Greece 3-2 Scotland Player Ratings: Christos Tzolis Rated 9/10 as Greece Edge Five-Goal Thriller

The goals from Anastasios Bakasetas, Konstantinos Karetsas and Christos Tzolis were all well-taken. It looked like game over for the visitors. But you can never write off Scotland. They showed incredible heart to fight back with a vengeance. Ben Gannon-Doak and Ryan Christie pulled two goals back, setting up a frantic final 20 minutes. What stood out to us was the sheer chaos. Scotland pushed hard for an equalizer, especially after Bakasetas received a late red card for a second yellow.

In the end, Greece just about held on for a crucial 3-2 victory. It was a chaotic, thrilling encounter that had everything: brilliant goals, a comeback, a red card, and non-stop drama. We were on the edge of our seats right until the final whistle. A fantastic spectacle for the neutral fan and a massive result in this WC Qualification Europe campaign.

Here are Greece Vs Scotland Player Ratings

Greece Player Ratings vs Scotland

Here are Greece Player Ratings vs Scotland

Goalkeeper

Odysseas Vlachodimos - 6.5: A strange night for the Greek keeper. He made three saves, including a couple of important ones inside the box. However, he also conceded twice and didn't always look comfortable. His distribution was a bit hit-and-miss, with only 25% of his long balls finding their target. A decent performance, but not his most commanding.

Defenders

Georgios Vagiannidis - 6.5: Showed good composure on the ball with 91% pass accuracy. He even created a couple of chances which was a pleasant surprise. Defensively, however, it was a different story. He won less than half of his duels and seemed to struggle against Scotland's late surge. An okay performance, but there are areas to improve.

Konstantinos Koulierakis - 6.5: So unlucky not to score, hitting the woodwork with a header. He was solid in possession, boasting a 93% pass completion rate. On the flip side, a defensive error led to a Scotland shot, which takes the shine off his performance. He also wasn't as dominant in the air as we'd like to see.

Panagiotis Retsos - 7.0: A commanding presence at the back for Greece. We counted an impressive 11 clearances throughout the game. He was strong in the tackle and read the game well. The only blemish was a big chance he missed at the other end. Overall, a very solid and reassuring display from the central defender.

Konstantinos Tsimikas - 6.5: We expect so much from the Liverpool man, and this was a relatively quiet game. He was defensively sound, making a couple of interceptions and winning most of his duels. Going forward, though, he didn't have his usual impact. Only one of his three crosses found a teammate. A solid, if unspectacular, outing.

Midfielders

Dimitrios Kourbelis - 6.0: A battling performance in the middle of the park, but one where he was often second best. He was dribbled past twice and lost a few key duels. While his passing was tidy enough, he didn't impose himself on the game as Greece would have wanted. He worked hard but lacked real quality on the day.

Christos Mouzakitis - 7.0: A really tidy and effective performance. He kept possession well, with an 89% pass accuracy, and was disciplined in his defensive duties. He even forced a save with a shot from distance. What stood out to us was his quiet efficiency, just doing his job without any fuss. A mature display.

Christos Tzolis - 9.0: Our man of the match. He was simply electric. He scored a fantastic goal and was a constant nightmare for the Scottish defence. With seven shots in total, four on target, he was always looking to make something happen. From our perspective, he was the difference-maker and fully deserves the highest rating on the pitch.

Anastasios Bakasetas - 7.5: For 84 minutes, he was a candidate for man of the match. He scored the opener, provided an assist, and created four chances for his teammates. He was running the show. Then, he got himself sent off with a second yellow card, putting his team under immense pressure. It was a moment of madness that soured an otherwise brilliant performance.

Konstantinos Karetsas - 8.0: What a display from the youngster. He took his goal with the confidence of a seasoned pro, finishing off a rapid counter-attack. Beyond the goal, he was a creative spark, laying on two key passes for his teammates. A really exciting performance that suggests a very bright future. He was a joy to watch.

Forwards

Vangelis Pavlidis - 5.0: A deeply frustrating evening for the striker. He had two big chances to score and couldn't convert either of them. His night was cut short by an unfortunate injury just before half-time. He just couldn't get into the game and looked off the pace before he was substituted.

Manager

I. Jovanović - 7.0: His game plan worked perfectly for 60 minutes, as Greece stormed into a 3-0 lead with some scintillating attacking football. However, his team's inability to manage the game and see it out comfortably is a concern. They nearly let a three-goal lead slip. He gets credit for the win but needs to address the late-game collapse.

Scotland Player Ratings vs Greece

Here are Scotland Player Ratings vs Greece

Goalkeeper

Craig Gordon - 7.5: It might seem strange to rate a keeper who conceded three goals so highly, but he was outstanding. He made a whopping seven saves, six of which were from shots inside the box. Without his heroics, Scotland could have been looking at a much heavier defeat. He kept his team in the match almost single-handedly at times.

Defenders

Aaron Hickey - 6.5: A solid and energetic performance from the full-back. He was tidy in possession and won all of his ground duels. He also created a big chance for his team before being substituted in the second half. A reliable showing, though he was part of a defence that struggled as a unit.

Andrew Robertson - 6.0: The captain provided an assist for one of the goals, but this was far from his best performance. He lost possession 19 times and an error from him led to a Greek shot. From our perspective, he didn't provide his usual drive and quality from the left flank. A mixed bag for the Liverpool star.

Grant Hanley - 4.5: A very, very difficult night for the centre-back. He was dribbled past on four separate occasions and struggled to cope with the movement and pace of the Greek attackers. He looked overwhelmed before being substituted. A performance he will want to forget quickly.

John Souttar - 5.0: Like his defensive partner, Souttar had a tough time. An error from him led directly to a shot, and he was booked for a clumsy challenge. While he was dominant in the air, winning six aerial duels, he looked vulnerable on the ground. Not his finest hour in a Scotland shirt.

Midfielders

Scott McTominay - 6.5: He was desperately unlucky to see his powerful strike crash off the crossbar. He passed the ball well and created one big chance. However, he couldn't grab the game by the scruff of the neck as we've seen him do so many times. A decent effort, but he wasn't able to influence the game enough.

John McGinn - 8.0: Scotland's best outfield player by a considerable margin. He was a bundle of energy and quality, providing an assist and creating three chances. He drew five fouls from the opposition, constantly causing problems with his driving runs. A true captain's performance, full of fight and determination.

Ryan Christie - 7.5: Scored a great header to give his team hope and was a bright spark throughout his time on the pitch. He created two chances and was always willing to take players on. A very positive and impactful performance before he was taken off late in the game.

Ben Gannon-Doak - 7.5: What a lively performance from the youngster. He scored Scotland's first goal and was a constant threat with his direct running. He got two shots on target and looked completely unfazed by the occasion. A really encouraging display that shows his immense potential.

Lewis Ferguson - 6.0: He covered a lot of ground and worked tirelessly for the team. However, his aggression sometimes boiled over, committing four fouls and picking up a yellow card. His passing was neat, but he didn't offer enough creativity going forward. A spirited but limited performance.

Forwards

Ché Adams - 5.5: A really quiet game for the striker. He was isolated for long periods and struggled to get involved. He missed a big chance and was dispossessed three times. The game largely passed him by, and it was no surprise to see him substituted.

Manager

S. Clarke - 5.5: Credit to him and his team for the spirit they showed to fight back from 3-0 down. That deserves praise. However, the initial defensive setup was all wrong, and his side were torn apart for the first hour. He made changes that helped, but the damage was already done.

Sportsdunia's player of the match is Christos Tzolis