[InTime Sports]
Greece played out a goalless draw with host Hungary in an international friendly on Tuesday, as the national team prepares for the fall’s Nations League games.
This was the third consecutive game without scoring for Greece, but at least there was proper defensive work by the players of coach Ivan Jovanovic against one of the strongest European teams to miss out on this summer’s World Cup.
Greece fielded in Budapest an extensively changed team from the one that lost to Paraguay in Piraeus four nights earlier, and had Vangelis Pavlidis returning up front.
The Benfica striker was the one to miss Greece’s – and the match’s – biggest chance when his low shot from a tight angle was fingered by Hungarian goalkeeper Balasz Toth just enough for the ball to hit the upright and go out, on the 62nd minute.
The second half was comparatively better for the Greeks, who enjoyed more possession and tried their luck a few times at the Hungarian goal, but their previous scoring efficiency appears to have abandoned them in recent times.
There will be two more friendly games for the national team in early June, one abroad and one in Crete. Both will be against European opponents, according to reports.