27-year-old Liverpool player is about to play his country’s most important game in 10 years

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This is a strange international week. Most international breaks are inconvenient for Liverpool. But this one comes at a particularly unfortunate time. Having lost to Manchester United last weekend, Liverpool will want to bounce back quickly from that disappointment. But they will have to wait until the end of the month when Liverpool comes up against Brighton to do that.

This international week is also strange because Liverpool’s players are jetting off with very little at stake in the games they are about to play. Liverpool have 20 first team players involved in international action. But most of those 20 players are only going to be playing friendly matches in preparation for the European Championships and the Copa America.

There are however, a few exceptions. There is one Liverpool player who will be playing one of the most important games in his country’s history in the last decade or so.

Who Kostas Tsimikas will face in Greece’s most important game

Unlike most of the other Liverpool internationals, there will be a lot riding on the game (or games) Kostas Tsimikas will face during the next few days. First the 27-year-old will be lining up to represent Greece against Kazakhstan tonight in a Euro 2024 play off semi-final.

Greece will be the favourites to win the match, but Kazakhstan should not be underestimated. They have recorded some impressive results in qualifying, including beating Denmark, Finland and Conor Bradley’s Northern Ireland.

If Tsimikas’ side can get a victory in that match, they will face the winners of the match between Luxembourg and Georgia in the play off final to secure their place in Germany at Euro 2024. For Tsimikas, this will undoubtedly be the most important games of his international career.

Since making his debut for his country against Hungary back in 2018, Tsimikas has never really come close to qualifying for a major tournament. In fact Greece hasn’t qualified for a major tournament in ten years, having last made it to the World Cup in 2014.

But this year is a special anniversary for Greece. It’s now 20 years since Tsimikas’ country surprised the world and won the European Championships back in 2004. Given that anniversary, Tsimikas and co will be desperate to secure their place at the tournament.