UEFA Nations League League B, Group 2
Greece v Republic of Ireland, Theodoros Vardinogiannis Stadium, Heraklion, Friday 3pm (Irish time)
TV
Live coverage on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player from 2.30pm.
RADIO
Live commentary on Radio 1 Extra from 2.55pm.
ONLINE
Live blog on RTÉ.ie/Sport and the RTÉ News app.
WEATHER
A warm, sunny day with some passing cloud cover. Highest temperatures of 17 to 19 degrees in light variable winds.
Ireland look to shake off Slovenian defeat
Carla Ward's Republic of Ireland travel to Heraklion for the first game of a Nations League double-header with Greece.
Ireland come into the game off the back of a chastening 4-0 defeat away to Slovenia in February and while Ward's side opened their Nations League campaign with victory at home to Turkey, defeat in Slovenia felt like a case of one step forward, two steps back.
Friday's clash at the Theodoros Vardinogiannis Stadium is followed by a home game against Greece on Tuesday and six points will be the expectation from the Ireland squad with 35 places separating Ireland (26) and Greece (61) in the FIFA rankings.
Greece have lost both of their games so far in the Nations League, losing 1-0 away to Turkey and with promotion to League A remaining the target, only a win will do in Greece if Ireland are to keep that hope alive.
Like Ireland, Greece suffered disappointment in their Euro 2025 qualifying campaign. They topped their group finishing ahead of Montenegro, the Faroe Islands and Andorra with an unbeaten record but came unstuck against Belgium in the play-offs.
The Greeks held Belgium to a scoreless draw at home in the first leg of their two-legged play-off, which should be a warning for Ireland, but were soundly beaten 5-0 in the return leg.
Only a win will do for Ward
While disappointment from the nature of Ireland's defeat against Slovenia still lingers, Ward is eager to see her side turn in the kind of performance that will help put that game to bed.
The Ireland manager has seen a reaction from her players in training this week and she's eager to see her charges produce on the pitch now.
"I've been really clear to the group, we have to get three points," Ward said.
"That's the bottom line. I don't think anything but three points is good enough, that's being honest. We have to come here and react. But listen, they've reacted so well this week, they really have.
"They've been unbelievable these last few days. I told them that last night. It's important to recognise how they've reacted. They've been really good.
"We are a collective, we're quite a tightknit group already. Self-reflection is key. I always say it's like being in a boxing ring, the sooner you get hit, the sooner you get up, you have a look at why you've been hit and you deep dive into that. There was a lot of that for sure."
Heather Payne will not be involved due to an ankle injury picked up on club duty before international camp. The Everton defender has trained with the squad and is in the reckoning for Tuesday's game in Tallaght but won't be risked in Greece.
Greece struggling after promotion
With just one win in their last six games, it's fair to say that Greece come into this clash short on form.
A 2-1 victory over Slovakia in a December friendly international is the only victory the Greeks have to their name since the end of last season's Nations League campaign and while Greece won promotion from League C, the step up to League B has been a steep one for them.
The majority of the Greek squad are based domestically with Union Berlin duo Athanasia Moraitou, Eleni Markou and Everton striker Veatriki Sarri the most notable players plying their trade abroad.
Sarri is Greece's most potent attacking threat, while centre-forward Sophia Koggouli is likely to start in a front three. Koggouli is closing in on the Greek all-time top scoring record, currently on 24, she needs three more goals to break that record.
Manager Alexandros Katikaridis likes to set his side up in a 4-3-3, or 3-4-3 depending on the opposition and at home against Ireland, would be expected to go with the extra personnel in midfield as they seek to control that part of the pitch.
Midfielder Athanasia Moraitou is the key player for Greeks in the centre and the battle between her and Denise O'Sullivan could prove to be decisive.
Watch Greece v Republic of Ireland in the Women's Nations League on Friday from 3pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to live commentary on RTÉ Radio 1 Extra
