France will be looking to build on their record win against Gibraltar when they visit Greece on Tuesday. On Saturday, Les Bleus continued their unbeaten run in Group B with a spectacular 14-0 thumping of Gibraltar. In a friendly match, the Pirate Ship also triumphed, defeating New Zealand 2-0.
Preview (Greece vs. France)
If one had turned the TV channel to Friday’s exhibition match instead of Greece’s most recent friendly against New Zealand, one could have been forgiven for thinking that they were still living in COVID times, given the attendance of just over 5,000 spectators at the Georgios Karamas Stadium. Giannis Konstantelias’s cross first eluded everyone before nestling into the side of the net. Just before the half-hour mark, Georgos Giakoumakis bundled home the insurance goal. It helped Gus Poyet’s team to a 2-0 victory on home soil.
Greece had a mathematical chance to overtake the Netherlands into the second and final automatic qualification spot. They attempt to end a 12-year banishment from the continent’s main championship. The 2004 European champions are closing out the year strong. They have won three of their past four games across all competitions while only giving up one goal. On Saturday at the Allianz Riviera, Didier Deschamps witnessed his ruthless men strike Gibraltar for 14. They set a new national team record in the process.
Team News
Due to one-game suspensions following their third caution in Group B against the Netherlands last month, Petros Mantalos and Dimitrios Kourbelis, the starting midfielders for Greece, will not be available to coach Poyet starting on Friday night. Poyet’s team defeated New Zealand with little damage to their bodies. Therefore the majority of that starting XI should continue to play. However, both Manolis Siopis of Cardiff City and Dimitrios Goutas of the Bluebirds were conspicuously absent from the matchday roster for the match against New Zealand.
The injury to debutant and goal scorer Zaire-Emery, who was the victim of Santos’s red card-worthy challenge as the ball left his foot for his first France goal, somewhat overshadowed the visitors’ rout of Gibraltar. Although Deschamps does not think the Paris Saint-Germain prospect has fractured any bones, the 17-year-old will almost definitely be ruled out of Tuesday’s game, giving Fofana, Boubacar Kamara, or Khephren Thuram a chance to start in the middle of the park. Deschamps is anticipated to make several changes, including drafting Julius Kounde, Lucas Hernandez, Brandon Samba, and Randal Kolo Muani into his final qualifying lineup, now that first place and a ball in Pot 1 are already guaranteed.
Greece 0 – 2 France
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