Fortune favours Fortounis and Greece

Kostas Fortounis believes fortune favoured Greece after he scored the goal that breathed new life into their UEFA European Under-19 Championship campaign.

Beaten by the Republic of Ireland on Group A's opening day, Leonidas Vokolos's team secured three vital points in Berceni, Fortounis notching the only goal of the match eight minutes before half-time. "We were also good in the first game; the difference against Romania was that we were fortunate enough to score first, and that really relaxed us," the match winner told UEFA.com.

Romania were also seeking their first points at the Stadionul Berceni, and Fortounis acknowledged that that had made for a tense occasion. "It was a difficult match, especially against the host country, who didn't want to lose two matches in a row," he said. "Of course, we had our own reasons for wanting to win. We scored in the first half, then Romania put us under pressure in the second; we expected that but we had a bit of luck. Our goalkeeper played really well too and that helped keep us in front."

More than 2,500 spectators attended the match, the vast majority hoping for a Romanian victory, although Fortounis believes the vibrant atmosphere actually worked in Greece's favour. "It's hard against the home team, particularly in the first few minutes, but then we settled and coped well," the midfielder explained. "It's always better to play in front of a big crowd, even if they're against you, as it makes for a better atmosphere and that's a pleasure for a footballer."

Greece also coped admirably with the pressure of needing a positive result, Fortounis adding: "It was difficult to come back from losing the first match, especially as you only have three games, but we worked together. We spoke to the coaches and among ourselves, and we believe in our team – we want this very much. I scored the goal, but that's always the result of teamwork, although it's always a pleasure to score."

Also giving Fortounis reason to be content is his recent move to 1. FC Kaiserslautern, with the Greek U21 international eager to enhance his development abroad. "The German championship is one of the best in the world so I'm very pleased to have the chance to be there," he said. "I'm very pleased with the chance to play outside Greece and with having chosen Kaiserslautern. The Bundesliga is very strong and I enjoy the fans. The stadiums are always full and the clubs really help the players. They're well organised and it helps us get better."

Of more immediate concern is Greece's third and final Group A game against the Czech Republic on Tuesday, with a place in the last four in their sights. "Being here by itself is a very big success for us, but we don't want to finish now; we want to qualify for the semi-finals," Fortounis said. "It's a great opportunity for us and a really big deal. It will definitely be a tough game, but we have no other choice than to win. We've watched the Czechs on video and they're tall and strong, very good in defence. If we keep our concentration and stay focused on our target, it will turn out well for us."