We have to wait until March 2023 for the start of the qualifying process for Euro 2024, and after failing to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, the Euros now take on increased significance for Greece.
The Greeks finished third in their World Cup qualifying group. And it was a distant third behind winners Spain and runners up Sweden. This, in a group that also consisted of Georgia and Kosova, where to only win two matches out of eight was incredibly disappointing for the winners of Euro 2004.
The end of the qualifying campaign also signalled the end of John van 't Schip's reign as Head Coach. He stepped down in November 2021, after the end of the disappointing World Cup qualifying campaign.
Gus Poyet has brought renewed hope to Greece
Earlier this year, Greece appointed Gus Poyet as their new Head Coach. And he is now tasked with qualifying for Euro 2024. Poyet has got off to a decent start, with the Greeks winning five of their six Nations League matches. But that was in a group consisting of Northern Ireland, Kosova, and Cyprus.
In the Greeks qualifying group for Euro 2024, there is a step up in class. Gus Poyet's team have to face France, Netherlands, Ireland, and Gibraltar. And, only the top two of each group are guaranteed qualification for Euro 2024.
In betting to qualify for Euro 2024, the Greeks are 20/1 to win Group B, making them third favourites. To put that into perspective, France are 4/5, and the Netherlands are 5/4. Elsewhere, Ireland are 25/1, and Gibraltar is 4500/1.
In betting to finish in the top 2, they are 4/1, yes, and 1/6, no. This all points to an uphill battle for Poyet and his team.
The Greek betting sites will offer incentives for locals to bet on the national team in the Euro qualifiers, and there will also be football based casino offers. There is also plenty of non football based casino offers such as 40 σούπερ καυτό κουλοχέρηδες, which is super hot shots, and in general, the Greek casino offers are very impressive.
Expect these offers to increase in size and popularity - from both the sportsbooks and the casinos - if the Greeks make it to Euro 2024. Especially with it being the 20 year anniversary of Greece's famous win over Portugal, back in 2004.
Greece needs to get their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign off to a fast start
The Greeks have a great opportunity to get their Euro 2024 campaign off to a winning start. First up in Group B, they are away to Gibraltar on 24th March. They are then at home to Ireland in their second match in June, which is a more than winnable match. If they can take 6 points from those two matches, they can go into their third fixture away to France full of confidence.
But make no mistake, it's going to be extremely difficult for the Greeks to make it to Germany in 2024. The French are one of the top sides in world football, and Netherlands are also one of the strongest sides in Europe. Splitting them and qualifying automatically will be some challenge.
But there is hope, and there's also the Nations League qualification route for the Greeks to fall back on.
Thanks to their impressive showing in the 2022/23 Nations League, Greece are one of the twelve teams already guaranteed a place in the playoffs for the remaining three spots at Euro 2024. So even if they can't get into the top two spots in Group B, all hope is not lost.