SPORTS

Papastathopoulos hit with two-match ban

Greece coach Fernando Santos received a blow on May 13 as UEFA informed the Greek federation that central defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos had been slapped with a two-match suspension after receiving a red card for fouling Michael Mifsud at Malta in March.

The AC Milan star will not only miss the national team?s next match at home against Malta on June 4, but also the crucial game against Israel in Tel Aviv on September 2.

Reports suggest that this development is taking Schalke star Kyriakos Papadopoulos ever closer to the national team. The 19-year old had a great season in Germany with the club that reached the semifinals of the Champions League.

Meanwhile Santos is making his plans not only for the Euro 2012 qualifier against Malta at the Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus, but also for the friendly against Ecuador in New York on June 7.

The match, which replaces the friendly that had been planned against Italy, will take place at the Citi Field Stadium in the US metropolis.

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