Greece paid the price for poor defending at set pieces, falling 3–1 to Scotland in Glasgow on Thursday during the 2026 World Cup qualifiers – despite dominating large stretches of the game.
The visitors displayed strong movement off the ball, effective pressing and intelligent positioning throughout much of the match at Hampden Park. They consistently won the midfield battles and created space with quick overlaps and dummy runs, but struggled to convert their superiority into goals.
Their persistence finally paid off in the 62nd minute, when Kostas Tsimikas finished off a sweeping team move inside the box to score his first-ever goal for the national side and put Greece ahead.
The lead, however, was short-lived. Just two minutes later, a lapse in concentration from a Scottish corner left Ryan Christie free to level the score from close range.
Greece’s defensive woes deepened in the 80th minute, when they failed once again to deal with a set piece. Lewis Ferguson capitalised on the chaos in the area to slot home Scotland’s second past goalkeeper Kostantis Tzolakis.
In stoppage time, substitute Konstantinos Karetsas saw his effort saved, before another defensive blunder sealed Greece’s fate — Tzolakis’ poor clearance gifted possession to Lyndon Dykes, who coolly fired in Scotland’s third from a tight angle.
Greece departs Glasgow empty-handed and will now face Denmark away on Sunday, in a match where defeat could severely dent their qualification hopes.
Source: Ekathimerini
