Ivan Giovanovits, the Serbian head coach of the Greek National Football Team, has called up two new players for the upcoming friendlies against Paraguay and Hungary. The selected players are goalkeeper Antonis Tsiftsis of PAOK and midfielder Sotiris Kontouris of Panathinaikos, both of whom are receiving their first call-up to the senior national team. The friendly match against Paraguay is scheduled for March 27, 2023, while the match against Hungary will take place on March 31 in Budapest.

This announcement comes as notable players have been omitted from the selection, including Petros Mantalos, Manolis Siopis, and injured Fotis Ioannidis. The inclusion of Tsiftsis and Kontouris suggests a focus on refreshing the team with younger talent as the coach prepares for these international fixtures. This strategic choice might also indicate a shift in the team's approach to integrating promising players from domestic leagues into the national side.

The broader implications of these selections indicate an ongoing evaluation process within the Greek football system. With competitions like UEFA qualifiers on the horizon, Giovanovits's decisions could significantly shape the team's performance and competitiveness in upcoming tournaments. Fans and analysts will be closely watching how these new selections impact the team's dynamics, especially against traditionally strong teams like Paraguay and Hungary.