Giorgos Vagiannidis (L) of Greece and Sasa Lukic (R) of Serbia in action during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Serbia and Greece in Belgrade, Serbia, 24 September 2026. Photo: AAP via EPA/ANDREJ CUKIC
Greece began their UEFA Nations League campaign with a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over Serbia at the Rajko Mitić Stadium in Belgrade on Thursday night.
Ivan Jovanović’s side trailed for most of the match after Andrija Živković gave Serbia the lead in the fourth minute, before Christos Tzolis equalised in the 74th minute and substitute Anastasios Douvikas completed the turnaround with a late header.
Serbia made an ideal start when Dušan Tadić found space in the Greek penalty area and supplied Živković, who finished to put the hosts ahead.
Greece responded by taking greater control of possession and creating a string of opportunities, but went into half-time 1-0 down despite registering 14 attempts and hitting the woodwork.
The visitors continued to apply pressure after the break and were finally rewarded in the 74th minute.
Vangelis Pavlidis worked the ball to Tzolis near the edge of the penalty area, with the Greek winger finding the net with a low diagonal strike that went in off the post.
Greece continued to push for a winner as the match entered its closing stages, although Serbia came close to restoring its lead when substitute Dejan Joveljić struck the post in the 90th minute.
The decisive moment came in injury time.
Kostas Tsimikas delivered a cross from the left and Douvikas rose to head the ball past goalkeeper Vanja Milinković-Savić, securing all three points for Greece.
The result reflected Greece’s dominance across several of the match statistics.
The visitors finished with 61 per cent possession and registered 26 shots to Serbia’s nine, while completing 588 passes compared with Serbia’s 375. Greece also recorded an expected goals figure of 2.49 compared with Serbia’s 1.32 and had 43 touches inside the opposition penalty area to Serbia’s 20.
Tzolis was among Greece’s most influential players, scoring the equaliser while registering six shots and creating four chances.
Tsimikas provided a constant attacking outlet on the left and delivered 10 crosses during the match, including the assist for Douvikas’ winner.
Dimitris Kourbelis and Christos Zafeiris also played important roles in Greece’s control of midfield, with Kourbelis completing 70 of his 72 passes and Zafeiris 66 of 71.
Serbia goalkeeper Milinković-Savić made seven saves as the hosts absorbed sustained Greek pressure.
The victory marks a winning start for Greece in the top division of the Nations League, but Jovanović’s side faces another major challenge almost immediately.
Greece travels to Germany on Sunday (playing Monday 4.45am AEST) for its second League A Group 2 fixture.