We covered it in previous editorials how much fun Greek football is. How much it has lost momentum, especially now that central Europe is coming back to the fore. Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic and not only, many countries that had been largely discredited in the previous twenty years at a collective level, are recovering. And they are not the only ones. And the Netherlands had largely lost its glamour. An Ajax sparsely reminded that this is a country that has produced a top 5 player in the history of football. And not only that, because Cruyff has also changed the course of football history as a coach. And let it stop from the stalls too soon. But that's another conversation.
We were talking about Greek discredit now that the traditional forces are returning to the collective level. What can one expect this week? PAOK has gone for a walk. And Aris stays from Thessaloniki playing with a terrible disadvantage against Maccabi Tel Aviv. It is not only the 2-0 defeat by Israel. It is also the image of Maccabi that does not allow optimism about "God". 2-0 was not a random result. Maybe it could have been 3-0. And Mars has certainly reduced it. But overall, the Israeli team had set its pace. He was not threatened to lose the victory in any case. He excelled against a clearly uncomplicated Ari who played not with anxiety, but freely for the best possible result. And it didn't work out for him. It didn't even come close... And the rematch will be extremely difficult. Not to say predetermined. No, because Aris can't score two goals. No. But if he is exposed as much as he needs to be to have offensive success, he will hardly save the lot back. Therein lies the problem. In the required line balances…
Panathinaikos is one of the same. He is not excluded, but it is not to be hoped that he will pass Slavia. At 11 vs 11, Panathinaikos was able to score a double, but as time went on, even at 10 vs 10, it did not make the big phase. He blurted out that he is unprepared. And that will pay off. Those who saw in this Slavia, five years of experience from groups and quality of this level, then they do not know where the four go. Mediocre team that comfortably loses two and three nil to a good Panathinaikos. With starters Carlito-Sporar and on a good day Kourbelis and Perez and Vagianidis-Huancar and Senkefeld ready? Panathinaikos is another team. And the match with full "Leoforo" can be strange.
And Olympiacos? Don't bet half a euro that you will pass or be disqualified. The most ambiguous match. Classic 50-50. Olympiakos of the first month of preparation and matches, will be eliminated hands down. A serious Olympian positively influenced by the new coach? Aneta easily makes the match 1-3. So everything is open. Regular crown letters!
