Republic of Ireland 1
New Zealand 1
Netherlands 1
Nigeria 0
Canada 2
Republic of Ireland 0 - 2 Greece
Report | Ireland 0-2 Greece - Defeat at Aviva
Stephen Kenny handed a senior debut to Liam Scales for the contest to play on the left side of the Irish defence. Ireland had the first shot on target in the opening minutes when a clever pass from Ogbene to Smallbone forced Vlachodimos into a clever save with Scales sending the second ball over the bar.
In the next phase of attack, Evan Ferguson’s left-footed effort from the edge of the area saw the ball strike the butt of the post and wide as Vlachodimos was beaten. Mantalos had the first chance of note for the Greek side with his effort blocked down by Nathan Collins in the area.
Bazunu was forced into a low save following Bakasetas cutting in on his left then his low effort being saved excellently by the Irish keeper en route to goal. Greece were to open the scoring as a cross from the left by Tsimikas to the Irish area was met by Giakoumakis with a bullet header that struck the top corner of the net.
Ireland searched for a quick response as Ogbene saw his shot blocked by Rota in the Greek area from a freekick with Smallbone’s shot just going over following his shot from the edge of the area.
Bazunu again was forced to make another fine save following some link-up play between Giakoumakis and Pelkas saw the winger take a shot from an angle that saw his shot tipped over by the Irish keeper. Josh Cullen had a shot that went over just before halftime after the initial effort from Smallbone was blocked down.
Shane Duffy forced a clever save from Vlachodimos following a Smallbone free kick that saw the Irish defenders header on target only to be denied by the Greek shot-stopper. Greece added a second goal following a break from the Greek defence with Giakoumakis sending the ball to the back post with Masouras slotting it past Bazunu.
Pelkas had the first sight on goal in the second half for the away side as Matt Doherty’s slightest touch deflected it wide for a corner. Jason Knight had Ireland’s first chance of note as he collected the ball in midfield with his effort going wide of the post. Liam Scales did excellently to block down Chatzigiovanis’ shot en route to goal with the resulting corner being well caught by Bazunu.
Greece went close to adding a third as a cross from the right into the Irish goal area was met by Ioannidis as his header went just over. Shane Duffy once again had a sight on goal but Vlachodimos was equal to his effort.
Matt Doherty forced a great save from Vlachodimos after a quick corner that saw Robinsons' short pass to Doherty see his effort blocked on the line. Robinson would then have a sight on goal moments later with his shot just going wide of the post.
Adam Idah had the last opportunity of the game latching onto a cross from right at the back post with his header going wide. The Republic of Ireland next face Gibraltar in Faro on Monday.
Republic of Ireland: Bazunu (GK), N. Collins (Manning 46), Doherty, Duffy, Cullen, Browne (Johnston 70), Ferguson, Smallbone (Robinson 70), Scales, Knight, Ogbene (Idah 85).
Subs not used: Travers (GK), O'Leary (GK), O'Shea, Omobamidele, Sykes, Molumby, McGrath, Ebosele
Greece: Vlachodimos (GK), Retsos, Mavropanos, Kourbelis (Bouchalakis 63), Masouras (Koulierakis 87), Pelkas (Chatzigiovanis 63), Bakasetas (Siopis 87), Rota, Giakoumakis (Ioannidis 70), Mantalos, Tsimikas.
Subs not used: Paschalakis (GK), Dioudis (GK), Pavlidis, Fountas, Alexandropoulos, Saliakas, Giannoulis.
Booked: Smallbone, Pelkas
Player of the Match: Chiedozie Ogbene
Referee: Glenn Nyberg (SWE)
Attendance: 41,239
Match Preview | Republic of Ireland v Greece
Ireland will be looking to take maximum points in this window against Greece and Gibraltar to have any hope of remaining in the automatic qualification race for UEFA EURO 2024.
Greece travel to Dublin having secured a 2-1 win over Ireland in Athens in June and Stephen Kenny's side will be looking to avenge that result tomorrow night.
Match Details
Fixture: Republic of Ireland v Greece
Competition: UEFA EURO 2024 Qualifying
Date: Friday, October 13
Kick-off: 7.45pm
Venue: Aviva Stadium
TV: RTE
Match Officials
Referee: Gleen Nyberg (SWE)
Assistant Referee 1: Mahbod Beigi (SWE)
Assistant Referee 2: Andreas Söderqvist (SWE)
Fourth Official: Adam Ladebäck (SWE)
Video Assistant Referee: Tomasz Kwiatkowski (POL)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Bartosz Frankowski (POL)
Team News
Forward Sammie Szmodics has withdrawn from the squad due to family reasons. Otherwise, Stephen Kenny has a fully fit 23-man squad to choose from with Alan Browne recovering from illness earlier in the week.
MD-1 Press Conference v Greece | Manager Stephen Kenny
“It's going to be a real epic battle, Greece have been consistent over the last couple of seasons and we've got to produce a big performance to win. We can look at Gibraltar after that and then take it into the next window.
“At the moment, we're just firmly focused on Friday because it is a big challenge for us on Friday and one that we must rise to. I know the players are very determined to put in a strong performance and get that victory that we need.
"The atmosphere at the home games has been really electric, people realise it's a special occasion, Ireland playing at home, we want to finish the group strongly, we are still in contention for automatic qualification.
“It's not in our own hands, we are relying on results elsewhere, we have to see if we can take it to the November window and the only way we can do that is by taking six points from this window."
MD-1 Press Conference v Greece | Captain Shane Duffy
"It is a young team. Me and Matt (Doherty) are now the oldest. It is a new role I suppose but very enjoyable trying to keep up with the young lads.
"I suppose it is up to us to lead by example around the place and try and guide where possible, I try and do it anyway when Seamus (Coleman) is in and even John (Egan).
"We're missing a few big characters around the place but the younger boys are their own characters in their own ways. I don't look at them as young lads anymore, they're very experienced around the place now.
"It is an enjoyable group, I've really enjoyed the week and just looking forward to the game."
WATCH THE FULL MD-1 PRESS CONFERENCE HERE
Match Facts - Republic of Ireland v Greece - Provided by StatsPerform
- Republic of Ireland have never beaten Greece in four previous meetings (D1 L3), losing 2-1 in the reverse Euro 2024 qualifier in June in Athens.
- Greece have won both of their previous two away matches at the Republic of Ireland, both 1-0 wins in friendlies in April 2000 and November 2012.
- Greece have won six of their last eight European Championship qualifiers (L2), including a 5-0 win over Gibraltar in September, their biggest win in a Euros qualifier since November 2007, a 5-0 win against Malta.
- Greece have lost their last two competitive away matches, after only losing two of their previous 12 (W7 D3 L2). They haven’t lost three competitive away games in a row since September 2001.
- Adam Idah has scored in each of the Republic of Ireland’s last two home European Championship qualifiers. This century, the only Eire player to net in three home Euro qualifying appearances in a row is Robbie Keane in March 2011.
- Greece’s Giorgos Masouras has four goals in five Euro 2024 qualifying appearances, netting those goals from just six shots on target. He also netted the winner against the Republic of Ireland in June.
Republic of Ireland Squad - Greece/Gibraltar
Goalkeepers: Gavin Bazunu (Southampton), Mark Travers (Stoke City, on loan from AFC Bournemouth), Max O'Leary (Bristol City).
Defenders: Matt Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Festy Ebosele (Udinese), Nathan Collins (Brentford), Shane Duffy (Norwich City), Dara O'Shea (Burnley), Andrew Omobamidele (Nottingham Forest), Liam Scales (Celtic), Ryan Manning (Southampton).
Midfielders: Josh Cullen (Burnley), Jayson Molumby (West Bromwich Albion), Alan Browne (Preston North End), Will Smallbone (Southampton), Jason Knight (Bristol City), Jamie McGrath (Aberdeen), Mark Sykes (Bristol City).
Forwards: Evan Ferguson (Brighton and Hove Albion), Adam Idah (Norwich City), Chiedozie Ogbene (Luton Town), Callum Robinson (Cardiff City), Mikey Johnston (Celtic).
Fixtures - UEFA EURO 2024 Qualifiers
13/10 - Republic of Ireland v Greece, Aviva Stadium, 7.45pm
16/10 - Gibraltar v Republic of Ireland, Estádio Algarve, 7.45pm (Irish Time)
Tactical Lineups
Republic of Ireland
Substitutes
- 16 Mark Travers (G)
- 23 Max O'Leary (G)
- 3 Ryan Manning
- 5 Dara O'Shea
- 7 Callum Robinson
- 10 Adam Idah
- 12 Andrew Omobamidele
- 13 Mark Sykes
- 14 Jayson Molumby
- 18 Jamie McGrath
- 19 Mikey Johnston
- 21 Festy Ebosele
Coach
Stephen Kenny
Greece
Substitutes
- 12 Alexandros Paschalakis (G)
- 13 Sokratis Dioudis (G)
- 3 Konstantinos Koulierakis
- 5 Andreas Bouchalakis
- 8 Fotis Ioannidis
- 9 Vangelis Pavlidis
- 14 Taxiarchis Fountas
- 16 Tasos Chatzigiovanis
- 17 Sotiris Alexandropoulos
- 18 Manolis Saliakas
- 22 Dimitris Giannoulis
- 23 Manolis Siopis
Coach
Gustavo Poyet
Officials
- Referee Glenn Nyberg
- Assistant Referees Mahbod Beigi
- UEFA Delegate Charles Schaack
- Assistant Referee Two Andreas Söderqvist
- Fourth Official Adam Ladebäck
- Assistant Video Assistant Referee Bartosz Frankowski
- Video Assistant Referee Tomasz Kwiatkowski
- Referee Observer Manuel Diaz Vega
Match Statistics
- Republic of Ireland
- Greece
Minute by Minute Commentary