Giakoumakis figures high in Poyet's plans for Greek national team
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Loading... - Juan Delgado
- 24 Jun 2022
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Greece will kick of its UEFA Nations League campaign against Northern Ireland on Friday morning at 4.45am AEST. Recalled Celtic star Giorgos Giakoumakis will be hoping to continue with the form he showed in the Scottish Premiership where he was this season’s joint top scorer on 13 goals in 21 appearances – he scored a total of 16 goals since the start of 2022.
He told Greek American newspaper, The National Herald, that the national team was optimistic and believed in the coach, Augusto (Gus) Poyet and in the team’s capabilities.
“We think we can do beautiful things in the near future with the Nations League. To take psychology, to acquire metal and to go even more ready in the Euros,” Giakoumakis was quoted as saying.
Giakoumakis has been less prolific for the national side having scored one goal, against Cyprus, on his debut in November 2020. Since then he has made seven appearances without scoring.
The game at Windsor Park in Belfast will be the first competitive game for Poyet who was appointed manager of the Greek national team in February this year. Greece is in League C Group 2 which includes Kosovo, Cyprus and Northern Ireland.
According to Greek newspaper Kathimerini, the Celtic star figures high in Poyet’s plans to improve the team’s goalscoring capabilities. Giakoumakis started in Poyet’s first game in charge, a friendly against Rumania in March, where his effort on goal was disallowed.
Poyet has also identified forward Anastasios Bakasetas and midfielder Emmanuel Siopis as key to his plans for the team.
After Northern Ireland Greece travel to Kosovo on Monday 6 June, 4.45am AEST. The team then hosts Cyprus on Friday, 10 June, 4.45am AEST and Kosovo again on Monday 13 June at 4.45am AEST. The remaining group matches will be played in September. Read More...
