Greece launched their Nations League campaign in the best possible fashion on Thursday night, coming from behind to beat Serbia 2-1 at the Rajko Mitić Stadium in Belgrade.

Andrija Živković put the hosts ahead after just four minutes, but Greece controlled long spells of the match and finally drew level in the 74th minute, when Christos Tzolis fired in off the post from a Vangelis Pavlidis pass. Substitute Anastasios Douvikas then headed home a Kostas Tsimikas cross in the fifth minute of stoppage time to complete the turnaround. Greece had 26 attempts to Serbia’s nine, with goalkeeper Vanja Milinković-Savić making seven saves to keep the hosts in front for much of the night.

With the Netherlands and Germany drawing 1-1 in the group’s other opening fixture, the result sends Greece to the top of League A Group 2 and puts them firmly in control of the battle to avoid finishing bottom. It was also their first win of 2026 in any competition.

According to the analytics site Football Meets Data, Greece are now favourites to finish third, with a 40.6% probability. A top-three finish would effectively guarantee a place in pot one for the Euro 2028 qualifying draw, handing the side a more favourable path as they bid to reach a major tournament for the first time since the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Under the current Nations League format, which will be overhauled from the next edition, the two best third-placed sides will stay in League A automatically. The two worst third-placed teams and the two best fourth-placed teams will enter relegation play-offs against opponents from League B.

Jovanović “suffered” with five strikers

Greece head coach Ivan Jovanović, a Serbian facing his native country, drew smiles at his post-match press conference when he admitted he had “suffered” after sending on all five of his centre-forwards in the closing stages. The move was hardly textbook, but it reflected his determination to secure the result he felt his side’s performance deserved.

“I suffered too, putting all five on. OK, sometimes you take risks. I’m happy that every one of them played well. I won’t hide it, I suffered with that decision as well. After so many chances, it was a game where you take a risk,” he said.

Jovanović opened by acknowledging the scale of the task. “It was a very difficult game. Serbia are a very good side, even more so when they take the lead that early, because they have the players and the know-how to protect a scoreline. I believe the only way was the way we played today, with composure, looking for the little space we could find, and we managed to turn the score around. We played a very good game. In the last ten minutes we lost a bit of our calm, Serbia had a huge chance at the end, and in the final moments we put together an excellent attack, scored a beautiful goal and won, which was very important for us. On the overall picture of the game, we deserved it.”

Asked how he felt watching his team create and miss so many chances, he said: “It’s difficult. On the one hand I’m happy, because we’re finding ways and creating opportunities. The Serbia goalkeeper also had an outstanding night. Scoring is sometimes a matter of ability, sometimes of luck, but we had a great many attempts on goal. After that kind of effort, if you fail to find what really counts, the goal, the disappointment would be enormous. It can happen in football. What I firmly believe is that we played a very good game. Football doesn’t always have an answer for everything. I’m very happy that we won and started the tournament well, and happier still because we played a very good match against a very good opponent. What this game gives us is a little more confidence for what lies ahead.”

On his side’s reaction and mentality, he said: “At this level especially, it matters enormously whether you can change the score. We conceded very early, and that was the moment that would show whether we could turn the game as a team, or whether we would slip into a style of play we’re capable of but without being productive. But we had our game, we controlled it and we created plenty of good chances.”

Asked about leading the group after the opening round and the mood in the camp, Jovanović referred to Greece’s failure to reach this summer’s World Cup. “All of us live with constant scrutiny, and disappointment and joy that change from one moment to the next. I think we need to forget the previous elimination. There’s no point dwelling on those discussions, because we’ve suffered enough, playing friendlies since June rather than at a major tournament. I have a good group of players who are mature, who love what they do and love their country. They live with scrutiny and with failure, and I think they feel the scrutiny more than anyone. It’s good that through this Nations League we can compete against strong teams. We also have quite a few young players in the national team, young both in age and in caps. That’s why our emotions run a little higher than in some other teams. Games like these make us a bit tougher. Every match in this group is a challenge for us, a test of what we can achieve.”

On the limited options in midfield ahead of the demanding fixtures to come, he said: “As Greeks, we often exaggerate. As a team we have talent and potential, but also weaknesses, which is perfectly normal. We get overly excited when we win some games and deeply disappointed when we lose others. But we have our targets and we always try to find solutions. My concern isn’t quantity or quality, it’s how much playing time the players get at their clubs, because that has a direct impact on our team. Talent on its own isn’t enough, especially at international level, because every national side at this level has incredible talent.”