'It's a must-win' for Greece and Ireland says Gus Poyet

Gus Poyet has admitted the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign could be effectively over for Greece or the Republic of Ireland if they lose in Athens on Friday evening.

The sides go head-to-head at the OPAP Arena in Group B with Greece having banked three points from their opening fixture in Gibraltar, while Ireland were beaten 1-0 by France in Dublin.

However, with both likely to be battling the Netherlands for runners-up spot behind the beaten World Cup finalists, Greece boss Poyet fears defeat in just the second fixture could prove costly.

He said: "The reality for both of us is if we don't win tomorrow it’s going to be very difficult to be able to finish second. I think it’s a must-win for both of us.

"That brings a special situation for the game so early in the group unless you go and beat France and Holland. But realistically for both national teams, this is a very important game."

Greece will run out knowing they have the safety net of a place the play-offs after topping their Nations League group and Poyet hopes his players will see that as a chance to take a more aggressive approach to the quest for qualification.

He said: "Not to put pressure on Ireland myself, I will say that we have a back-up.

"We have the possibility of another way, and that will give us the freedom to play a little more, to get forward and win the game but there is no drama if we lose the game because we have the other opportunity.

"Sometimes when you play with the points – 'We might win this game, we might draw here’ – but where we are now, we can play every game to win.

"If we qualify it would be an incredible achievement, and if not we prepare better for the play-off game in March."

Ireland’s hopes of victory in Athens could rest on the young shoulders