Euro 2024: Solid Greece defeats Ireland 2-1 in Athens

Greece maintained its hopes of making the top two of its Euro 2024 qualifying group with a 2-1 win at home against Ireland on Friday.

This was the Greek national team's second win in as many games, after the victory at Gibraltar, in a group that also includes France and the Netherlands.

Playing in front of some 18,000 fans (including some 2,500 travelling supporters) at the Agia Sofia OPAP Arena in Athens, the Greeks played a composed and productive game and deserved all three points.

Greece applied its pressure from the outset, winning one corner kick after another in the first 12 minutes, leading to a cross from the right that was stopped by a handball. The penalty kick was converted by captain Tasos Bakasetas.

However, after scoring the Greeks dropped to their own half, allowing the visitors to gain some ground and claim an equalizer through a cross...