Allen Hamilton
What: Euro 2012 Quarter-finals
Who: Germany vs Greece
When: Friday 22nd June, 2012, at 19:45 UK time
Where: PGE Arena, Gdansk, Poland
Unsettled by Favourites Tag
Germany were always grouped as amongst the sides expected to do well at Euro 2012, but Joachim Low’s men prefer to fly under the radar. Topping a tough Group B, which contained Denmark, Holland and Portugal however, has catapulted the team forward even more and in some quarters placed Germany as outright favourites, ahead of Spain, to lift the trophy in Kyiv on 1st July.
This growing Germany team, which has now reached a level higher than that which saw them make the semi-finals of the 2010 World Cup, has begun to influence opponents, just as it is likely to influence Greece, in the opinion of forward Thomas Muller. "Over the past couple of years in qualifying we have earned ourselves a reputation for being one of the favourites", said the Bayern Munich man. "That is why, in general, teams defend well against us – at least they certainly do not start with four attackers."
Impressive so far, the Germans will also have in their head that it is a full ten years since they met Greece in competitive action. On that occasion, the countries were grouped together in qualifying for the 2002 World Cup; Germany won both matches, at home 2-0 and away 4-2. Since then though, Greece have won the European Championship, in 2004, while Germany’s last major trophy was back in 1996.
The feeling around the camp is that a 16-year gap is too long for such a proud country to go without international silverware: the Germans are focused.
An Extra Point to Prove
This Euro 2012 quarter-final clash should be purely about football, but for Greece it is impossible to separate the politics from events on the pitch at present. The situation in the country is dire, with huge numbers of people struggling to survive. And relations with Germany are at an all-time low, with the Eurozone’s powerhouses seen as chiefly responsible for the huge cuts being inflicted upon the population. It is something not helped by German daily Bild bellowing out ‘Be happy dear Greeks, the defeat on Friday is a gift. Against Jogi Low, no rescue fund will help you’.
And Greece could have a problem with focus, something coach Fernando Santos well admits. "The players have family, they have friends and they worry about what is going on", declared the Portuguese. "I would say Greece is going through more than just a political or economic crisis. There is a social crisis with a lot of unemployment. The players are human beings and they feel that."
It could though also serve the team to work hard to defy their critics and give those watching back home a boost in troubled times; Santos is crossing his fingers for that outcome. "What I have asked them to do is to try to forget about that when they play and to focus just on football to show they are real fighters."
Few would have given Greece a chance of making the quarter-finals before the tournament began and even less after the side had drawn and lost after their first two group games. As in 2004, the Greeks specialise in surprises.
Recent form
Germany:
Germany 1-0 Portugal (09/06; Euro 2012)
Holland 1-2 Germany (13/06; Euro 2012)
Denmark 1-2 Germany (17/06; Euro 2012)
Greece:
Poland 1-1 Greece (08/06; Euro 2012)
Greece 1-2 Czech Republic (12/06; Euro 2012)
Greece 1-0 Russia (16/06; Euro 2012)
Players to watch
Germany – Mario Gomez: The Bayern Munich striker has been in red hot form for Germany at Euro 2012 so far. Gomez has found the back of the net three times and should be key to his side’s attacking play in this quarter-final. Stopping him will be tough, but it is something Greece must do.
Greece – Kostas Katsouranis: The Greek star has been handed the captain’s armband with veteran schemer Giorgos Karagounis missing this through suspension and the 33-year-old will be a vital cog in midfield. Katsouranis has the unenviable task of breaking up German play and starting Greece’s attacks. He will have to be at the top of his game.
Match Prediction
Germany are expected to steamroller Greece in this Euro 2012 quarter-final and given the way Low’s men have brushed aside their opponents thus far in the competition, that would not be a surprise outcome. However, the Greeks can be guaranteed to fight and will not roll over easily. Nevertheless, they will not have enough to stop Germany progressing. Germany 2-0 Greece.
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