Atlanta United striker Giorgos Giakoumakis will be very motivated for Sunday’s match against Chicago after Greece was eliminated from Euros qualifying Tuesday by Georgia, manager Gonzalo Pineda said Friday.
Giakoumakis came into the game Tuesday to start the 30 minutes of added time after the teams finished regulation with the score tied at 0-0 in Tbilisi. The match was still tied after the added time and went to penalty kicks. Giakoumakis missed his. Georgia advanced 4-2.
Giakoumakis, who had said he very much wanted to play for Greece in the Euros, has four goals in three games for Atlanta United.
“I expect him to move on and to continue with his good performance in the season,” Pineda said.
Giakoumakis was one of six players, including four starters, who returned to Atlanta United within the past two days after playing for their national teams during the past week. The others were attacking midfielder Thiago Almada, defensive midfielder Bartosz Slisz, fullback Caleb Wiley, along with midfielder Jay Fortune and centerback Luis Abram.
All are available for selection for Sunday’s match, Pineda said. They didn’t play in Saturday’s 2-0 loss at Toronto.
With a goal against Chicago, Giakoumakis would break a tie with Miguel Almiron and Hector Villalba to become Atlanta United’s second-leading scorer, with 22 goals.
“He’s going to be motivated; he’s going to be fine,” Pineda said.
Frustration, anger, aggravation, whatever the word or phrase, seems to work well for Giakoumakis. Centerback Derrick Williams said Friday that he knows he can yell at Giakoumakis during the games because doing so motivates him.
“He’s going to get angry and play better,” Williams said.
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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 vs. Chicago, 3:30 p.m., Fox
April 6 at NYCFC, 7:30 p.m.
April 14 vs. Philadelphia, 2:30 p.m., Fox
April 20 vs. Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m.
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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