Greece are hoping for another Euro 2012 giant killing when they take on Germany with the political spectre of the Eurozone crisis hanging over Friday’s quarter-final. Having shocked Russia 1-0 on Saturday in Group A to confirm their place in the Gdansk last-eight clash, runners-up Greece take on Group B winners Germany, who are the only team with a 100 percent record at the European championship. The Germans are bidding to win a fourth European title and having won their three pool matches against Holland, Portugal and Denmark, plus all ten qualifiers en route to the final, the Greeks start as underdogs.
The David verses Goliath clash has added spice between two nations at the heart of the Eurozone financial crisis with one Greek paper demanding “Bring us Merkel!” after their team reached the knock-out phase. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who will attend the match, has provoked anger in Greece for leading calls on Athens to impose tough austerity measures in return for financial assistance from Germany to help to bring down debt. Both teams have already fielded numerous questions as to whether politics will play a role with Germany coach Joachim Loew insisting: “As far as we are concerned, we are approaching a normal football contest”. But it will be anything but just football for many Greeks, as their proud nation owes Germany billions of euros in bailout money and where Merkel is a popular hate figure.