Sokratis, Manolas omitted for Greece's Euro 2020 qualifiers

Athens, Oct 3, 2019 (AFP) - Greece coach John van 't Schip surprisingly left out a number of experienced players including Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Kostas Manolas for Euro 2020 qualifiers against Italy and Bosnia and Herzegovina this month.

"We felt it was the right time to give young, talented and potentially capable players a chance to both play for the national team and contribute to building a different approach and culture among others," Van 't Schip said Thursday.

Olympiakos defender Vasilis Torosidis, Benfica midfielder Andreas Samaris and PSV Eindhoven forward Kostas Mitroglou were also omitted along with Arsenal's Sokratis and Napoli centre-back Manolas.

"Everyone remains at the disposal of the team but we are focusing on achieving future goals," Van 't Schip said.

"And I am glad that these players have put the interest of the national team above all."

New to the squad are 26-year-old Panathinaikos goalkeeper Sokratis Dioudis and 22-year-old AZ Alkmaar defender Pantelis Hatzidiakos.

Greece are fifth in Group J with just one win from six matches. The Euro 2004 champions drew 1-1 at home to minnows Liechtenstein in their last outing.

Greece play Italy in Rome on October 12 and host Bosnia and Herzegovina three days later.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Vasilis Barkas (AEK Athens), Odysseas Vlachodimos (Benfica/POR), Sokratis Dioudis (Panathinaikos)

Defenders: Michalis Bakakis (AEK Athens), Dimitris Giannoulis (PAOK Thessaloniki), Dimitris Siovas (CD Leganes/ESP), Kostas Tsimikas (Olympiakos), Kostas Stafilidis (Hoffenheim/GER), Pantelis Hatzidiakos (AZ Alkmaar/NED), Vasilis Lambropoulos (Deportivo La Coruna/ESP)

Midfielders: Manolis Siopis (Alanyaspor/TUR), Dimitris Kourbelis (Panathinaikos), Zeca (FC Copenhagen/DEN), Andreas Bouchalakis (Olympiakos), Marios Vrousai (Willem II/NED), Kostas Galanopoulos and Petros Mantalos (both AEK Athens)

Forwards: Efthimis Koulouris (Toulouse/FRA), Tasos Bakasetas (Alanyaspor/TUR), Vangelis Pavlidis (Willem II/NED), Tasos Donis (Reims/FRA), Dimitris Limnios (PAOK Thessaloniki), Giannis Fetfatzidis (Aris Thessaloniki), Giorgos Masouras (Olympiakos), Panagiotis Retsos (Bayer Leverkusen/GER)

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