Despite boasting a squad stacked with talented players thriving across Europe, Ivan Jovanović’s side didn’t manage to qualify for the upcoming World Cup
The expansion of the 2026 World Cup from 32 participants to a 48-team format offered a golden opportunity for sides who have been struggling to secure a spot in the major competition over the last decade. For Greece, it was something more than an opportunity.
Boasting a squad packed with talent, with quality across all positions and generational talents who are expected to secure big moves in the future, the Greece national team embarked on an adventure to clinch qualification for a World Cup for the first time since 2014.
Yet, it was not meant to be, with Ivan Jovanović’s side falling short of expectations in the qualifiers. Having picked up just seven points from six games in Group C, Greece finished third in the table, four and six points behind second-placed Denmark and leaders Scotland, respectively. The Euro 2004 winners conceded a total of 11 goals in four games against their fellow qualification aspirants, who won three of those games.
Concerns were raised about certain tactical decisions made by Jovanović, but the reality is that apart from being possibly the most talented team in the country’s history, Greece currently lacks experience and leadership due to the young age of their main stars.
Extraordinary potential in all positions
Despite missing out on their big target, it is worth taking a closer look at a Greek national team stacked with talent throughout. Competing for the spot between the posts are Sevilla’s starting goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos and Olympiacos’s 23-year-old shot-stopper Konstantinos Tzolakis. The former has plied his trade at Benfica, Nottingham Forest and Newcastle, with the latter playing a key role in his team’s run all the way to Conference League glory in 2024.
The right-back position features a 24-year-old Georgios Vagiannidis, whose sublime performances at Panathinaikos forced Sporting CP to spend big in their bid to lure him to Lisbon. Meanwhile, there is strong competition at centre-back, as Konstantinos Mavropanos, Konstantinos Koulierakis, Panagiotis Retsos and Pantelis Hatzidiakos vie for two spots in Jovanović’s 4-2-3-1 formation. The former is a starter at West Ham, with Koulierakis having earned Premier League interest following his solid performances at Wolfsburg.
Donning the team’s armband, Retsos helped Olympiacos reach the Champions League playoffs this season, while Hatzidiakos is currently at Copenhagen after spells at Cagliari and AZ Alkmaar. It should be noted that none of those centre-backs is older than 28, but all four boast significant experience featuring in some of Europe’s top leagues. One of Greece’s most decorated players features at left-back. Kostas Tsimikas has won four trophies with Liverpool, including last season’s Premier League title, being an important part of Jürgen Klopp‘s rotation.
The midfield position is also stacked with prodigies. Olympiacos’ 19-year-old academy graduate Christos Mouzakitis recently won the Golden Boy Web 2025 Award, with PAOK’s 23-year-old flamboyant playmaker Giannis Konstantelias having attracted interest from several European powerhouses.
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They are complemented by former Slavia Prague midfielder Christos Zafeiris, who earned a move back to PAOK at the age of 23 after standing out with his outings.
A special jewel at the forefront of Greece’s gifted attack
Yet, none of the aforementioned players has received more acclaim than 18-year-old winger Konstantinos Karetsas. Having developed through the system at his home-town club, Genk, Karetsas has been placed on the radar of numerous European giants such as Real Madrid, Manchester City, Chelsea and AC Milan.
Eligible to play for either Belgium or Greece, Karetsas opted for his parents’ native country and made his official debut a year ago in the Nations League playoffs against Scotland. Aged only 17, he became a mainstay in Greece’s starting XI, pulling off some stunning displays during the World Cup qualifiers.
Karetsas might be the brightest jewel in Greece’s attack, but Jovanović boasts several players who could easily be part of any European powerhouse squad such as 18-year-old Charalampos Kostoulas, Vangelis Pavlidis (27), Christos Tzolis (24) and Anastasios Douvikas (26).
Last summer, Kostoulas became the most expensive transfer in Greek football history by joining Brighton. Having won the UEFA Youth League with an Olympiacos side captained by Mouzakitis, Kostoulas climbed up the ranks to reach the first team, where he thrived under José Luis Mendilibar last term before securing a move to the Premier League.
Having joined Benfica after being crowned Eredivisie’s top scorer in 2024, former AZ Alkmaar striker Pavlidis has become an undisputed starter at the Portuguese giants. Meanwhile, Tzolis has already acquired valuable Champions League experience with Club Brugge, consistently featuring on the left flank for the Belgian side.
As for Douvikas, only Lautaro Martínez has netted more Serie A goals (14) than the Greek striker (10), who has hit the ground running at Como following a move from LaLiga side Celta Vigo.
Set aside the favourites to win the World Cup, and few teams rival Greece’s potential and quality across the pitch. The elimination may have been a tough blow to take, but, on a positive note, this team has a higher ceiling than many of those who competed in the qualifiers.
Greece might have well been the most talented team to miss out on the World Cup, but a bright future lies ahead for this generation.