Konstantinos Mavropanos was the star turn as three of West Ham United’s international players were in action on Sunday.
The defender scored his first two goals for his country as Greece beat Gibraltar 5-0 in UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Group B at AEK Stadium in Athens on Sunday.
Mavropanos scored his country’s second and fourth goals as Greece kept up the pressure on the Netherlands midway through their qualifying campaign.
The 25-year-old headed in a left-wing corner delivered by Dimitrios Pelkas to make it 2-0 on 23 minutes, after the same player had put the Greeks in front on nine minutes.
Giorgos Masouras made it three before Mavropanos scored his second from a pass from Anastasios Bakasetas. The fifth was added by Masouras in added time to complete a fine evening’s work for Gus Poyet’s side.
The Netherlands’ 2-1 win over the Republic of Ireland in Dublin later on Sunday evening saw them go back above Greece, with both sides on nine points behind leaders France on 15, albeit Greece have played five games to the Netherlands’ four.
Euro 2004 winners Greece head to Ireland on Wednesday 13 September, while the Netherlands host France.
Elsewhere, Tomáš Souček captained Czech Republic to a 1-1 friendly international draw in Hungary.
Roland Sallai put Hungary in front on 52 minutes, before Václav Jurečka levelled for the Czechs ten minutes later to ensure a share of the spoils at Puskás Aréna Park in Budapest.
Finally, England U18s were beaten 2-1 by Portugal at the Stade Municipal De Beaublanc in Limoges, France, where West Ham Academy midfielder Lewis Orford made his debut at that level as a late substitute and goalkeeper Finlay Herrick was an unused substitute
