Kosovo scored a 2-0 win over Cyprus on the opening day of the UEFA Nations League. Thanks to their two-goal win, Kosovo sit atop League C Group 2 ahead of Sunday’s clash with Greece.
Greece also claimed a win on opening day in the Nations League. The Greeks defeated Northern Ireland 1-0 and now sit second due to goal difference.
𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 🫡 ! #𝐎𝐧𝐞𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐎𝐧𝐞𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 #𝐔𝐍𝐋 pic.twitter.com/A4YfHpSGlz— Ethniki Omada (@EthnikiOmada) June 2, 2022
𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 🫡 ! #𝐎𝐧𝐞𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐎𝐧𝐞𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 #𝐔𝐍𝐋 pic.twitter.com/A4YfHpSGlz
Kosovo and Greece have met four times previously in all competitions. Draws occurred three times in the four previous meetings between these teams. Greece also hold a win over Kosovo and have an overall record of 1W-3D-0L.
These teams met during World Cup 2022 qualifying with nothing to separate them. The two matches finished with identical 1-1 scores.
Alain Giresse’s Kosovo are ranked No. 107 in the world ahead of this weekend’s home fixture with Greece. Kosovo are in good form heading into the game and are unbeaten in four straight matches.
Those results include wins over Burkina Faso and Northern Ireland, along with draws versus Greece and Switzerland. Kosovo conceded just two goals in those four games, while scoring nine times.
Greece are coached by Gus Poyet and are ranked No. 55 in the world. Poyet’s hiring as Greece coach likely surprised many fans.
Poyet hadn’t coached for three years before taking the Universidad Catolica job in Chile. After leading Universidad to their worst season in 10 years, he was dismissed seven months after taking over the job. Poyet’s previous coaching experiences did not put off Greece from hiring him.
Greece are coming off of a matchday 1 win over Northern Ireland in the UEFA Nations League. It was their second win in three matches in 2022. Trabzonspor forward Anastasios Bakasetas got the game’s only goal.
Kosovo will rely on striker Vedat Muriqi for goals. He has 18 international strikes in just 38 appearances.
Giresse will hope midfielder Valon Berisha can stay hot after scoring against Cyprus in midweek. Lille’s Edon Zhegrova was also on the scoresheet versus the Cypriots.
Greece have some familiar names to British football fans. Liverpool’s Kostas Tsimikas, Sheffield United’s George Baldock, and Celtic’s Giorgos Giakoumakis are all included in Poyet’s team. Tsimikas and Giakoumakis all started versus a very defensive Northern Ireland.
Poyet should favour a 4-2-3-1 formation with Giakoumakis leading the line. Meanwhile, Kosovo are likely to stick with a 4-3-3 with Muriqi playing through the middle.
The last two matches between these sides finished 1-1 but this time Greece look as the more solid team and should grab the 3 points.