the European Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup will witness a key clash in Group C, as Greece hosts Denmark. Both sides are direct contenders for the top spot in the group. The question is: can Greece defend their home advantage against the Danes? Let’s dive into today’s match analysis.
Greece
Currently ranked 39th by FIFA, Greece sit at the top of their qualifying group. Their opponents, Denmark, are in second place, which makes this a crucial battle for first. Greece have only qualified for the World Cup once this century—in Qatar. The root cause lies in the limited strength of their domestic league, which has produced a relatively thin squad. Most of the national team players compete domestically.
Facing heavy pressure in this qualifying campaign, head coach Jovanovic has made changes. He called up two players of Italian descent: striker Douvikas from Serie B club Como, and Lazio goalkeeper Mandas, hoping to bring new energy to the team.
Denmark
Ranked 21st in the FIFA standings, Denmark are never to be underestimated at major tournaments, often carrying the potential to be a “dark horse.” This is naturally tied to their squad depth. While they lack the superstar shine of nations like France or Spain, the likes of Christensen, Højlund, and Højbjerg are all high-quality players with top-level individual ability.
The main concern for Denmark is their inconsistency in recent performances. For example, they failed to collect three points in their opening qualifier against Scotland. Yet, this year, they faced Portugal twice and even came away with one victory—showing their strength in tough matchups.
Match Outlook
In terms of overall quality, Denmark are still superior to Greece on paper. Although they are playing away from home, it will be very difficult for Greece to secure all three points against such opposition. Denmark are expected to avoid defeat here, with likely scorelines of 1-1, 0-1, or 1-2.
