Gibraltar vs Greece prediction: EUROPE: Euro – Qualification betting tips on match 2023-03-23 19:45.
Group B of the Euro 2024 qualification campaign features one distinct outlier as FIFA’s 200th ranked country Gibraltar have been paired with some of the continent's heaviest hitters. Their group features top-ten ranked France (third) and the Netherlands (sixth) and the top-50 ranked Republic of Ireland (48th), with the only solace for the minnows being they’ll start their qualification venture against the groups second-lowest ranked team, Greece (#51).
It therefore won’t be shocking news to hear that Gibraltar have never featured at a major tournament, considering they haven’t even drawn a qualification match for either the World Cup or the Euros, never mind won (L38). Julio César Ribas’ men might still have the taste of victory in their mouths though, after snapping a 23-game winless run (D6, L17) with consecutive wins over Liechtenstein and Andorra last November.
The Greeks, whose Euro 2004 triumph is still largely considered one the great sporting upsets, have become foreign to major tournaments themselves lately, after missing out on the last two editions of both the World Cup and Euros. Their last qualification campaigns for Euro 2016 and Euro 2020 were particularly shambolic, having won only five of those 20 matches combined (D5, L10).
Despite this, Gus Poyet’s men seemed to return to their stubborn best during their recent UEFA Nations League campaign, after conceding only twice in their six matches helped them top their group (W5, L1). The Pirate Ship was under siege in their recent set of November internationals though, after a rather embarrassing 2-2 draw with Malta was followed up with a 2-1 loss to Hungary.
Players to watch: Even though Gibraltar’s Roy Chipolina will have his hands full in defence, he’ll look to venture forward too having scored three of his nation’s last five goals. Meanwhile, Fotis Ioannidis awaits his first goal in Greek colours, and will be hoping he’ll bring along his club form having never lost a senior match after finding the net (W17, D4).
Hot stat: There have only been three draws in Poyet’s last 51 matches as a manager (W29, L19).