Belarus’ World Cup Qualifier Opens with Disappointing Loss to Greece
MINSK, Belarus – The Belarusian national football team kicked off their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign with a disheartening 1-5 defeat to Greece on September 5, as reported by Mirror.
New Hope, Same Old Story
The match was the first in a new qualifying cycle that brings fresh hopes to Belarusians, who have never reached the top tournament. Despite this, officials, such as the new head of the Belarusian Football Federation (ABFF), Evgeny Bulachik, are dreaming big and aiming for the playoffs.
“We believe in the excellent mood of the team, and although the task is not easy, we are ready to face it as a result of our concept and collegial solution,” Bulachik said.
– Evgeny Bulachik
Optimism Before the Storm
Spaniard Carlos Alos, the new coach of the national team, also expressed optimism before the match despite challenges in selecting the squad. Key players like Fedor Lapoukhov, Belarus’ best player of 2024, were absent due to a move to Bulgaria, and there were also missing attackers and injuries. Alos relied on collective defense, led by veteran Alexander Martynovich.
Early Blow and Domination
The game turned sour early for Belarus when a loose pass led to a penalty and a 1-0 advantage for Greece in the 3rd minute. The home team capitalized on Belarus’ weaknesses, scoring three more goals in the first ten minutes and leading 4-0 at halftime. Belarus goalkeeper Pavel Pavlyuchenko kept his team in the game with a few crucial saves.
A Detailed Drubbing
The match ended in a 1-5 defeat, with Belarus barely registering a shot on goal in the first half and only creating a couple of scoring chances in the second. Greece scored their fifth goal from a penalty, awarded after a video review.
Looking Ahead
The Belarusian team will play their second qualifying match on September 8 against Scotland in Hungary, as home matches are still banned in Belarus.
FAQs
- Who won the match? Greece defeated Belarus 5-1.
- When is the next match for Belarus? Belarus will play against Scotland on September 8.
Did you know?
The last time Belarus qualified for a World Cup or European Championship was in 2004, where they reached the Round of 16 at Euro 2004.
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