Fernando Santos went with experience over youth in his 25-man selection. Will this prove fatal for the Greeks in this summers Euro 2012?
Over the last few weeks there have been many rumors regarding who Fernando Santos would choose for this summers Euro 2012. It is now safe to say that he may have thrown many people a curve ball with his 25-man provisional roster. Looking at the squad he chose, he clearly went for experience over youth, which leaves many fans surprised.
One of the surprises for many was the inclusion of 36-year-old Nikos Liberopoulos from AEK Athens FC. Although he only featured two times for Greece in the qualifying stage of the competition, he somehow managed to beat out PAOK FC's Stefanos Athanasiadis who had an impressive campaign.
Santos passed up on two other promising young talents - Apoel goalkeeper Dionysis Chiotis and Panathinaikos striker Lazaros Christodoulopoulos. After the stellar display Chiotis had in the UEFA Champions League this season, many would have though that he would have been an option.
With Greece having gone through the qualifying stage without having tasted defeat, not many fans may be criticizing Santos just yet. Santos guided Greece to seven victories and just three draws.
"I wish I could have taken them all but this is impossible. It is one of the toughest decisions you have to make as a coach. But that's why I'm in this position, to take difficult decisions and be responsible for them," Santos said.
The Greeks will now head to Austria for a training camp before playing two friendly matches against Armenia and Slovenia. Santos will then make his final two cuts from the 25-man squad.
Greece Squad
Goalkeepers: Costas Chalkias (PAOK), Michalis Sifakis (Aris), Alexandros Tzorvas (Palermo).
Defenders: Vasilis Torosidis (Olympiakos), Avraam Papadopoulos (Olympiakos), Kyriakos Papadopoulos (Schalke), Stelios Malezas (PAOK), Jose Holebas (Olympiakos), Giorgos Tzavellas (Monaco), Sokratis Papastathopoulos (Werder Bremen).
Midfielders: Alexandros Tziolis (Monaco), Grigoris Makos (AEK), Giannis Maniatis (Olympiakos), Kostas Katsouranis (Panathinaikos), Giorgos Karagounis (Panathinaikos), Giorgos Fotakis (PAOK), Kostas Fortounis (Kaiserslautern), Panagiotis Kone (Bologna), Sotiris Ninis (Panathinaikos), Giannis Fetfatzidis (Olympiakos).
Forwards: Giorgos Samaras (Celtic), Dimitris Salpigidis (PAOK), Fanis Gekas (Samsunspor), Nikos Limberopoulos (AEK), Kostas Mitroglou (Atromitos).
One of the surprises for many was the inclusion of 36-year-old Nikos Liberopoulos from AEK Athens FC. Although he only featured two times for Greece in the qualifying stage of the competition, he somehow managed to beat out PAOK FC's Stefanos Athanasiadis who had an impressive campaign.
Santos passed up on two other promising young talents - Apoel goalkeeper Dionysis Chiotis and Panathinaikos striker Lazaros Christodoulopoulos. After the stellar display Chiotis had in the UEFA Champions League this season, many would have though that he would have been an option.
With Greece having gone through the qualifying stage without having tasted defeat, not many fans may be criticizing Santos just yet. Santos guided Greece to seven victories and just three draws.
"I wish I could have taken them all but this is impossible. It is one of the toughest decisions you have to make as a coach. But that's why I'm in this position, to take difficult decisions and be responsible for them," Santos said.
The Greeks will now head to Austria for a training camp before playing two friendly matches against Armenia and Slovenia. Santos will then make his final two cuts from the 25-man squad.
Greece Squad
Goalkeepers: Costas Chalkias (PAOK), Michalis Sifakis (Aris), Alexandros Tzorvas (Palermo).
Defenders: Vasilis Torosidis (Olympiakos), Avraam Papadopoulos (Olympiakos), Kyriakos Papadopoulos (Schalke), Stelios Malezas (PAOK), Jose Holebas (Olympiakos), Giorgos Tzavellas (Monaco), Sokratis Papastathopoulos (Werder Bremen).
Midfielders: Alexandros Tziolis (Monaco), Grigoris Makos (AEK), Giannis Maniatis (Olympiakos), Kostas Katsouranis (Panathinaikos), Giorgos Karagounis (Panathinaikos), Giorgos Fotakis (PAOK), Kostas Fortounis (Kaiserslautern), Panagiotis Kone (Bologna), Sotiris Ninis (Panathinaikos), Giannis Fetfatzidis (Olympiakos).
Forwards: Giorgos Samaras (Celtic), Dimitris Salpigidis (PAOK), Fanis Gekas (Samsunspor), Nikos Limberopoulos (AEK), Kostas Mitroglou (Atromitos).
