Preview: Gibraltar vs. Greece - prediction, team news, lineups

With France, Netherlands and Republic of Ireland making up the remainder of Group B, neither side can afford to lose their opening fixture.

Match preview

Gus Poyet has gone on to enjoy somewhat of a mixed managerial career, not lasting more than 31 matches in any of his last six positions, yet the former midfielder appears to be getting things right with Greece.

Having taken the reins at the beginning of 2022, Poyet recorded six wins and one draw during the calendar year, his team's defeats coming away in Montenegro, Cyprus and Hungary by one-goal margins.

The 2004 European champions had a year where they did not face an international powerhouse, yet that suited them as they rebuilt under Poyet and dominated their UEFA Nations League group.

The Cyprus defeat aside, Greece won their other five fixtures, including double-headers with Northern Ireland and Kosovo, to guarantee a playoff spot at the end of this qualifying campaign.

All things considered, that will likely be required, but Poyet will want to do everything possible to secure a top-two spot in the group.

As far as Gibraltar are concerned, they have received the rough end of the draw with Julio Cesar Ribas left to focus on progression and collecting at least one point from eight difficult fixtures.

Gibraltar have not prevailed in a competitive match since October 2020, a 1-0 triumph in Liechtenstein being posted on that occasion, but they earned an excellent 1-1 draw with Bulgaria in June last year.

Ribas's side also ended 2022 on an extreme high, recording back-to-back wins over Liechtenstein and Andorra in November in home international friendlies.

Although those victories are unlikely to change their fortunes in this particular group, Team 54 at least possess some belief ahead of trying to take points off their most illustrious opponents.

Gibraltar form (all competitions):

D

L

L

L

W

W

Greece form (all competitions):

W

W

L

W

D

L

Team News

With a friendly against Lithuania to follow this fixture, Poyet can afford to select his strongest Greece XI.

The team should resemble the one which started the 3-1 win against Northern Ireland in their last competitive fixture, with Liverpool's Kostas Tsimikas, Sheffield United's George Baldock and Hull City's Dimitris Pelkas being used on the flanks.

While Giorgos Giakoumakis has been named in the squad despite having moved to the MLS, Fotis Ioannidis could get the nod down the middle of the attack.

Although Gibraltar will likely line up with a similar team to the one which started versus Liechtenstein in November, Louie Annesley is not present in the squad.

Cadiz teenager Nicolas Pozo could replace him in the centre of midfield in what may prove to be the only alteration.

Gibraltar possible starting lineup:

Coleing; Sergeant, Lopes, R.Chipolina, Olivero; Britto, Pozo, Torrilla; Casciaro, De Barr, Walker

Greece possible starting lineup:

Vlachodimos; Baldock, Mavropanos, Chatzidiakos, Tsimikas; Bakasetas, Kourbelis, Mantalos; Masouras, Ioannidis, Pelkas

We say: Gibraltar 0-3 Greece

There have been occasions when Gibraltar have impressed on familiar territory, claiming draws or pushing established nations hard in defeat. However, Greece appear to have turned over a new leaf under Poyet, leading us to predict a one-sided victory for the visitors.

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