) and the half-time naturally ended without a score (0-0 ).

The blue and white team showed a different face at the start of the second half. He had greater concentration and focusresulting in two quick goals and essentially ending the game and locking up the three points. After threatening in the 50th minute with the combination of Masoura-Pavlidis which the last one did not have time to turn into a final one, found the first goal that freed her.

It was the 52nd minute when o Koulierakis created great for him Bakasetapassing him a terrible cross that cut the opposing defense in two, with the captain of the national team executing for 1-0.

Four minutes later, the other stopper, Black clothwith a long ball he played him Pavlidis on the back of the defense, o Joronen he went out of focus and moved away temporarily but on the Joliewho with a terrific lob from 30 meters sent the ball into the net for 2-0.

Greece had circled the three points and was moving into administration. Bakasetas had a final shot blocked by Joronen in the 61st minute, while a few minutes later he worried the bench as he found himself injured on the ground, with Jovanovic opting to make his first changes in the 74th minute. He dropped Siopi and Pelka on the grass, bringing out Bakaseta and Masura. At the same time, with the close distances on the lines, the National team kept the Finns out of dangerous phases with relative ease, with each and every home team’s finals being 3 up to that point.

THE Pookie in the 80th minute he tried to score and give new interest to a counter attack, but the quick retreat of Rota and the correct positioning of Mavropanos did not allow him to do so. A few minutes later, the home side had their best moment when Adman found himself a few yards outside the area, he got a powerful shot but the ball went about two yards wide of the left post.

Until the finale he didn’t change a bit, with the only notable event being his debut Muzakitewho became and the youngest to compete in an official match with the National Team! And he may not have played enough, but maybe it’s the start of a long career with the coat of arms on his chest…

MVP: Koulierakis, with his perspicacity and quality, sees the gap in the opposing defense and with a vertical… ten-pointer, he gives a ready goal to Bakaseta for 1-0. At the same time, he suspended every attempt (of the few, the truth is) by the Finns to score.

The whistle: Delazo did not have a difficult phase, managing the match properly. He let the match play out, since he was helped by the fact that there were not many fouls and the tempo was relatively low.

This is how you watched live the game of the national team against Finland in Helsinki!

FINLAND: Joronen – Alho (82′ Niskanen), Hoskonen, Ivanov, Pikarainen (67′ Olila), Hakans (74′ Puki), Lund, Kairinen, Kamara (74′ Nisila), Kalman, Pojanpalo (67′ Adman).

GREECE: Vlachodimos, Tsimikas, Koulierakis, Mavropanos, Rota, Mandalos (87′ Retsos), Kourbelis (90+ Mouzakitis), Bakasetas (75′ Pelkas), Tzolis (87′ Giannoulis), Masouras (75′ Siopis), Pavlidis.