National Greece – Kazakhstan: The blue and white barrage tradition and the past of the two teams

The first of the two steps needed to be found in the final phase of the Euro 2024, twenty years after the epic of Portugal, wants to make the victory of Greece against . For the first time in its history in the European Championship qualifiers, “Galanowhite” will participate in a play-offs process. National Greece faces Kazakhstan tonight in OPAP Arena (21:45, Newsit.gr, Novasports Prime, Alpha) in a knockout game and in case of a win there will be another single game, away from home, with the winner of Georgia – Luxembourg, for a spot in Euro 2024. The representative band will for the first time participate in its history in a European Championship qualifying phase, in the play off process. The three previous times the “blue-white” participated in barrage matches concerned the World Cup and were in double contests, with the representative band winning qualification twice. Specifically, in 2009 he eliminated Ukraine and qualified for the South African World Cup, while in 2013 he left Romania outside to travel to Brazil. The only failed attempt was recorded in 2017, when it was left out of Russia’s World Cup by the later finalist of that event, Croatia. National (Kazakstan) rival made a very good march in the Nations League in 2022. Kazakhs finished first in League 3rd group C accounted for 13 points (4 wins, one draw, one loss), leaving Azerbaijan, Slovakia and Belarus behind. The tradition is favourable to Greece against Kazakhstan, which by 2002 played in the Asian zone (AFC). Specifically, in the three games that have been held to date the National League has scored equal victories, the two for the 2006 World Cup qualifiers and the other in a friendly match. The “fighting” with Kazakhstan: 17.11.2004 in “Karaiskakis” – New Faliro Greece – Kazakhstan 3-1 (24′′, 45′ Haristeus, 86′ Katsuranis – 88′ Baltiev) 07.09.2005 in Almaty Kazakhstan – Greece 1-2 (53′ Zumaskaliev – 78′ Giannakopoulos, 88′ Lyberopoulos) Friendly, 01.03.2006 in Nicosia Greece – Kazakhstan 2–0 (68′ Samaras, 90′ Giannakopoulos)