Welcome to our live coverage of Greece versus Ireland.
Heimir Hallgrimsson has made just one change to the Republic of Ireland starting XI for tonight’s Nations League clash with Group 2 leaders Greece.
After Thursday’s 2-1 win over Finland in Helsinki, Troy Parrott comes in to replace Finn Azaz after the Middlesbrough attacker was handed his full debut on Thursday.
Republic of Ireland team to face Greece: Caoimhín Kelleher, Dara O’Shea, Nathan Collins (captain), Liam Scales, Robbie Brady; Chiedozie Ogbene, Jason Knight, Josh Cullen, Sammie Szmodics; Troy Parrott; Evan Ferguson.
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— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) October 13, 2024
Heimir Hallgrimsson expects his Ireland team to defend "a little bit lower" against Greece and has introduced Troy Parrott to boost their counter-attacking potential
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David Sneyd is our man at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium, Piraeus. Here is his preview from this morning.
0 min: Greece 0-0 Ireland
. . . And we’ve kicked off. Both sets of players are wearing black armbands in memory of George Baldock, the 31-year-old Greece international, who died the day before his country’s historic win over England at Wembley. Silence was observed before kick-off, before the crowd broke into applause.
Ireland pressing aggressively high up so far, in contrast to the early stages against Finland.
4 min: Greece 0-0 Ireland
Chance for Evan Ferguson following a defensive mix-up, but it goes wide.
17 min Greece 0-0 Ireland
Chance for Greece, Masouras again with a header from close range which goes just wide. Ireland finding it difficult to hold possession. Greece more cohesive and threatening.
Pavlidis the latest to go close, Kelleher saves. Ireland need to gain some control. Kelleher saves again from the corner.
20 min Greece 0-0 Ireland
Ireland win a free kick in defence. Welcome respite. But it goes long and off Ogbene and out of play. Greece build again.
26 min Greece 0-0 Ireland
Some stats: Greece with 83% possession so far, three shots on target to Ireland’s none. 11 shots to two. Four corners to one in favour of the home side.
28 min Greece 0-0 Ireland
Giannoulis with a chance but Kelleher saves low down. Ringmahon’s finest the big winner so far for Ireland; has probably added a couple of million to his eventual transfer fee this half.
36 min Greece 0-0 Ireland
A period of relative calm as Ireland gain something of a foothold. A couple of hopeful balls forward towards Parrott have at least moved the action up the field for a while.
40 min Greece 0-0 Ireland
Ball over the top is taken on by Ogbene who earns a corner after a driving run. Robbie Brady takes the corner but Greece scramble it away for a throw. Nice delivery.
41 min Greece 0-0 Ireland
Scales clatters Rota to stop a counter attack. Old school challenge, crowd pleaser for the travelling fans.
44 min Greece 0-0 Ireland
Rota has a go from range, misses the target by a lot. Ireland looking more solid and comfortable as half-time nears. Have they weathered the worst of the storm?
Half-time: Greece 0-0 Ireland
And Ireland have made it to the break intact, which is a positive outcome given the manner in which Greece were cutting through in the opening quarter. Probably too much to say that Ireland have asserted themselves on the contest and swung the momentum but they have battled admirably and provided good resistance which could yet give them a platform to push on. You’d imagine Ferguson or Parrott may need to give way for more presence in the middle of the park. Back in a few.
Tasos Bakasetas’ shot deflects off Liam Scales, which makes it too difficult for Kelleher to save. The Greek captain lifts up his black armband in tribute to George Baldock.
51 min: Ogbene nearly gets away down the right flank after nice trickery from Parrott but it runs out of play. Still 1-0.
53 min Greece 1-0 Ireland
Kourbelis has a shot from the edge of the area after slick build-up play by Greece down the right. Pulls it left and wide. A let off.
57 min Greece 1-0 Ireland
Two changes. Ebosele comes on for Ogbene down the right. Jack Taylor comes on for Ferguson as Parrott goes up front on his own. Ireland threaten but can’t get a shot away despite advanced possession.
61 min Greece 1-0 Ireland
Robbie Brady unlucky not to make a ball into space down the right. Ireland enjoying a bit more possession since the substitutions.
64 min Greece 1-0 Ireland
Dimitrios Pelkas comes on for Masouras. Greece seeking for an injection of energy. Ireland have looked a more balanced side since their changes, though they have yet to truly threaten the Greek goal.
66 min Greece 1-0 Ireland
Wonderful evasive play by Ebosele down the right but his cross does not find a green shirt. There is something there for Ireland in this game, with a fortune and continued ambition.
20 minutes left, Greece make two more changes: Christos Zafeiris and Anastasios Douvikas introduced.
Knight and Szmodics off for Ireland with Mikey Johnston and Jayson Molumby coming on.
Ireland continue to press. Ebosele pinged for pushing in the corner. Seemed officious.
75 min Greece 1-0 Ireland
Parrott gets a head on a cross but it’s a difficult chance and he can’t generate the requisite power.
77 min Greece 1-0 Ireland
Ebosele earns a corner after attack first down the left through Johnston and then the right. They are moving the ball well now that they are not outnumbered in midfield.
82 min Greece 1-0 Ireland
Kasey McAteer is on in place of O’Shea. Ireland continue to control the ball. A total turnaround in the shape of the game from the first quarter. Ireland have looked composed and even threatening. Greece tiring, but Ireland need to press home their advantage now.
86 min Greece 1-0 Ireland
Another Ireland corner. Robbie Brady swings it in. Taylor has a chance off balance on the volley but can’t catch it fully.
88 min Greece 1-0 Ireland
A few calls going against Ireland for what is viewed as over-keen tackling. Ireland frustrated as the minutes tick by. Atmosphere has gone flat.
Agh! Kelleher. After an exceptional performance the keeper gets caught trying to pass out from the back. Mantalos picks it off then rounds Kelleher to score.
A disheartening finish to a half which Ireland controlled for large parts. An individual error undid Ireland, as happened for Finland’s goal on Thursday.
That’s it, full time, 2-0 Greece. Deflating finish and an alarming beginning to the contest, but Ireland put together some impressive passages of play during the second half, and were the better side for most of it.
That’s it for the liveblog, thanks for following along. Stay on The 42 for lots of good writing to come from David Sneyd at the ground.
