Greece Vs North Korea can Korea surprise Georgios Karagounis
This game is being played on a neutral ground as the Greece team look to set a good pace to their dream hopes of reaching the finals in South Africa. The Greece team is one that never ceases to amaze, having won the Euro Cup in Portugal a few years ago in what seemed like football magic at its best. The 2004 champions are starting their World Cup campaign versus the North Koreans, and came from a tough qualifying group against Ukraine who nearly locked them out of the Cup Finals in South Africa. The last time the Greeks were in the World Cup was in 1994 and the results were very disappointing.
The Greeks are in a tough enough group having been drawn with Nigeria and Argentina and going past these two is going to be a hard task for them. They know they will have to work hard in order to succeed. Greece will want the best out of this encounter and this means going against the odds and reversing the reputation they have as the European outsiders in South Africa. Playing against North Korea is a good start for the Greek coach, North Korea is in the world cup and he wants his team to taste how it feels to be in the World Cup, early enough to avoid any embarrassments.
This year, Greece is perceived as a strong team and they are going to be playing a less flowing game and a more defensive. Otto Rehhagel, the German born Greece manager is known for his technical approach to matches and he has most definitely made his team harder to break from the back and more threatening as ever in the frontline.
Head to Head Analysis
These two have never met and they are going to be opening a new chapter to their football sheets, who will come out on top? That’s a question everyone is going to have lingering in their heads.
Recent Form
Greece 0-2 Senegal, Ukraine 0-1 Greece, Greece 0-0 Ukraine, Greece 2-1 Luxembourg
Paraguay 1-0 North Korea, South Africa 0-0 North Korea, Mexico-1 North Korea, Venezuela 2-1 North Korea
The teams recent forms are quite shaky but Greece have earned their results in their recent pitch exploits. Greece went toe to toe with Ukraine and won, earned themselves a place in the cup finals in South Africa
Player Analysis
The talented Theo Gekas hit ten goals in twelve qualifying matches. Greece has some very strong stars the likes of Angelos Charisteas, Celtics striker Georgios Samaras and their high flying captain Georgios Karagounis. We have to accept that they are coming into this encounter as the strongest team.
Betting Tips
Greece is the likeliest to win this encounter being more prepared and less mental stress. The nationalists in the North Korea team will have in the back of their minds the recent political tensions with South Korea. The bookies are giving Greece 1.56 to win this encounter, the fire power they got can do much damage to any opposition North Korea are going to offering.
A draw seems very possible with the bookies offering 3.55 and some willing to go as high as 3.72. Korea has an odd of 5.50 and a 6.00 at the mark some bookies are going to be paying out. This encounter will be pitched on a neutral ground and the North Koreans are known to surprise often. It will most definitely be tightly contested. It is will be unwise to wager against the North Koreans but Greece have all it takes to win this encounter
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