The Greek national team showcased its worth, dominating Scotland with an impressive 3-0 victory at Hampden Park in their Nations League Play-off match. With this win, Greece overturned their 1-0 defeat at Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium and rightfully secured promotion to League A of the Nations League.

The national team’s “young guns” made Greeks proud: Konstantelias opened the scoring in the 20th minute with a calm right-footed finish, Karetsas became the youngest scorer in the history of both the Greek national team and the Nations League at just 17 years, 4 months, and 4 days (42nd minute), and Tzolis tripled the lead in the 46th minute, just after Konstantelias had stolen the ball and assisted him.

Coach Jovanovic selected Tzolakis as goalkeeper, with a back-four comprising Giannoulis, Koulierakis, Mavropanos, and Vagiannidis from left to right. In midfield, Zafeiris and Mouzakitis took central positions, while Karetsas joined Tzolis and Konstantelias behind the striker Pavlidis.

Notably, Konstantinos Karetsas, Christos Mouzakitis, and Giorgos Vagiannidis all made their starting eleven debuts in this match.

The Scots began the game energetically and created two good opportunities within the opening eight minutes. It started in the 6th minute when McGinn excellently found McTominay in the area, but Tzolakis blocked his shot. Robertson failed to hit the target on the rebound.

Two minutes later (8′), Zafeiris slipped, allowing McTominay another chance from the edge of the box, but his shot deflected off an opponent and went out for a corner kick.

The opening goal finally came in the 20th minute for Greece, courtesy of Konstantelias. Karetsas fed Vagiannidis on the right, who delivered an ideal cross toward the penalty spot, where PAOK’s attacking midfielder calmly finished with his right foot, making it 1-0.

Greece did not stop there, doubling their lead in the 42nd minute through Karetsas! Mouzakitis played a vertical pass to Giannoulis, who passed to Konstantelias. With a clever assist, Konstantelias set up Karetsas, who brilliantly volleyed from the right side of the area, sending the ball into the net.

In fact, Karetsas became the youngest goalscorer in the history of both the Greek national team and the Nations League at 17 years, 4 months, and 4 days! The previous Greek national team record was held by Sotiris Ninis, who scored his first goal for the national team in a friendly against Cyprus in 2008 at 18 years, 1 month, and 18 days. Regarding the Nations League, he surpassed Gavi, who had set the record in 2022, scoring for Spain against the Czech Republic at the age of 17 years and 10 months.

Less than 20 seconds after the start of the second half, Greece made it 3-0, rendering Steve Clarke’s halftime instructions useless. Konstantelias stole the ball and played an intelligent through pass to Tzolis, who finished superbly to extend the lead to 3-0.

In the 66th minute, Greece missed a golden opportunity for a fourth goal when Konstantelias played a fantastic pass to Pavlidis, who attempted a delightful chip to beat Gordon. However, the Scots cleared the ball off the line, preventing the goal.

The final whistle found Greece celebrating their promotion to League A, while Scotland was relegated to League B.

Referee: Davide Massa

Yellow cards: Ferguson, Hirst – Pavlidis, Mouzakitis

Lineups:

SCOTLAND (Steve Clarke): Gordon, Ralston, Souttar, Hanley, Robertson (73′ Wilson), Gilmour (55′ Tierney), McLean (55′ Ferguson), McGinn, McTominay, Christie (73′ Conway), Adams (55′ Hirst)

GREECE (Ivan Jovanovic): Tzolakis, Vagiannidis, Mavropanos, Koulierakis, Giannoulis, Zafeiris, Mouzakitis (83′ Ioannidis), Karetsas (72′ Masouras), Konstantelias (72′ Pelkas), Tzolis (90+’ Retsos), Pavlidis (83′ Galanopoulos)

55′: Three substitutions for Clarke… Hirst, Ferguson, and Tierney come on, replacing Adams, McLean, and Gilmour.

23/03/2025 20:15
54′: Mouzakitis steals, but misses the shot.

23/03/2025 20:14
Greek defence clears the danger.

23/03/2025 20:13
52′: Koulierakis intervenes just in time and clears for a corner.

23/03/2025 20:12
51′: Another Greek counter-attack; Karetsas misses the target.

23/03/2025 20:11
49′: We haven’t seen Greece dominate an away match like this for many years.

23/03/2025 20:09
GOAL for GREECE
46′: Seventeen seconds into the second half, Konstantelias steals the ball and delivers a magical no-look assist to Tzolis for 0-3.

End of the first half
Amazing performance from Greece from the 15th minute onward, overturning the result of the first match.

23/03/2025 19:50
45′: McTominay’s header poses no threat for Tzolakis.

23/03/2025 19:49
GOAL by Karetsas
42′: Ball gets lost in the chaos, and Karetsas scores with a terrific finish to make it 0-2.

23/03/2025 19:45
40′: Pavlidis steals the ball high up the pitch, but doesn’t pass and misses the shot.

23/03/2025 19:44
40′: Shot by Mouzakitis sails over the crossbar.