Contents
- Competition: Friendly International
- Date: Friday, 27th, March 2026
- Kickoff: 19:00 UK / 20:00 CET
- Venue: Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium (Piraeus)
An intriguing intercontinental clash takes center stage at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium on Friday evening as Greece play host to Paraguay in a high-profile international friendly.
While the hosts are looking to build a new identity following their recent World Cup qualifying frustrations, the visitors arrive in Athens buoyed by their successful qualification for the 2026 World Cup in North America.
Greece vs Paraguay Head to Head (H2H) stats
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Greece
0 : 2
Paraguay
Friendly International
The only meeting between these two sides dates back to 2010 in an international friendly, where Paraguay secured a routine 2-0 victory.
Greece team overview
Under the progressive stewardship of Ivan Jovanovic, Greece have undergone a notable tactical evolution, shifting away from their long-standing defensive conservatism toward a more expansive and attack-minded approach, a transformation reflected in an impressive return of 32 goals across 16 matches since the Serbian’s appointment.
Despite producing moments of promise during the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, including an entertaining 3-2 triumph over Scotland, the Ethniki ultimately fell short of securing a top-two finish in Group C, with consecutive defeats to Denmark proving decisive, and their attention now turns toward the upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures in September.
While recent results may not inspire full confidence, Greece can take encouragement from their steady rise in the FIFA rankings, as Jovanovic’s side have re-established themselves among Europe’s top 25 and begun to rediscover a clear tactical identity, one that will face a stern examination against a defensively robust South American opponent.
The Serbian tactician is also expected to use this encounter at the Karaiskakis Stadium as an opportunity to further integrate a new generation of high-potential talents, with emerging prospects such as 18-year-old Konstantinos Karetsas and Nectarios Triantis likely to play a growing role in the team’s ongoing development.
Last matches of Greece
-
Belarus
0 : 0
Greece
WC Qualification Europe
-
Greece
3 : 2
Scotland
WC Qualification Europe
-
Denmark
3 : 1
Greece
WC Qualification Europe
-
Scotland
3 : 1
Greece
WC Qualification Europe
-
Greece
0 : 3
Denmark
WC Qualification Europe
Greece lineup
Goalkeeper
-
1
Odysseas Vlachodimos
Defenders
-
21
Konstantinos Tsimikas
-
17
Pantelis Hatzidiakos
-
5
Panagiotis Retsos
-
15
Lazaros Rota
Midfielders
-
25
Nectarios Triantis
-
20
Christos Zafeiris
-
10
Christos Tzolis
-
16
Konstantinos Karetsas
-
7
Georgios Masouras
Forwards
-
14
Vangelis Pavlidis
Paraguay team overview
Meanwhile, Paraguay arrive in Piraeus as one of South American football’s most compelling success stories, having defied expectations under the pragmatic guidance of Gustavo Alfaro to finally end an agonizing 16-year absence from the global stage.
La Albirroja have developed into a resilient defensive powerhouse throughout the 2025–26 cycle, built around the near-telepathic understanding between Omar Alderete and Gustavo Gomez, a centre-back pairing that notably helped topple both Argentina and Brazil during an impressive nine-match unbeaten run in CONMEBOL qualifying.
Having faced predominantly South American opposition over the past two years, Alfaro is expected to view Friday’s friendly encounter at Karaiskakis Stadium as a crucial opportunity to assess his side’s defensive resilience against a more progressive European attacking setup.
On the team news front, Miguel Almiron has earned a recall to the national squad, suggesting he remains firmly in contention for the 2026 World Cup, while experienced forward Ángel Romero remains a doubt due to a muscle injury, with his availability for this clash still uncertain.
Last matches of Paraguay
-
Mexico
1 : 2
Paraguay
Friendly International
-
Korea Republic
2 : 0
Paraguay
Friendly International
-
Japan
2 : 2
Paraguay
Non-FIFA Friendlies
-
Peru
0 : 1
Paraguay
WC Qualification South America
-
Paraguay
0 : 0
Ecuador
WC Qualification South America
Paraguay lineup
Goalkeeper
-
22
Orlando Gill
Defenders
-
3
Omar Alderete
-
2
Gustavo Velázquez
-
15
Gustavo Gómez
-
24
Alan Benítez
Midfielders
-
23
Matías Galarza
-
20
Braian Ojeda
-
10
Miguel Almirón
-
16
Damián Bobadilla
-
7
Ramón Sosa
Forwards
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9
Antonio Sanabria
Prediction
This intercontinental friendly at the Karaiskakis Stadium presents a fascinating clash of styles: Greece's newfound offensive fluidity under Ivan Jovanovic against the granite-like defensive structure of Gustavo Alfaro’s World Cup-bound Paraguay. While the hosts will be desperate to prove they can mix it with the world's elite following their qualifying heartbreak, they face a side that has made a habit of frustrating far more illustrious opponents over the past twelve months.
With both managers likely to ring the changes in the second half to blood younger talent, the game may lose some of its tactical shape in the closing stages. Ultimately, we expect a closely contested affair where Greece's home advantage is cancelled out by Paraguay’s battle-hardened resilience, leading to a respectable stalemate that serves both sides' preparation for their respective summer objectives.
Three Reasons we expect Draw
- Greece have managed just one victory across their last five matches.
- Paraguay have recorded only one win from their previous four friendlies.
- Four of Paraguay’s last six competitive away fixtures have ended in draws.
Main prediction Greece - Paraguay
Draw
Best Odds: