Alious
In a notable intersection of club and international football, Evangelos Marinakis, who holds ownership of both Nottingham Forest and Olympiacos, has made a significant gesture to support Greece’s national team ahead of their crucial Nations League clash with England.
The Greek businessman has opened up Olympiacos’s premium training facilities to the national squad, addressing their lack of a dedicated training center comparable to England’s St George’s Park.
This support hasn’t gone unnoticed, with Greece’s manager Ivan Jovanovic publicly expressing gratitude for Marinakis’s gesture, which gives his team full access to Olympiacos’s training complex as they prepare for Thursday’s decisive match in Athens.
The stakes are particularly high following Greece’s surprising 2-1 victory at Wembley last month. A draw would be sufficient for Greece to secure promotion to Pool A, but Jovanovic has emphasized a more ambitious approach.
He highlighted the overwhelming public enthusiasm, noting how the 60,000-capacity Olympic Stadium sold out within six hours, suggesting this support demands more than playing for a draw.
Jovanovic’s comments reflect a bold strategic vision: “The passionate response from our supporters, filling the stadium in just six hours, calls for more than defensive tactics.
While England’s quality might influence our playing style, we’re aiming to replicate our perfect performance in London.”
Despite England’s recent player withdrawals and the imminent departure of interim manager Lee Carsley, Jovanovic remains cautious about underestimating the Three Lions.
He acknowledged England’s deep talent pool, suggesting that their replacement players could potentially offer fresh advantages.
The Greek manager concluded by emphasizing that matching their Wembley performance would require another flawless display, regardless of England’s current circumstances.
His statements reflect a careful balance between confidence from their previous victory and respect for England’s enduring strength, even with a modified squad.
Alious
