Greece will continue their 2026 World Cup qualifying journey with back-to-back home fixtures, following an opening test against Belarus. This comes at a time when the national team is eager to sustain the momentum built earlier in the year.
Greece recently secured promotion to the top tier of the Nations League by defeating Scotland 3-1 on aggregate and followed that with emphatic wins over Slovakia (4-1 and 4-0). However, the side has not appeared in a major international tournament since the 2014 World Cup in Brazil—a drought they are determined to end.
Denmark, who reached the round of 16 at Euro 2024, also begin their qualifying campaign with high expectations. The Danes endured a challenging Nations League run last autumn, failing to record a win in October and November and finishing second in their group.
That left them with a playoff tie for a Final Four spot, where they were beaten by Portugal 1-0 before falling 5-2 in extra time. Since then, Kasper Schmeichel and his teammates have found form again, registering summer friendly wins against Northern Ireland (2-1) and Lithuania (5-0).
Key Players and Squad Notes
Greek coach Gus Poyet has opted not to call defender Alexandropoulos (10 caps) or forward Taxiarchis Fountas (1 goal in 19 appearances) for this window, but the team’s core remains intact. Goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos (Sevilla, 48 caps) anchors the backline, supported by Kostas Tsimikas (AS Roma, 41 caps) and Dinos Mavropanos (West Ham, 36 caps). Captain Tasos Bakasetas, with 17 goals in 75 appearances, continues to lead from midfield, having been directly involved in five goals during the Nations League campaign. Up front, striker Vangelis Pavlidis (Benfica, 48 caps, 9 goals) will be tasked with finishing chances created by Greece’s attacking build-up.
For Denmark, the squad blends experienced leaders with attacking options from Europe’s top leagues. Barcelona defender Andreas Christensen (74 caps) returns after missing action since the Euros, while Marseille’s Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (88 caps) commands the midfield. Creative sparks include Mikkel Damsgaard (Brentford, 4 goals in 32 appearances) and Jesper Grønbæk (Genoa, 6 caps). The absence of Christian Eriksen (144 caps, 46 goals), who is currently without a club, and Lazio forward Gustav Isaksen (3 goals in 9 caps), leaves a gap in creativity and attacking depth. Nonetheless, Kasper Dolberg (Ajax, 55 caps, 12 goals) remains a proven threat in front of goal.
What to Expect
This fixture is set to test both teams’ defensive organization and patience in possession. Greece, historically strong at home, will rely on structured defending and quick transitions, while Denmark will look to dictate tempo through Højbjerg’s control and Christensen’s leadership at the back. Both sides have shown a tendency toward low-scoring encounters in recent years, suggesting that fine margins will decide the outcome.
Prediction
Given Greece’s track record of tight contests—15 of their last 21 away games finishing with two goals or fewer—and Denmark’s similar pattern, another low-scoring affair is likely. Denmark’s higher quality in midfield and attack could be the difference, with Dolberg or Damsgaard providing the decisive moment.
Prediction: Greece 0 – 1 Denmark
