Greece boss Gus Poyet admits Euros qualifying hopes could be dashed with loss to Republic of Ireland

<p>Gus Poyet has admitted the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign could be effectively over for Greece or the Republic of Ireland if they lose in Athens on Friday evening.</p>

<p>The sides go head-to-head at the OPAP Arena in Group B with Greece having banked three points from their opening fixture in Gibraltar, while Ireland were beaten 1-0 by France in Dublin.</p>

<p>However, with both likely to be battling the Netherlands for runners-up spot behind the beaten World Cup finalists, Greece boss Poyet fears defeat in just the second fixture could prove costly.</p>

<p>He said: "The reality for both of us is if we don't win tomorrow it's going to be very difficult to be able to finish second. I think it's a must-win for both of us.</p>

<p>"That brings a special situation for the game so early in the group unless you go and beat France and Holland. But realistically for both national teams, this is a very important game."</p>

<p>Greece will run out knowing they have the safety net of a place the play-offs after topping their Nations League group and Poyet hopes his players will see that as a chance to take a more aggressive approach to the quest for qualification.</p>

<p>He said: "Not to put pressure on Ireland myself, I will say that we have a back-up.</p>

<p>"We have the possibility of another way, and that will give us the freedom to play a little more, to get forward and win the game but there is no drama if we lose the game because we have the other opportunity.</p>

<p>"Sometimes when you play with the points - 'We might win this game, we might draw here' - but where we are now, we can play every game to win.</p>

<p>"If we qualify it would be an incredible achievement, and if not we prepare better for the play-off game in March."</p>

<p>Ireland's hopes of victory in Athens could rest on the young shoulders of teenage striker Evan Ferguson at the end of his breakthrough season at Premier League Brighton, the club with which Poyet launched his managerial career.</p>

<p>Asked about the 18-year-old, Poyet said: "I always say that when a player is able to perform at the level he has in the Premier League at his age, then he is a special player.</p>

<p>"Normally when you are at a club, you see potential in certain players and you are thinking about putting him in, but you are always worried as a coach whether he is going to be able to deal with the power and the intensity, and he has been incredible.</p>

<p>"When Roberto De Zerbi is playing him week in week out when he is fit, he has shown that he can do it, so it is a little bit of work for our defenders and plenty of attention to him."</p>

<p>The article <a href="https://www.planetsport.com/soccer/news/greece-boss-gus-poyet-admits-euros-qualifying-hopes-dashed-loss-republic-ireland">Greece boss Gus Poyet admits Euros qualifying hopes could be dashed with loss to Republic of Ireland </a> appeared first on Planetsport.com.</p>