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Listen to the article4 min, read by a synthetic voice

In brief

  • Ivan Jovanović recalled Fotis Ioannidis, Giannis Michailidis, Konstantinos Karetsas, and Manolis Saliakas, while captain Tasos Bakasetas and defender Lazaros Rota miss out.

  • The squad gathers at Renti facilities on 21 September 2026 before traveling to Belgrade at midday on 23 September 2026.

  • Greece plays Serbia away on 24 September 2026 and Germany away on 27 September 2026, followed by home games against the Netherlands on 1 October 2026 and Germany on 4 October 2026.

  • Greece aims to avoid finishing bottom of their League A group to secure top seeding pot placement in the Euro 2028 qualifying draw.

AthensThessaloniki
Athens, Belgrade, Thessaloniki · Greece, Serbia
How it came to this
  1. 4 OctGreece vs Germany at Toumba Stadium
  2. 13 NovNetherlands vs Greece away fixture
  3. 16 NovGreece vs Serbia at Panthessaliko Stadium

Roster adjustments and injury updates

Greece manager Ivan Jovanović has announced his 26-man squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League A fixtures, making several changes due to injuries and fitness concerns. AEK right-back Lazaros Rota was ruled out at the last moment following an injury, leading to the call-up of Manolis Saliakas. Team captain Tasos Bakasetas also misses out on selection because he has not yet reached full match fitness for the intensive fixture run. In central defense, Pantelis Hatzidiakos is unavailable due to a muscle strain, with Giannis Michailidis called up in his place. Dimitris Giannoulis and Sotiris Kontouris have also been left out of the squad, with Giorgos Kyriakopoulos entering to cover the left side of defense.

Key returns to the national squad

The squad features four notable returns compared to previous call-ups. Forward Fotis Ioannidis is back with the national team after missing the June friendly matches against Sweden and Italy due to injury. The Sporting striker has recovered and adds depth to the attack alongside Vangelis Pavlidis, Anastasios Douvikas, Georgios Masouras, Christos Tzolis, Alexandros Kyziridis, Charalampos Kostoulas, and Andrews Tetteh. Attacking midfielder Konstantinos Karetsas returns after recovering from a knock that kept him out of the June camp, having recently featured as a substitute for Borussia Dortmund against VfB Stuttgart. Defender Giannis Michailidis makes his comeback after a knee issue with PAOK sidelined him in prior fixtures, while Manolis Saliakas returns to the national team setup after a two-year absence.

Autumn fixture schedule and preparation

The national team will convene on Monday, 21 September 2026, for initial training sessions at the Renti sports complex. On Wednesday, 23 September 2026, the team will depart at midday for Belgrade ahead of their opening match against Serbia on 24 September 2026 at 21:45. Greece will then travel to play Germany away on 27 September 2026 at 21:45. The squad returns home to Thessaloniki for two consecutive fixtures at Toumba Stadium, hosting the Netherlands on 1 October 2026 and Germany on 4 October 2026, with both matches kicking off at 21:45. The group campaign concludes in November with an away match against the Netherlands on 13 November 2026 and a home game against Serbia at Panthessaliko Stadium on 16 November 2026.

Tournament objectives and seeding stakes

Greece enters the Nations League campaign with the goal of avoiding a last-place finish in their League A group. Retaining their position in the top tier ensures placement in the first seeding pot for the upcoming UEFA Euro 2028 qualifying draw. Ivan Jovanović has assembled a squad of 26 players, including goalkeepers Odysseas Vlachodimos, Christos Mandas, and Konstantinos Tzolakis, to manage the physical workload of four games in eleven days. Midfield options include Christos Zafeiris, Nektarios Triantis, Dimitris Kourmpelis, Christos Mouzakitis, and Konstantinos Karetsas, alongside defenders Konstantinos Mavropanos, Panagiotis Retsos, Konstantinos Koulierakis, Georgios Vagiannidis, Konstantinos Tsimikas, Thanasis Androutsos, and Andreas Ntoi.

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Sources and context

  • Η Ναυτεμπορικήon 20 Sep at 10:49Εθνική Ελλάδας: Νέα πρόκληση με αλλαγές, απουσίες και απαιτητικό πρόγραμμα
  • iefimerida.gron 20 Sep at 10:40Οι επιστροφές στην Εθνική Ελλάδος και οι παίκτες που έμειναν εκτός σε σχέση με τις προηγούμενες κλήσεις της "γαλανόλευκης"
  • in.gron 20 Sep at 08:31Αυτές είναι οι κλήσεις του Γιοβάνοβιτς για τα ματς της Εθνικής στο Nations League (pic)
  • NEWS 24/7on 20 Sep at 08:12Εθνική Ελλάδας: Οι κλήσεις του Γιοβάνοβιτς για τα παιχνίδια του Nations League
Ivan Jovanović
Head coach of the Greece national football team
Fotis Ioannidis
Sporting CP striker returning to the Greece squad
Tasos Bakasetas
Greece national team captain absent due to match fitness levels
Konstantinos Karetsas
Borussia Dortmund attacking midfielder called up to the Greece squad
Manolis Saliakas
Greece defender returning to the squad after two years
Giannis Michailidis
PAOK defender recalled to the national team
Lazaros Rota
AEK Athens defender ruled out due to an injury
Pantelis Hatzidiakos
PAOK defender sidelined with a muscle strain

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Published on 20 Sep at 11:18.

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In this text

Roster adjustments and injury updatesRoster adjustments and injury updatesKey returns to the national squadKey returns to the national squadAutumn fixture schedule and preparationAutumn fixture schedule and preparationTournament objectives and seeding stakesTournament objectives and seeding stakes

Based on reports by

Η Ναυτεμπορική, iefimerida.gr, in.gr, NEWS 24/7

List of sources

Football · Athens, Belgrade, and Thessaloniki

Ivan Jovanović names 26-man Greece squad for upcoming Nations League fixtures

Greece manager Ivan Jovanović has selected 26 players for the autumn Nations League campaign, introducing four squad changes ahead of away matches against Serbia and Germany.

Athens
Thessaloniki

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AI text based on reports by Η Ναυτεμπορική, iefimerida.gr, in.gr and other publishers. Published on 20 Sep at 11:18.

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