A trip to Finland for Greece on Sunday represents the final matchday of League B Group 2 in the 2024-25 UEFA Nations League. The hope for Greece, having slipped out of automatic promotion, is to end on a high while Finland play for pride as they have been relegated to the third tier already.
Match Preview
Greece’s Automatic Promotion Hopes
Greece went into Thursday’s heavy defeat against England with a 100% record after four matches in the group stage. The defeat proved to be a turning point as England took the top spot courtesy of a goal by Ollie Watkins, an own goal by Odysseas Vlachodimos, and a stunning finish by Curtis Jones.
However, Greece remains in the promotion playoff race, standing second in the standings. They must emerge successfully in Helsinki but also count on England stumbling against the Republic of Ireland.
Greece, on the other hand, have been in the finest of form away from home-of late, recording three straight away wins and scoring at least twice in all of them. Against an ailing Finland team yet to gain a point, Greece will want to build on their opponents’ dreary form.
Finland’s Ails
Finns’ campaign in the Nations League has been nothing short of catastrophic. A narrow 1-0 defeat to the Republic of Ireland on Thursday night extended their run of defeats to five matches and left them as one of only two teams in League B yet to register a point.
The Scandinavians have not won a single game since the friendly against Estonia in March and also failed to keep a clean sheet in 12 months. To make matters worse, Finland has lost three of their last four matches against Greece, including that 3-0 defeat in September.
Relegation to League C for the 2026-27 campaign is already confirmed, leaving Finland with little but pride to play for in their final outing.
Team News
Finland Team Updates
Injuries: Matti Peltola is a doubt, having been subbed off with an injury against Ireland. He could be replaced by Daniel O’Shaughnessy at the back.
Attack Options: Joel Pohjanpalo and veteran Teemu Pukki will vie for a starting spot up front. Pukki, Finland’s all-time leading scorer, is closing in on Jari Litmanen’s caps record.
Predicted Finland Starting XI:
Hradecky; O’Shaughnessy, Ivanov, Hoskonen; Niskanen, Kairinen, Kamara, Uronen; Lod, Pukki, Hakans
Greece Team Updates
Suspensions: Christos Zafeiris is out due to yellow card accumulation. Dimitrios Kourbelis should fill the gap in midfield.
Possible Rotations: Manager Ivan Jovanovic might make one or two changes to his lineup, with Fotis Ioannidis pushing to replace Vangelis Pavlidis upfront. Also, Liverpool’s Kostas Tsimikas has competition for left-back duties in Dimitris Giannoulis.
Predicted Greece Starting XI:
Vlachodimos; Rota, Mavropanos, Hatzidiakos, Giannoulis; Kourbelis, Siopis; Masouras, Bakasetas, Tzolis; Ioannidis
Prediction: Finland 0-2 Greece
Greece were flashes of brilliance against England but were ultimately outplayed by a better side. Against a relegated Finland team with very little to fight for, Greece should have no problems flexing their muscles.
Finland might conserve their energies for domestic football, but Greece, with their attacking firepower and solid away form, are the favorites. But even a win may not be enough for Greece to ensure automatic promotion, as it all comes down to England’s result.
