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Introducing the Greek National Soccer Team (Part 2)

Continuing with our Defenders:
GIORGOS TZAVELLAS

A year before I joined Terspithea in D’ Ethniki (4th division in Greece) back in 2006, their best player was Giorgios Tzavellas. Then I took over…(!) I had heard stories about him, one of which was that while practicing,  he would have a bottle of water in his hand and still dribble 4-5 guys and then score and then take a sip. That 4 out his 5 shots on target would end up in the back of the net. He was a legend in the small suburb of Terpsithea in the south of Athens, just north of Glyfada. Then he went on to play for Kerkyra (Corfu), Panionios, Eintracht Frankfurt and AS Monaco. I ended up writing articles about him.
AVRAAM  PAPADOPOULOS

I am not a huge fan of his face, his persona, his attitude. He’s an unbelievable defender though.   He will sacrifice both his legs to win a battle and crack his skull on the post to save a goal. He was even voted best player of the year for Greece in 2011, the first defender to receive such an honor. However, ever since his own goal against Luxembourg for the 2010 World Cup qualifiers, I have stopped believing in him. He was accused of being part of a betting scandal in Greece. Apparently during that specific game, it was agreed by the betting Lords, that the number of goals scored by both teams should at least be three. We call that OVER in betting terms, UNDER is when the amount of goals is 2 or less. Greece was up 2-0 and he scored his own goal in the last minute, one that did not match his ability as a defender. He was accused of that felony and was unable to leave the country. A few months later, the charges were dropped and the story is now forgotten. Yesterday’s news is no longer news…
 
SOKRATIS  PAPASTATHOPOULOS
 One of Demis Nikolaidis’ greatest accomplishments as AEK Athens’ president was his willingness to ground his team with hopeful youngsters. Functioning as any European club with a decent plan for a promising future, AEK was able to sell five key players to the top European teams: Pliatsikas, Kapetanos, Moras, Katsouranis and Papastathopoulos. The latter has had the most stellar career track, moving to Genoa, then hitting the jack pot in AC Milan and then ending up in Werder Bremen. He is one of the greatest defenders in Europe on a one-on-one take with a striker. He’s a phenomenal tackler with great speed.     A little nervous with the ball on his feet, tends to throw long passes to Mr No-one up front and sometimes helps the opposing team recharge their attacks. Either way, a precious part of our defending machine.
 
VASILIOS  TOROSIDIS
Back in 2006, when I use to chat on a Greek chat site called zoo.gr, I came across Vasilios Torosidis’ sister. She was a good-looking girl, who still lived in one of the most beautiful cities of Greece, Xanthi, where Vasilis grew up. She told me of the time when her parents had to apologize to their son because they did not have enough faith in his dream during his teenage years. They’d force him to sit in the common room that his sister and he would share and make him do his homework, forbidding him from going to practice. He’d then jump down off the balcony and run to practice before his parents could find out. Thankfully, his story had a happy ending.  Football took over and he has now become the most dominant player of our team. He is the key figure of our defense, midfield or even offense.
 
KYRIAKOS PAPADOPOULOS
Thank God Olympiacos’ remark, “He’s too inexperienced to start!” did not keep him on the bench for years to come. Schalke 04’s scouts, like dei ex machina, eyed Kyriakos’ maturity as a center back and grabbed him for just 2.5 million euros! (yes, this is not a type-o, for just 2.5 million.) Anyway since then, Kyriakos has become one of the most promising defenders in Europe. His patience with the ball and his positioning in the field in expectation of the opposing strike, is that of a player 10 years older. Besides that, he’s our most gifted aerial player, having scored twice already in the qualifying round.


JOSE  HOLEBAS
We have a decent left back. That’s Giorgios Tzavellas. But after his injury, we were left with Nikos Spyropoulos who is as good as my aunt. Then Olympiacos signed two guys, Holebas and Miralas, and we were all joking about how similar their names sounded to Greek. Little did we know, that the German-born leftie, not only turned out to be a defender with amazing offensive skills, but also that he was of Greek origin. Since he had no probability of becoming a member of the German team, we “signed” him over and made him ours. He possesses great footwork, since he started off as a striker in his early days, but he gets carried away and makes one too many ambitious runs down the left side of the field that don’t always end successfully. Who runs back to cover him then? No one…and that’s where we have a problem!
STELIOS  MALEZAS
I’ll be honest, I don’t know much about the fellow. I’ve seen him play in PAOK’s Europa league’s games, but that was over the internet and connection was bad. The least of my concerns was to check out Malezas’ performance. Having said that, with just two caps under his shoulder, he’s representing us again, 2 years after he did so in South Africa. World Cup and Euro, for the 1.93m tall defender. What a trip! As I said again, I’m not sure whether he’s any good, but I’m guessing he knows how to place his body correctly when defending and he’s good in the air. In Greece we call players like these, katsikia (goats)!
Our Midfielders:
GRIGORIS-AKIS  MAKOS
My boy! My man! I grew up playing soccer with him for Ilioupolis FC, our local team in Athens. I’d play in the middle, he’d play on the left and Christos Axarlis would play on the right side. Chris and I are sitting together in our little gaff in Los Angeles, trying to make it as actors in Hollywood, while he is playing for the National team. A beautiful antithesis to base a drama on. Makos would be unstoppable from the left. When he’d receive the ball, he’d run down the field and cross magical balls in the box where either Chris or I would net them in. He made it because he was more of a hard worker than what Chris and I were combined. He could also use both his feet equally. His game play has changed now, positioned as he is in the center-mid. He gives the ball away a bit too easily, even though recently I have to say, he’s worked loads on that and he doesn’t have the personality needed in the middle to take the team on his back. But I believe in him and I know if Santos uses him, he’ll kill on the field!

All of us on the lower line, Makos, first from left, Andricopoulos, third from right, Axarlis, fourth from right

GIORGIOS KARAGOUNIS

During my teenage years, Giorgios Karagounis was my idol. When he signed for Inter Milan, I was as happy as a duck. I thought back then that the time had finally come for a Greek skillful midfielder to make it in one of the big European championships. That didn’t necessarily work out, but having not been alive during Mimis Domazos’ era (one of Greece’s greatest players of the past), he’s one of the only three I knew who were able to deliver accurate long and short distance passes with such finesse. The other two were Vasilios Tsartas and Vasilios Karapialis, but they were not good all-around players the way Giorgos is. Karagounis still remains a key player despite his inability to run the way he did during 90′. When he enters the game, usually as a substitution, the energy he brings along is enough to turn a whole game around. He also drops down like a feather when he gets slightly pushed, a valuable asset, that calms the game down and gives us time to recharge. He’s also from Pyrgos, just 10km south of Amaliada, my father’s hometown! Santos tends to start him, let’s see!
GIORGIOS  FOTAKIS
Kid’s alright. To be part of our national squad though? I don’t know… He’s got a great shot, especially when he tries to score outside the box, but new era midfielders need to be faster, think quicker and be stronger. I can’t imagine any of his features being as good as needed for top-level soccer.
YIANNIS  MANIATIS
Signed by Olympiacos last year in hope of taking charge of the right defense whenever Vasilios Torosidis would need a breather, only a few would’ve guessed his impressive improvement throughout the year. Olympiacos is not known for reclaiming its talent, but with Ernesto Valverde (Olympiacos’ coach last season) taking charge, Maniatis was able to showcase his talent and deservingly win one of our National team’s spots. What a dog in the middle, with great strength and stamina!
SOTIRIOS  NINIS
I wish this guy played more during the World Cup, but Rehagel’s obsession in using experienced players proved somewhat of a disaster. My theory is that with Ninis on the field, we are better! With over 100 caps in the Greek league and massive performances in Europe, I think he’s proved himself capable of leading the center midfield. What he’s great at is receiving the ball in the middle and even though 3 opponents are about to jump on him, he will turn and then control the ball towards that small little space before he passes it accurately and simply. What a player!
ΚONSTANTINOS  KATSOURANIS

Talk about a coach’s favorite! He’s been in Fernando Santos’ hands ever since they were both part of AEK Athens, then S.L. Benfica and now the Greek national team. If PAOK had the money, he would have probably signed Kostas during the 2007-10 era when Santos was managing. He can play almost every position on the field (he’s been accused of playing the coach too) and up to a couple of years ago he’d do it with such discipline. Recently though, he’s become a little lazy on the pitch and for long periods of the game, he just disappears. For a midfielder though, like water, he’ll slide in the box and out of nowhere will score crucial goals. He’ll average at least 6-8 goals a season. That’s a lot for a defensive midfielder. He has been inconsistent the last two seasons though and that scares me.
KOSTAS  FORTOUNIS
Our team’s Benjamin, barely 20, from the city of Trikala, began playing for Olympiacos, then Trikala and Asteras Tripolis. During the 2011-12 season, he made a name for himself by setting up goal-scoring opportunities over and over again for his teammates. Unfortunately, the latter were not too hot, which almost had Asteras Tripolis relegated to the 2nd division of Greece. Little did that matter for Kostas, whose speed and agility, combined with his ability to dribble, brought him a contract from Kaiserslautern. He honored it fully this year, playing most of the games in the Bundesliga, however once again, because of his teammates’ inefficient efforts, his team was relegated. In the most recent friendlies against Slovenia and Armenia, he created an excellent duo with Holebas from the left side, which if seen in the Euro, will surely make an impact!
IOANNIS  FETFATZIDIS
The Greek Messi! Our most gifted soccer player. Born in 1990, he debuted for Olympiacos for the season 2009-10. Since then, it was obvious that this tiny little guy -1.60m- acquired such skills, rarely seen in the Greek Super League. He has an I-don’t-give-a-damn attitude, which costs him a starting spot for Olympiacos, but offers us football art. His last goal against Atromitos was voted the best of the season. Outside the box, he chipped the ball at least 12 feet above the ground and over the keeper’s extended hands. Phenomenal! Skillful, fast and witty. I hope Santos’ uses him. He’ll step in and score a couple. You’ll see!
 
 
and our strikers…
 
DIMITRIOS  SALPINGIDIS
This guy is so fast. So fast, that sometimes he can’t stop. More than once he has he crashed on the advertisement boards behind the goal. One day he’s a star and next day, I question whether he should run 100m and ditch soccer. He and Samaras led us to the Euro finals and we appreciate that, but, mate, SCORE A GOAL! You’re a striker! Then again, he scored against Ukraine and we went to the World Cup, so he deserves to make a few flip-flops here and there.
 
GIORGIOS SAMARAS

Gifted player, that’s for sure. He can hold the ball too. Sometimes, if we counter attack, he holds the ball so much that the whole opposing defense has time to return and take position. Sometimes, he holds the ball and doesn’t pass it, then we lose it and the other team counter attacks. And then there are times, like in Ukraine, back in 2009, where he stops the ball near the kick-off line and accurately sends it past 5 defenders, lands it perfectly on Salpingidis’ feet and 0-1, off to South Africa!! If he only was a little simpler with the ball at his feet, this guy would be a superstar. Ok, not a superstar, but, he would still be playing for Manchester City.
 
FANIS GEKAS
With Gekas up front, even if the only way we attack is with ultra-long balls from one box to the other, we still have a chance to win. He has this great advantage of  attracting the ball. He might be tying his shoes, but the ball will still find him. It’s a talent that only players with the likes of Gerd Muller and Alekos Alexandris (!!) have. And in contrast to Alekos, this guy doesn’t miss! He’s coming out of a great season in Turkey, got a little injured, but he’s back now. For sure a starter!
 
 
NIKOS  LIBEROPOULOS
After this tournament, Nikos will retire. Let’s all hope he finally wins something of great value. In his 17-year career, he’s only won one Greek cup with AEK a year ago against Atromitos.  A well-respected player, hated by Olympiacos’ fans though for scoring a goal against them, then heading towards their fans and pointing his name on their shirt, as if stating “I’m the one who did this to you!” He has won the Greek footballer award of the year three times even though his team never won the championship. He wasn’t part of the 2004 phenomenon and had just departed Panathinaikos when they won their first championship 8 years after their last one (1996-2004). Unlucky player, but he’s given one last chance to sign. I’ll root for this guy!
 
 
KOSTAS  MITROGLOU
Growing up in Germany, you’d think this guy would have had some decent manners and behavior. But it’s like he grew up with gypsies in Amaliada (I’m from Amaliada by the way, so no offense). However, Giorgos Donis, his coach at Atromitos and savior, took him by the ear and in contrast to Ernesto Valverde (his coach at Olympiacos) was able to push the right buttons and make him a powerful striker. From following him with my own eyes in Argyroupolis (suburb in Athens) smoking and drinking, he’s back on track. If he continues down this righteous path, this guy will become one of the most important players in Greek football history.
 
 
Writer’s Choice:
Most of the picks obviously have to do with whom we’re playing against. Since we’re not an offensive team but an excellent defensive team, we sit back, read the opponent’s attacking strategy and depending on their style, we form our starting 11.
Knowing that Santos’ sticks to a 4-3-3 formation, these are the guys I’d like to see mostly on the field than others.
As stated, on my previous article, Sifakis wins the battle below the goal poasts. I’d have Holebas on the left, beating Tzavelas on the line because of Giorgios’ rusty season. I’d have Maniatis on the right and Avraam Papadopoulos with Papastathopoulos in the center, forming a quality defense.
In the middle, I’d add two defensive midfielders that are capable of scoring, that is Torosidis and Katsouranis. Ninis in front of them, Gekas, Samaras and Mitroglou up front.
However, I’d like to see Fetfatzidis and Kyriakos Papadopoulos stepping in every single game.
Ladies and gentlemen, whatever you might say, if this team plays responsibly, they can shock the world again. GOOD LUCK ETHNIKARA!!!

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