Belarus and Greece are set to meet on Tuesday night in Hungary for their Group C finale, both teams invigorated by encouraging performances over the weekend. While their aspirations for the World Cup have been thwarted, this match is centered on restoring pride for both nations.
Belarus witnessed a resurgence in their game previously, where they showed spirit in a solid performance against Scotland followed by a commendable draw against Denmark in Copenhagen. Despite this newfound energy, they entered this international window with one of the lowest points in Europe and seem destined to finish at the bottom of the group.
On the other hand, Greece found themselves reflecting on missed opportunities after their lively attacking display in a thrilling 3-2 victory over Scotland. However, earlier struggles in the campaign have significantly diminished their chances of securing a top-two finish in the group. That victory marked their first win since they opened their campaign with a dominating 5-1 win against Belarus. The three-loss streak in between, unfortunately, dashed their hopes for the World Cup and will extend their absence from international competition to over a decade.
The match will be played at ZTE Arena and kicks off at 2:45 pm ET for fans in the United States, where it will be available for viewing on platforms like Fubo and ViX. Fans abroad can utilize a VPN service to ensure access to their usual streaming options.
For Belarus, head coach Carlos Alos is leaning toward investing in youth, moving on from experienced players like Yury Kavalyow and Sergey Politevich. Rising stars such as Vladislav Demchenko and Ruslan Lisakovich are expected to take the field together once more, supported by the younger goalkeeper Fyodor Lapoukhov, while midfielder Max Ebong aims to add to his five international goals.
Greece faces a challenge with captain Tasos Bakasetas suspended due to a red card but might take this opportunity to experiment with new strategies. Teenager Charalampos Kostoulas could see action in the starting lineup, and Odysseas Vlachodimos is anticipated to remain a strong presence in goal.
This match presents an exciting opportunity for both teams, allowing Belarus to further develop their youthful talent and Greece to explore new strategies, keeping the spirit of competition alive despite the challenges faced during the qualifiers.