The fate of the Greek soccer team’s World Cup experience hangs in the balance Tuesday, June 24, afternoon as the team takes on Ivory Coast in a critical Group C match.?The game is set for 4 p.m. and Toronto’s Greek fans are expected to gather in big numbers at bars and cafes along Danforth Avenue.
With a victory, Greece will advance to the Round of 16. The same scenario applies for the Ivory Coast, which would also move out of the group with a win.
Colombia has already qualified as the top team in Group C. The third team in the group, Japan, could also qualify if they manage to pull off a victory against Colombia this afternoon and Greece and Ivory Coast tie. That game will also be played at 4 p.m. today.
Clearly, Greece’s fate is in it’s own hands and a win would be the best result for the team and its thousands of Toronto area fans.
Greece will go into the game at a disadvantage, however, as captain Kostas Katsouranis is out of the line up after being red carded in the team’s game last Thursday, June 19, against Japan which ended in a 0-0 tie.
Katsouranis is expected to be relaced in the line up by midfielder Giorgos Karagounis.
Greek fans in Toronto are expected to gather on Greektown on the Danforth, between Chester and Woodbin avenues.
Among the fans of the Greek national team gathering to take in this evening’s game will be members of the HFC (Hellas Fan Club) Toronto fan club at Trapezzi Kafe, 505 Danforth Ave. Hellas Fan Club (HFC) Toronto is the only Greek National Team fan club in North America which is recognized by EPO (Greek Soccer Federation).
For a full World Cup schedule, please go to www.insidetoronto.com/sports-story/4567157-world-cup-2014-complete-schedule