Germany vs Greece like it was Spartans vs Persians — If Persians had loaned a cash-strapped Spartans a fortune on the humiliating condition that they got to dictate how the incompetent little guy should spend it. Underdog Greece faces top-favourites Germany in the Euro 2012. Plenty of subtext as Germany vs Greece match will be more than a game !

Germany vs Greece Euro 2012 / NationalTurk – Let’s start with soccer side of the Germany vs Greece Euro 2012 Quarter-Final match. Greece progressed from their group beating all odds. Poland and Russia were both – even not arguably – as the teams with far greater quality. Greece has benifited from qualifying on the basis of the head-to-head rule by the skin of their teeth, yet undeniably with great fighting spirit while Germany faced and topped the Group of death and came out unscathed. Germany dominated their group ahead of Portugal and the Netherlands, biggest dissapointment of Euro 2012 by far, by winning all three matches. The dramatic manner in which Greece and Germany advanced in Euro 2012 reflects the beautiful contrast and difference of these two team’s styles of play.

Germany vs Greece : On the table are Honour, Greek Pride, German supremacy ?

Even non-football fans in Greece show immense interest for Germany vs Greece game. ‘ You know, I’m not a fanatic of football. And I’m not a fanatic of politics, either. But this game is really important. To show that [ Greece ] doesn’t, you know, suck, at everything — Greece is good at something, at least — it’s a matter of honour, ‘ exclaims Anastasia Brouzioti a 30 years-old dancer near the Kerameikos subway station in Greek capital Athens.

‘ We have a history with the Germans; this is the second time in history they’re trying to get us, just in another way this time,’ she says, referring to Germany, Europe’s economic powerhouse, which is the largest contributor to the $387-billion bailout funds that have kept Greece, a debt-ridden crisis country, from complete collapse bankruptcy. ‘ So Germany vs Greece game is more than important to show Germany that Greece have soul — and if we beat them, we will beat them with our soul, not with our money.’ the delicate Greek mentiones.

Greece vs Germany Euro 2012: Merkel vs Greek nation, how the chancellor became the least popular figure in Greece

But suffering Greeks are more angry than grateful: German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who will be at the match in Poland, has imposed severe austerity measures that include huge cuts to salaries and social services spending, major tax increases, and tens of thousands of layoffs. Merkel is the most disliked figure in Greece right now and regarded by Greeks as one cruel politician.

The political subplot between Germany anf Greece brings additional intrigue and tension to this Germany vs Greece encounter as the debt-stricken Greece will have an opportunity to knock Germany out of the tournament, their most critical creditor in bailout and austerity talks. Greek captain Giorgos Karagounis admitted after their final group game that the financial hardship in Greece is an added motivation for the players to succeed. However Greece’s players have played down the political significance of the match.

Germany vs Greece Preview: German and Greek press battle via headlines

But Greece’s reliably hyperbolic sports dailies could not entering the fray of Germany vs Greece Euro 2012 match. ‘ Bring us Merkel,’ Goal News commanded Greek players after Greece upset Russia on last Saturday with a 1-0 win, which set the country in its fiercest economic crisis. ‘ This is how your debtors qualify, Angela get ready,’ issued a headline sounding more like a warning by SportDay.

Many Greeks are intensely concerned about how they are perceived by the rest of the globe — and, thanks to the skilful flames-fanning of the Greek media, are acutely aware that the flames-fanning corners of the German media have taken to portraying them as lazy tax-evaders.

‘ Poor Greeks, we’ll give you your next bankruptcy for free,’ Germany’s Bild tabloid, one of the worst offenders and cheap reporting paragon, blurted earlier this week ahead of Germany vs Greece clash.

Athens cafe employee Tsibidis Panagiotis, 25, said he believes the international football authorities deliberately set up the Euro 2012 tournament to create the Greece vs Germany matchup and plotting mischief by fomenting conflict between Greece and Germany.

It is foolish, he said, to conflate politics and soccer. But he added: ‘ If we win, we will show Germany that we are not so dumb as they think we are, show them that we are working hard.’

Germany vs Greece preview : Tactics, line ups are secondary to political significance of that game at Euro 2012

Of course, many Greeks — about half of the 20 interviewed by NationalTurk — disagree with the notion that, ‘ Soccer is never just soccer.’ the famous quote from Simon Cooper. Yes Football is the most popular sport because it always features more than football. And Germany vs Greece clash today evening is a monumental example that football is never just football.

‘ I’m against austerity, but I think these are completely different things,’ Vassilis from Athens stated. ‘ There are just some fanatics who see a connection between the match and the political situation.’ meanwhile his friend Jorgo mixed into conservation by saying ‘ I got nothing at all against the German people, he emphasized, but against the cruel policies of Merkel, the hag who brought the situation this far between Germany and Greece i bear no love, not at all ‘ he added.

Greece wants the economic bully knocked out, Germany wants a debt repaid. The undercurrent of Germany vs Greece game was volatile enough to provoke an electrical storm in Gdansk as the opposing managers gave their pre-match briefings.

It would not be unjust of Germany to suggest their opponents owe them at least some gratitude. Germany gave Greece Otto Rehhagel – mastermind of their fantastic Euro 2004 triumph – long before their banks spilled a few billion euros. Eight of the Greek squad, including their exceptional centre-backs Kyriakos Papadopoulos and Sokratis Papastathopoulos, have excelled in the Bundesliga where they have honed their skills.

Germany vs Greece Euro 2012: Merkel at the stadium, Biggest provocation for Greeks ever ?

However the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel – reviled in Athens for the perceived overt economic pressure she is throwing on the Greeks – declared she will be attending tomorrow’s Germany vs Greece clash in Euro 2012. This wiil be regarded as the greatest act of provocation against the Greeks since the abduction of Helen of Troy in Illyedea

Fernando Santos’s Greece need no extra surge of nationalism, but there are plenty willing to cultivate it to maximise their efforts. There have even been suggestions that German spies have infiltrated the Greek hotel, reporting that Santos is an avid smoker and striker Giorgos Samaras dyes his hair.

‘ If we see the Germany vs Greece game from a historic point of view this would be good, because ultimately Goliath lost to David,’ he said. ‘ I happily accept the role of David if history is going to repeat itself.’ Greece coach admitted.

The German camp meanwhile has ducked the political conflict between Germany and Greece. They will not allow themselves to feel bruised by Greek vengeance for economic toil.

Germany vs Greece Euro 2012 : Another contrast , The team’s approach to the game 

Since the 2006 World Cup, the Germans have moved from strength to strength pursuing a footballing philosophy that they now seem to have conquered. Their dedication to a fluid 4-2-3-1 formation coupled with their desire to pass the ball quickly has been a breath of fresh air. Their defense has improved significantly in the past couple of years too. However, so far at Euro 2012 we have only seen glimpses of the swashbuckling football we know they are capable of. and yet Germany have managed to overcome Portugal, Netherlands and Denmark without really getting out of second gear. History has taught us that the Germany doesn’t often take a tournament be it a World cups or Euros by storm but rather steadily improve and gain momentum as the competition draws closer to its conclusion. They are favourites in this Germant vs Greece clash no matter what the subtext suggests

Greece on the other hand achieved the impossible at Euro 2004 when they beat Portugal in the final to register their biggest and most memorable night in football. Since then, Greece have failed to reach similar heights but haven`t drifted off into obscurity either. On the contrary, they have certainly made their presence felt at Euro 2012 They were quite literally the least favoured team to progress but yet again that fighting spirit and defensive quality and determination shined again and the Greeks pulled off an upset to qualify for the next round where they play a game of honour and pride vs Germany.

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