With two early goals from Tasso Bakasseta (7′, penalty) and Christos Joli (14′), the National Football Team secured a comfortable 2-0 victory over Malta in a friendly match held in Gröding, Austria. This match concluded their current cycle of games as they look ahead to the next Nations League, where they will have a new coach.

Interim coach Nikos Papadopoulos took the opportunity to field several players who hadn’t featured much in previous matches, with Tzolakis, Mandas, and Tsingaras making their debuts in the national team’s blue and white jersey.

Greece started the friendly match strongly, with their first shot on goal coming in the 2nd minute from Joli, which Al Toumi saved. In the 6th minute, Pavlidis won a penalty after being brought down by the Maltese goalkeeper, and Bakasetas converted it to give Greece a 1-0 lead.

In the 14th minute, following excellent ball movement, Pavlidis passed to Tzolis, who scored immediately to make it 2-0. This marked Tzolis’s second goal for the national team in 15 appearances.

27′: After a corner kick, Koulierakis is down on the ground, and there’s tension with a player from Malta.

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GOAL for Greece
15′: Greece dominates and steals the ball, reaching Jolis who scores an incredible goal, making it 2-0.

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GOAL for Greece
7′: Bakasetas beats Al Toumi for 1-0.

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Penalty for Greece
6′: Pavlidis is brought down by the goalkeeper.

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2′ Nice effort and shot by Jolis, but Al Toumi blocks it.

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Kick-off

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The match officially concludes tonight with the friendly match between the Greek National Football Team and the Maltese National Team, which will take place at the “MGG Arena” in Grodig, Austria (19:00, ALPHA, Novasports).

After the positive impressions but the defeat against Germany in the match last Friday, the Greek internationals want to celebrate a victory against the weak Malta to start their vacations (and find out who will be the new National Team coach).

Interim coach Nikos Papadopoulos, compared to the match against Germany, does not count on Fotis Ioannidis, who suffered a shoulder injury and has already returned to Greece.

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The lineups:
Greece (Nikos Papadopoulos): Tzolakis – Saliakas, Retsos, Koulierakis, Kyriakopoulos – Kourmpelis, Mandalos, Bakasetas – Masouras, Jolis, Pavlidis

On the bench for Greece: Vlachodimos, Athanasiadis, Mandas, Mavropanos, Rota, Tsiggas, Hatziidakos, Limnios, Douvikas, Giannoulis, Siopis, Ntogi, Kotsiras.

Malta (Michele Marcolini): Al Toumi – So, Z. Muscat, Borg – Borgolan, Gilaoume, N. Muscat, Teuma, Camenzuli – Bong, Degabriele

On the bench for Malta: Bonello, M. Grech, Borg, Pisan, Reed, Pepe, Nouoko, J. Grech, Vella, Satariano, Garcia, Bousutill, Tabone.