Greece drops Samaras for Euro 2016 qualifier

Greece coach Claudio Ranieri has dropped striker Georgios Samaras from the national team after a dismal start to European Championship qualifying.

Samaras, who plays for West Bromwich Albion, is one of Greeces best-known players following his six-year spell at Celtic and after helping the national team reach the second round at the World Cup in Brazil.

But the 29-year-old forward was left out of the provisional squad of 17 overseas-based players named on Thursday ahead of a home qualifier against the Faeroe Islands on Nov. 14 and a friendly match against Serbia four days later.

Under Ranieri, Greece has performed poorly in Euro 2016 qualifiers, losing at home to Romania and Northern Ireland and being held to a draw by Finland in Helsinki. [AP]