Chiedozie Ogbene during a Republic of Ireland training session at the Georgios Karaiskakis Football Stadium in Piraeus, Greece. Photo: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
There’s a fighting theme to the graffiti on the walls around the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium, a new venue for Ireland’s trip to face a familiar opponent.
An artistic image of Muhammad Ali standing over a fallen Joe Frazier is one of the images that greets visitors to the home of Olympiacos. “Piraeus means knock out!” is the accompanying message, a reference to the municipality on the edge of Athens where the local identity is wrapped in with the most successful club in Greek football history.