Eintracht Frankfurt striker Fanis Gekas announced on Friday his return to the national team after more than one year’s absence, offering his apology for his error of judgement in a statement he issued.
He is now included in the provisional list of coach Fernando Santos for the crucial Euro 2012 qualifiers against Croatia and Georgia next month. The squad surprisingly includes APOEL goalkeeper Dionysis Chiotis, too, owing to a serious injury to Michalis Sifkais.
“About a year ago I announced my departure from the national team. I believe it is in human nature to make mistakes and it is brave to acknowledge them. The time has come for me to acknowledge mine and to apologise to the coach and the federation, but first of all to my colleagues in the team,” said Gekas in his statement.
“Today I wish to address my colleagues and tell them in honesty that they have not only managed to create a good and competitive side, but they have also created a family. I wish to return to this family, putting behind me the errors I have committed.
“I have served the national team with all my strength and Intend to do the same in case the coach considers me necessary in the future,” concluded Gekas.
Critics suggest that Gekas, who reportedly had a tussle with midfielder Costas Katsouranis last year, was forced to return to the national team in order to gain some exposure and secure a transfer deal, as his club has now got relegated to the second division in Germany.
His name is in the list of 11 sforeign-based players invited for the games on October 7 and 11 that will determine whether Greece qualify to the finals in Poland and Ukraine.
Chiotis is returning to the national team after nine years, as Aris keeper Sifakis has suffered a knee injury that is ruling him out of football for at least the next four months, Santos said on Friday.
Santos knows Chiotis from his time on the AEK bench. The 34-year-old goalkeeper has played a considerable part in APOEL’s amazing progress in the Champions League this season.
The other players called up are Alexandros Tzorvas (Palermo), Giorgos Tzavellas (Eintracht), Sokratis Papastathopoulos (Werder Bremen), Kyriakos Papadopoulos (Schalke), Thanos Petsos (Kaiserslautern), Alexandros Tziolis (Racing Santander), Panayiotis Kone (Bologna), Vassilis Pliatsikas (Duisburg) and Giorgos Samaras (Celtic).
Kyriakos Papadopoulos is suspended for the home game against Croatia.
The Greece-based players to be called up will be announced after the weekend’s round of games for the Super League.
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