Germany reached the Semi-Finals last night after a very strong performance against Greece. Joachim Low's side won 4-2 and it was probably a scoreline that flattered the Greeks.
Germany were firmly in control from the beginning. Only good goalkeeping and sloppy finishing prevented them from taking the lead earlier.
The opening goal when it came was yet another superb strike from Philip Lahm. He doesn't score many but when he does they are usually memorable.
After that it was normal service as Germany continued to look the more likely to get a goal. Half time came and in the first ten minutes of the second half the play remained in the Greek half.
After 55 minutes, Dimitris Salpingidis got away on the right wing & his cross was met by Georgios Samaras who levelled the scores at 1-1.
This was the first time in the tournament that the Germans had conceded an equalising goal after going ahead. Some teams may have panicked but it just isn't the German way.
Joachim Low will have been looking for a reaction from his team & he only had to wait 6 minutes to get one.
Sami Khedira arrived in the box at just the right time to volley home to put the Germans ahead.
Minutes later Miroslav Klose got his head to a corner just ahead of the Greece goalkeeper to give the Germans some breathing space at 3-1.
Marco Reus blasted home to make it 4-1 before Salpingidis converted a late penalty to make the scoreline look a lot closer than the game actually was.
The Germans have won all four of their games in Euro 2012 to add to their ten out of ten victories in qualifying. They are now just two games away from completing a perfect Championship victory.
Based on last night & their displays in the group stage it will take a very good side to stop them claiming that record.
The changes they made last night all worked out with Klose and Reus scoring. Schurrle, despite not scoring, looked lively & Joachim Low will have a few decisions to make before the Semi-Final.
In that Semi-Final they will face the winners of tomorrows Quarter-Final between England and Italy. Both sides face a difficult battle to get to the Semi-Final and which ever side gets through will no doubt face an even tougher test against Germany.
Greece go home after exceeding expectations. After the first two games they looked dead and buried but a hard earned win over Russia was enough to get them to the last 8.
Greece have a gameplan & that gameplan is to spoil. On one hand they have to be credited as they reached a European Championship Quarter-Final playing that way and won it 8 years ago in much the same way. However, as a football fan, it's not good to watch & I can't see too many neutrals shedding any tears now that Greece have been eliminated.
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