Santos warns players job against Romania not done yet
Greece coach Fernando Santos has warned his players that they have only done half the job after the national side beat Romania 3-1 in Athens on Friday night, in order to give it a great chance of qualifying for next year’s World Cup in Brazil when it plays the second leg of its playoff tie in Romania next Tuesday.
Two goals from Costas Mitroglou helped Santos’s men clinch the victory against Romania, who also had midfielder Costin Lazar sent off in the dying stages.
“It is great to score goals but we have only done half the job,” said Santos of his usually goal-shy side. “There is still plenty of work to do and we will have to show the same appetite and concentration in the second leg so we do not throw away what we have built.”
His views were echoed by in-form Olympiakos striker Mitroglou. “We are only halfway through this and nothing is decided,” he said. “We are going to Bucharest as if the score is 0-0.”
Greek captain Costas Katsouranis will miss the second leg after picking up a second yellow card.
Romania coach Victor Piturca’s said he had not given up on qualification yet. “Our hopes of qualifying are damaged but there is still the second leg in Bucharest to come and we will give everything,” he said.
