This week's Euro 2024 qualifier between Ireland and Greece will be a key fixture for both teams.
With traditional powerhouses France and the Netherlands also in their qualifying group, the two sides know that dropped points in this fixture will severely hamper their chances of achieving a top two finish and securing automatic qualification.
For Greece, they are somewhat safe in the knowledge that they are guaranteed a Euro 2024 play-off regardless of their performance in this group. That backdoor option was already ensured with their performance in the Nations League, where they won their 'League C' pool featuring Kosovo, Northern Ireland, and Cyrpus.
Gus Poyet tips former play to become Ireland boss
Greece's performance in that competition came fresh off the appointment of Gus Poyet as manager, with the Uruguayan stepping into the role in February of last year.
He will be hoping to continue that form into Euro 2024 qualification, with the Greeks defeating Gibraltar 3-0 away from home in their opening qualifier. Another good result on Friday night will boost their hopes of taking the scalp of one of the two big boys in the group later in the campaign.
Poyet will come up against some familiar faces in their next game, including John O'Shea. The Waterford native captained Sunderland during the manager's spell at the club, with Poyet coming away hugely impressed with the defender. He is now part of Stephen Kenny's backroom team.
Speaking to the Irish Independent, Poyet said that he would not be surprised to see O'Shea manage Ireland in the future. He also tipped former Spurs teammate Robbie Keane to take up a management job at some point soon.
John was my captain at Sunderland, he was the perfect fit for me.
I went to a club that was in chaos, we had 14/15 new players, one point from seven games. When you need stability, then John O'Shea comes into your mind. He was a great support for me as captain, I could ask him not just for advice but his opinion, I needed him a lot and I am pleased to see him in coaching.
You never know who will become a coach, I had players with me at Chelsea, I'd look at them and say, ‘no way will he be a coach’.
Some are a 'maybe,' but I knew John would become a coach, he's assistant with Ireland now and maybe in the future he'll be their No. 1...
Last time I saw Robbie [Keane] was when he was assistant at Middlesbrough, I went to their hotel before a game in London one day to catch up, he was always a football man, you don't get many now who want to talk football all the time, I hope he gets a job as manager, but Robbie needs to take a chance.
Sometimes you need to just start off and work out if it's for you. Being an assistant is different to being a manager, it will be good to see if Robbie can do that.
John O'Shea has had an interesting start to his coaching career, taking up assistant roles with Reading, Stoke City, and Republic of Ireland U21s. He has yet to manage at any level, although this latest experience with Ireland puts one step closer to doing so.
He remains unproven at this stage, but the former Manchester United man has the type of personality that you could see succeeding in the top job.
SEE ALSO: The Intriguing Ireland Team We Want To See Against Greece
