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The tally of the most recent match in the oldest of the Greek National against John van Schip was as follows until tonight: 14 against Slovenia (0-0), 26 against Finland (2-1 win), 20 against Armenia (Victory 1 -0), 25 against Bosnia (win 2-1), 9 against Italy (loss 0-2), 19 against Liechtenstein (1-1), 6 against Finland (loss 0-1). Even in the last game with Angelos Anastasiadis on the bench, the 2-3 home loss to Armenia, the Greek team had 24 final attempts. Against Kosovo, he was only 12 and prevailed with 2-1 for the 2nd game of the 3rd group of the 3rd division of the Nations League 2020-2021.
The image was … magical, since in all other statistical categories the two teams were on the same level. Only the scoreboard showed difference, distance in his game. Even in terms of impressions, the National Team was not as good as in previous matches, especially in the Euro 2020 qualifiers. It did not create opportunities, it did not dominate the field, it did not even have possession of the ball, which it had, for example , in defeat. in Finland (55%), although she had only attempted 6 final attempts.
The first final in Pristina brought Samir Vikani’s rejection of Dimitris Limnios. A second later, the PAOK winger took the rebound and made it 1-0, with the timer reaching 100 seconds of play. The National Team’s most trusted net winger since the days of Stelios Giannakopoulos did not ‘unleash’ any exploding attacking play from his teammates. Although Costas Fortounis was present at this match, the first in the Fant Schip era, Greece waited longer to find empty spaces on the fast break, which circulated the ball and attempted to break through the rival defense.
The ball, for the most part, was kept low, the internationals tried to change it with … Dutch passing game and control and not with long crosses and pursuit, but Kosovo was the one that had the advantage. Vassilis Barkas’ home was slightly threatened, but the same was true for Wicani. Few endings, unlikely to be dangerous.
In fact, the Kosovars turned out to be … suicidal. Kostas Stafilidis’ injury from a charge led Fant Schip to put Dimitris Siovas on the field from the 1st half. The Leganés stopper did his defensive work to a great extent, but he also made the attack of his teammates, since with an impeccable -for central- control with the knee and a great return he scored the 2-0 in the 51 ‘.
Neither the entry of Giorgos Masouras in 61 ‘nor that of Petros Mandalos (who played as’ pseudo-nine ‘) in 83’ changed the image of the game. The national team was satisfied that the rival had the ball and filled their body area, so that Kosovo could not threaten. Bernard Berisha’s goal in minute 82 was the exception to the rule. The domain of National Greece.
If the Greek team tries to play for the victory with … half zero and is on the right day, they will succeed regardless of the opponent. This was such a night, as demonstrated by the only 12 final attempts, 6 of which were directed. It was not the classic image of Fant Schip’s team, it was definitely worse than in the ‘white’ draw with Slovenia on Thursday, but it gave it the first, welcome, ‘three points’ in the group.
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