Giorgos Giakoumakis said Thursday that he needs either to figure out a way to be the best he can be for Atlanta United and Greece, or make a decision regarding his continued involvement with the national team.
If Giakoumakis decides that he no longer will play for Greece, doing so will make him available for more of Atlanta United’s matches. Giakoumakis missed the match earlier this season at Toronto because he was with Greece in its failed bid to qualify for this summer’s Euros. Giakoumakis missed one Atlanta United match last season because he played for Greece in a friendly against Lithuania. Atlanta United lost both matches that Giakoumakis missed.
Giakoumakis, 29 years old, has made 22 appearances and scored four goals for Greece. He has 22 goals in 32 appearances for Atlanta United, which bought him during the 2023 winter window from Celtic in Scotland.
Giakoumakis implied that the most important factor in his decision is the travel back and forth between Atlanta and Europe and the effect it has on his performances. Giakoumakis said it was impossible to travel 20 hours and be at his best to help Greece try to compete for a spot at the Euros. The same is true when he returns to Atlanta United.
“Whenever I’m having a good form here, and then I travel for the national team, I’m coming back and I’m struggling to find myself again, my rhythm, and it’s something that worries me a lot,” he said. “I don’t know what’s going to happen. It’s really painful for me. I’m struggling, even when I’m there, I’m not myself. I cannot help the team as I say should, I could.”
Giakoumakis missed a penalty kick in the shoutout with Georgia that cemented Greece’s exclusion from the Euros. Greece was beaten 4-2 in penalties after the match ended 0-0. Giakoumakis, who came on as a sub, said the missed penalty won’t be a factor in his decision.
When pointed out that it seems there are only two solutions: either not play for Greece or leave MLS and go back to Europe to play, where he will be closer to his national team, Giakoumakis said Atlanta is his home.
“I feel happy as long as the team respects me and makes me feel important, so we’ll see,” he said. “I don’t think about any other club. Yeah, but this travel is a problem for me. It’s painful.”
Giakoumakis leads Atlanta United with five goals in six appearances. He recently returned to action after missing two matches because of a bone bruise to his right knee that he sustained against Chicago on March 31.
“It was very weird. It was very tough and painful,” he said. “But I’m back, I’m good, I’m healthy and I’m happy that I’m still here, and I’m again here with the team and able to help them.”
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Atlanta United’s 2024 schedule
Feb. 24 Columbus 1, Atlanta United 0
March 9 Atlanta United 4, New England 1
March 17 Atlanta United 2, Orlando 0
March 23 Toronto 2, Atlanta United 0
March 31 Atlanta United 3, Chicago 0
April 6 Atlanta United 1, NYCFC 1
April 14 Atlanta United 2, Philadelphia 2
April 20 Cincinnati 2, Atlanta United 1
April 27 at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.
May 4 vs. Minnesota, 7:30 p.m.
May 11 vs. D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
May 15 at Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m.
May 18 at Nashville, 1:30 p.m.
May 25 vs. LAFC, 7:30 p.m.
May 29 at Miami, 7:30 p.m.
June 2 vs Charlotte, 4:30 p.m., Fox
June 15 vs. Houston, 7:30 p.m.
June 19 at D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
June 22 at St. Louis, 8:30 p.m.
June 29 vs. Toronto, 7:30 p.m.
July 3 at New England, 7:30 p.m.
July 6 at Real Salt Lake, 9:30 p.m.
July 13 at Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
July 17 vs. NYCFC, 7:30 p.m.
July 20 vs. Columbus, 7:30 p.m.
July 26 vs. D.C. United in Leagues Cup, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 4 vs. Santos Laguna in Leagues Cup, 4 p.m.
Aug. 24 at L.A. Galaxy, 10:30 p.m.
Aug. 31 at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 14 vs. Nashville, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 18 vs. Miami, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 21 at Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 28 at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 2 vs. Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 5 vs. Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 19 at Orlando, 6 p.m.
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