Stephanos Athanasiadis and Stephanos Kotsolis were the new recruits to the national squad on Friday for the games against Malta and Ecuador in early June, but the real surprise came in the announcement of the inclusion of Greek-American George John (pictured) in the squad to rain before the friendly with Ecuador in New York.
The second-generation Greek central defender will take part in the national team's training session in New York without taking part in the June 7 match against Ecuador.
John, 24, issued a statement through his agent, Theodore Philipakos, suggesting that "it is a tremendous honor to be invited to join the Greek national team. I am looking forward to meeting the team in New York. As a new player, I need to use that time to get to know the staff and the players."
The FC Dallas player is also eligible to represent the United States. He had been invited to a Team USA training camp last January, but he was unable to attend it due to an injury.
The injuries to goalkeepers Costas Chalkias and Alexandros Tzorvas as well as the long-term absence of Michalis Sifakis forced Greece coach Fermando Santos to bring in former Cardiff and Coventry keeper Dimi Konstantopoulos, as well as Panathinaikos substitute goallie Kotsolis.
There also are injury worries in attack for the Greece coach ahead of the Euro 2012 qualifier with Malta at home, as Giorgos Samaras and Nikos Liberopoulos will have to sit the June 4 match out, which led Santos to invite uncapped PAOK striker Athanasiadis.
In defense Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Giorgos Tzavellas are also left out due to their suspension.
The full squad Santos has called up consists of the following players:
Goalkeepers: Dimi Konstantopoulos (Kerkyra), Stephanos Kotsolis (Panathinaikos)
Defenders: Loukas Vintra, Nikos Spyropoulos (both Panathinaikos), Avraam Papadopoulos, Vassilis Torosidis (both Olympiakos), Vangelis Moras (Bologna), Kyriakos Papadopoulos (Schalke).
Midfielders: Costas Katsouranis, Giorgos Karagounis, Sotiris Ninis, Lazaros Christodoulopoulos (all Panathinaikos), Alexandros Tziolis (Santander), Pantelis Kafes (AEK), Giorgos Fotakis (PAOK), Panayiotis Kone (Brescia), Yiannis Fetfatzidis (Olympiakos).
Forwards: Dimitris Salpigidis, Stephanos Athanasiadis (both PAOK), Costas Mitroglou (Olympiakos).
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