Northern Ireland will be looking to improve on their status in League C when they make a trip to Greece in the UEFA Nations League on Tuesday.
The hosts have already confirmed promotion to League B after winning their first four matches of the current campaign.
After falling short of promotion from League C in each of the last two Nations League campaigns, Greece will feel that they are finally set to compete at a level more befitting of their talent and pedigree of the European stage.
Gus Poyet’s side set out with a point to prove this time around, winning each of their opening four matches without conceding a single goal before losing 1-0 in Cyprus on Saturday.
Greece dominated the proceedings but struggled to turn long periods on the ball into meaningful chances as Marinos Tzionis’ 18th-minute goal proved to be the difference on the occasion.
Northern Ireland’s first win of the current Nations League campaign came in the most dramatic of circumstances, with Josh Magennis scoring an injury-time winner.
Kosovo’s Vedat Muriqi broke the deadlock in the 58th minute, but Gavin Whyte equalised 25 minutes later before Magennis’ late strike kept Northern Ireland’s destiny in their own hands ahead of their trip to Greece on Tuesday.
However, Greece’s loss to Cyprus means that the Green and White Army remain level on points with the Cypriots and a point behind Kosovo going into the final matchday. Given the encounter of those two nations on Tuesday, Northern Ireland must match or better Cyprus’ result to guarantee their survival.
Having seen their run of five matches without a win come to an end, Ian Baraclough’s side head into the contest feeling confident of at least avoiding defeat in Athens against a team with very little to play for beyong personal pride.
Greece vs Northern Ireland head to head
These two nations have previously met on seven occasions across all competitions, where Greece have claimed four victories while Northern Ireland have won three. Greece have scored seven goals and conceded eight in the process. In their last meeting back in June, Greece won 1-0 away in the Nations League.
Northern Ireland 0-2 Greece 02/04/03
Greece 1-0 Northern Ireland 11/10/03
Greece 0-2 Northern Ireland 14/10/14
Northern Ireland 3-1 Greece 08/10/15
Northern Ireland 0-1 Greece 02/06/22
Greece latest home form
Greece have recently been on a relatively good run of form at home, having lost just one of their five most recent matches. They managed to defeat Kosovo 2-0 in their last home game in the Nations League. In their last five matches, they have scored eight goals and conceded three.
Greece 2-1 Sweden 08/09/21
Greece 0-1 Spain 11/11/21
Greece 1-1 Kosovo 14/11/21
Greece 3-0 Cyprus 09/06/22
Greece 2-0 Kosovo 12/06/22
Greece latest away form
Greece have recently kept a mixed run of form on the road, as they have lost three of their six most recent matches. They were beaten 1-0 by Cyprus in their last away game in the Nations League. In their last five matches, they have scored three goals and conceded two.
Romania 0-1 Greece 25/03/22
Montenegro 1-0 Greece 28/03/22
Northern Ireland 0-1 Greece 02/06/22
Kosovo 0-1 Greece 05/06/22
Cyprus 1-0 Greece 24/09/22
Northern Ireland latest home form
Northern Ireland have recently been on a relatively good run of form at home, having lost just two of their eight most recent matches. They defeated Kosovo 2-1 in their last home game in the Nations League. In their last five matches, they have scored four goals and conceded five.
Northern Ireland 0-0 Italy 15/11/21
Northern Ireland 0-1 Hungary 29/03/22
Northern Ireland 0-1 Greece 02/06/22
Northern Ireland 2-2 Cyprus 12/06/22
Northern Ireland 2-1 Kosovo 24/09/22
Northern Ireland latest away form
Northern Ireland have recently failed to keep a good run of form on the road, having won just one of their five most recent matches. They lost 3-2 to Kosovo in their last away game in the Nations League. In their last five matches, they have scored six goals and conceded eight.
Switzerland 2-0 Northern Ireland 09/10/21
Bulgaria 2-1 Northern Ireland 12/10/21
Luxembourg 1-3 Northern Ireland 25/03/22
Cyprus 0-0 Northern Ireland 05/06/22
Kosovo 3-2 Northern Ireland 09/06/22
Greece news
Greece will welcome back striker Georgios Giakoumakis and midfielder Petros Mantalos to their starting XI after the duo served a one-game suspension in the defeat to Cyprus.
Dinos Koulierakis will hope to be handed his international debut at some stage in Tuesday’s contest having been an unused substitute in Larnaca.
Northern Ireland news
Gavin Whyte is pushing for a start after scoring a crucial equaliser off the bench against Kosovo, while Northern Ireland will remain without Stuart Dallas due to a knee injury.
Baraclough may decide to make changes to his starting XI to make a strong squad, with Shane Ferguson potentially receiving the nod.
Prediction and Odds
We expect Northern Ireland to dig in and make the game tough for Greece, who looked to go through the motions in their defeat to Cyprus at the weekend.
A point is likely to be enough to see the visitors survive in League C, so Baraclough may set his side up to avoid defeat.
Odds: 1 2.23 X 2.03 2 2.30
Probable outcomes
Greece 0-0 Northern Ireland
Greece 1-1 Northern Ireland
Greece 2-2 Northern Ireland
Greece 1-0 Northern Ireland
Greece 2-1 Northern Ireland
