EURO 2024 QUALIFYING GROUP B
Greece v Republic of Ireland, Opap Arena in Athens, Friday, 7.45pm.
TV
Live coverage on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player from 7pm.
RADIO
Live commentary on RTÉ 2fm, with coverage starting on Game On from 6pm.
ONLINE
Live match tracker on RTÉ.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app. Updates and match footage on RTÉ Soccer Twitter and RTÉ Sport Facebook.
WEATHER
Much like Ireland at the moment, it's sunny and dry in Greece. Temperatures on Friday are forecast to hit 30C, although it will be closer to 20C come kick-off time in Athens, with clear skies and little wind.
TIME TO PRODUCE FOR IRELAND
Stephen Kenny's Republic of Ireland side head to Athens for a Euro 2024 qualification game that could go a long way to deciding their fate in Group B.
The Boys in Green opened their qualifying campaign with a credible performance at home to France back in March, but despite their being plenty to like about how Ireland performed, they still lost to a second-half goal from Benjamin Pavard.
France were favourites to top Group B before a ball was kicked and the nature of their victory over Ireland along with their 4-0 opening day thrashing of the Netherlands means that, realistically, Ireland are going to be in a three-way fight with the Dutch and Greece for the second automatic qualifying place.
Victory in Athens is crucial to Ireland’s hopes and after two years and slowly improving performances and results under Kenny, it feels like the time has come for this side to truly deliver on their promise.
A win in Greece, followed up by victory at home to Gibraltar is exactly what Ireland need, especially when you consider that the next international window in September sees them travel to France before welcoming the Netherlands to the Aviva Stadium three days later.
ALL EYES ON FERGUSON AND KENNY'S SELECTION
While Kenny's modus operandum is to gradually introduce new faces into his starting line-ups and he has shown a propensity to ignore calls from outside the set-up to make selection decisions, Evan Ferguson’s meteoric rise in the Premier League over the last six months means that he’s a certainty to start in Athens.
The Brighton teenager has marked himself as one of the game’s most exciting rising stars and further enhanced his glowing reputation when making his first international start against Latvia in March, scoring his first goal and impressing throughout.
A lack of a goals and a focal point for the Irish attack has been an unwelcome feature for Kenny’s Ireland side at times and the manager, and supporters, will be hoping that the emergence of Ferguson is the solution to that issue.
The biggest issue now for the Ireland boss is how to get the most out of the young striker.
Ferguson’s best moments have come as part of Brighton’s 4-2-4 formation, when he’s often called to drop back into midfield, while Kenny prefers a 3-4-2-1 set-up with a single striker leading the line, or a 3-5-2 with a more traditional front two.
It’s the latter that looks to be the more likely set-up for Ireland against both Greece and Gibraltar, with Michael Obafemi, Adam Idah or Troy Parrott in the running to partner Ferguson up front.
Will Smallbone’s eye-catching performance against Latvia could be enough for him to start in midfield and he may well be the man tasked with creating opportunities for Ferguson, particularly on the break, although he may well lose out to Jason Knight.
With Josh Cullen and Jayson Molumby expected to start as the double pivot in front of the back line, an aggressive, attacking set-up front Kenny could see both Smallbone and Knight start. However, the manger is more likely to call upon Matt Doherty and either James McClean as his attacking full-backs.
Nathan Collins and John Egan look certainties to start in the three-man defence with either Darragh Lenihan or Dara O'Shea joining them in front of goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu.
GREECE LOOKING FOR ALL THREE POINTS
Much like Ireland, Greece will be targeting this game as one that's crucial to their hopes of qualifying for next year's tournament.
Much-travelled manager Gus Poyet started his qualifying campaign with a comfortable 3-0 victory over the group's expected lowest-ranked team Gibraltar.
Poyet has enjoyed a largely successful spell since taking charge of Greece in 2022, suffering just one defeat in his seven games and helping his side to promotion from League C of the UEFA Nations League - beating Northern Ireland twice along the way.
The Greeks have a formidable record at home, suffering just one defeat from their last 16 games - a 1-0 reversal to Spain - and they remain a side that's very strong defensively and one that's difficult to break down.
Poyet admits that the nature of the group means that teams like Greece and Ireland can't afford to drop points against each other, and he will be sending his side out to take all three points in Athens.
"There are two favourites in the table and the rest we need to try and nick points everywhere and win the games you must win," he said.
"That's the problem for you and for us, our games are fundamental. You cannot draw that game, you need to win because you need the points. The other ones, the difficult ones, are to take points.
"Ireland are very competitive, they don't give up and go till the end."
Liverpool defender Kostas Tsimikas is probably the most recognisible name for Irish fans in Poyet's squad. The full-back is a regular in the Greek squad and looks set to start in Athens alongside George Baldock, Pantelis Chatzidiakos and Konstantinos Mavropanos in a flat back four.
Poyet has called 23-year-old Anastasios Douvikas into his squad after he enjoyed a blistering season with FC Utrecht in the Eredivisie where he finished the season with the Golden Boot. Douvikas has yet to transfer his club form to the international scene with just one goal in 15 goals, and may end up starting on the bench.
Goals have traditionally been an issue for Greece with none of the strikers in the squad into double digits in international goals. Skipper Tasos Bakasetas has been their biggest threat of recent years with 11 goals from midfield but under Poyet they have opened up and are playing a more aggressive brand of football, scoring three goals in three of his seven games in charge.
Ireland are going to have to be sharp at the back and brave going forward if they're to leave Athens with a win.
Watch Greece v Republic of Ireland in the Euro 2024 qualifier on Friday night from 7pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, follow a live blog on RTÉ.ie/Sport and the RTÉ News app or listen to live radio commentary with Game On on 2fm
