Christos Tzolis helped Greece to a comeback win over Serbia and now turns his attention to Germany, who will be without Kai Havertz.
Christos Tzolis is ready for Germany and Jurgen Klopp, with the Arsenal forward insisting Greece will approach Sunday’s Nations League meeting with ‘confidence’ after beginning their campaign with a comeback win over Serbia.
Tzolis played a central role in Thursday’s 2-1 victory, scoring Greece’s equaliser in the 74th minute from the left side of the box after Vangelis Pavlidis found him.
Substitute Tasos Douvikas then completed the turnaround in stoppage time, giving Greece an important opening win in their first UEFA Nations League campaign in League A.
The 24-year-old has become an important figure in a Greece side whose identity has changed considerably from the defensive approach associated with their 2004 European Championship triumph under Otto Rehhagel.
Tzolis believes the present side have the quality to trouble Germany in Augsburg on Sunday.
“We always play with confidence,“ he said.
That confidence was evident against Serbia, when Greece recovered late to take all three points, having gone behind in the fourth minute.
Tzolis nevertheless accepts that Germany represent a different level of opposition to the Serbs.
“The Germans are stronger in terms of quality than Serbia, so we will approach the game differently,” Tzolis explained.
He added that Greece “shouldn’t concede easy goals”, “have to be focused”, “create a lot of chances” and “be a little more effective” in front of goal.
Greece’s emerging generation also includes Konstantinos Karetsas (18), while Giannis Konstantelias (23) has already made 18 appearances for his country but is sidelined after suffering a cruciate ligament injury.
Even without Konstantelias, Tzolis believes Greece have “a lot of quality,” and “they have to show that on the pitch.“
Germany, meanwhile, will be without Kai Havertz.
The Arsenal forward returned to the club after suffering an injury around half an hour into Germany’s first match of the international window.
Arsenal have not confirmed the nature of the problem, although it has been reported as both a ‘muscle sprain’ and a ‘hamstring’ injury following a dangerous tackle by Quinten Timber, the twin brother of Havertz’s team-mate Jurrien.
There are suggestions he could be out for around four weeks, although this is still speculation at this point.
Greece have never beaten Germany in 10 previous meetings (seven defeats, three draws), but Tzolis is not approaching the game with any sense of inferiority.
After helping inspire their opening Nations League victory, the Arsenal attacker is ready for a much bigger test against Klopp’s side and will hope to add to his tally of 10 goals and three assists in 35 apperarances for his country.
- Arsenal star takes aim at Havertz-less GermanyChristos Tzolis heads into Greece’s Nations League meeting with Germany in confident mood after helping inspire their comeback win over Serbia.
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