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Greece vs Northern Ireland: Gus Poyet heaps praise on visiting legends ahead of Nations League clash

Greece boss Gus Poyet has paid tribute to two of Northern Ireland's stalwarts ahead of tonight's Nations League clash.

Leicester City defender Evans is in line to earn his 100th cap on Tuesday while Rangers midfielder Davis will run out for his 140th.

Former Chelsea star Poyet described Evans' century as an "unbelievable achievement".

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He added: “He’s the kind of player you always wonder if it will be his last year and then he goes again. He plays all the time for his club and country and represents his people very well. I would like him to play (tomorrow) and enjoy the game but not too much.

“It’s great for football to have people like him.”

Poyet added: “In my career I only played 29 times for the national team so the difference to someone like Davis is massive.

“He knows the game so well, he manages the game and the tempo, when to accelerate and when to slow it down.

“He has the confidence of the people around him and again I have huge respect for people who play that number of games for their national team at any level.

“That experience counts at certain moments and the country should be so proud of him.”

Meanwhile, Poyet has promised his Greece side will be ready for a battle when they face Northern Ireland in their final Nations League fixture in Athens tonight.

Greece, already assured of top spot in the group and promotion to League B, have nothing left to play for – something which perhaps showed in their surprise 1-0 loss to Cyprus on Saturday – but the other three teams in the group are all still at risk of a relegation play-off.

Northern Ireland should surely be the more motivated of the two teams but the former Brighton and Sunderland boss does not intend to roll over.

Northern Ireland’s Jonny Evans and Steven Davis in action against Kosovo on Saturday (INPHO/Presseye/Brian Little)

“It’s very clear, the strengths of Northern Ireland, and we are not expecting anything different,” he said.

“We know the system they will play, the pressure they want to put on us, pushing forward and looking to win every challenge.

“I would be very surprised if it changes. We can say in a nice way we will be ready for a battle. We know we need to compete if we are going to get a result.”

And, having watched Northern Ireland’s come-from- behind 2-1 win over Kosovo, Poyet predicted it could be an entertaining match at the Giorgios Kamaras Stadium.

“Northern Ireland took risks,” he said. “They knew the position they were in, they tried as much as possible to go forward and put it in the box.

“If that is the attitude of Northern Ireland it could be a fantastic game of football with plenty of chances and maybe goals.”

Poyet admitted he had been taken aback by Saturday’s defeat in Larnaca, when so many of the shortcomings Greece appeared to have solved in June resurfaced in a flat, disjointed performance.

But he shot down questions suggesting the result was a major step back.

“Please let us not be dramatic.

“Our duty was to win the group and we won it. If we don’t achieve our objectives we can be more dramatic.

“We have conceded two goals in seven games and, guess what, lost two games. Unbelievable...

“We will change nothing. We will play the same way because I’m convinced and the players are convinced.

“It’s football. Some people win, some people lose, because the opposition can play well.”

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