Unbeaten away record at stake for Greece in Georgia
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
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Greece can maintain their unbeaten record away from home in Group F if they avoid defeat against a Georgia side who lost their way after a positive start to the section.
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Having lost their way after a positive start in Group F, Georgia will look to sign off from UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying with a flourish at home against Greece.
• Greece coach Fernando Santos endured a frustrating competitive debut as Georgia held his side to a 1-1 draw in Piraeus in their first Group F meeting on 3 September 2010. Aleksandr Iashvili's third-minute strike put the Georgians ahead but Nikos Spiropoulos salvaged a point with a searing volley 18 minutes from the end.
• Georgia's record in six games against Greece reads W0 D1 L5 (W0 D0 L2 at home).
• Georgia coach Temuri Ketsbaia represented AEK Athens FC from 1994 to 1997, winning two Greek Cups. His opposite number, Santos, coached AEK on two occasions, in 2001/02 and from 2004 to 2006.
• Ketsbaia played in both legs when the two teams locked horns in UEFA EURO 2000 qualifying, and after suffering a 3-0 defeat in Athens he struck his side's goal in a 2-1 reverse in Tbilisi.
• More recently, the nations were pooled together in 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying; with Santos's predecessor, Otto Rehhagel, at the helm, Greece prevailed 3-1 in Georgia and 1-0 at home.
