Germany and Greece are the teams involved in tonights second Quarter-Final.
So far in the tournament Germany have looked impressive. They came through a tough group with nine points after victories over Portugal, Denmark & Holland.
The Germans were typically well organised, well balanced & efficient. Everything we have come to expect of a German side, Joachim Low's side have.
Low has managed to spring a surprise tonight with his team selection. Out go Muller, Podolski and Gomez and they are replaced by Reus, Schurrle and Klose. Whether this is confidence or arrogance I'm not really sure but I don't like it either way.
Germany are resounding favourites to win tonight but a European Championship Quarter-Final is not the time to rest players. If Germany win, their Semi-Final isn't until Thursday. That's a 6 day turnaround which is as good as it gets in a major tournament.
Germany played the same team throughout the group stage until suspension forced them to change it. They played every 4 days at the group stage so I really don't understand Joachim Lows thinking here.
Greece can count themselves very fortunate to have made it to the Quarter-Finals. They were terrible in their first two games. They managed a draw against Poland but they really should have been out of the game by half-time.
In the game against Czech Rep they were 2-0 down early & creating very little until Petr Cech gifted Gekas with an open goal to bring the game back to 2-1. Greece never really threatened again and the final score was 2-1.
This left Greece needing to beat Russia to reach the Quarter-Finals. Right at the end of a first half dominated by Russia, a slip by a Russian defender allowed Greece captain, Giorgos Karagounis a free run at goal and he wasn't to be denied. Another 45 minutes of Russian dominance and frantic Greek defending ensued & somehow when the final whistle blew Greece were in the last eight.
In tonights game Germany will be the aggressor. They will be met by a strong and resolute Greek defence. Greece will sit back and try to keep the game at 0-0 for as long as possible. In the interests of watching a good game, the Germans need to score an early goal. If Germany score early the Greeks will be forced to come out & play football. The longer it stays 0-0 the worse the game will be.
I do hope Germany win tonight as I'm not a fan of anti-football tactics & if Greece progress it will ruin a perfectly good Semi-Final. I expect Germany will be too strong but I do remember only too well what happened in the 2004 Quarter-Final when Greece met another strongly fancied nation.
Germany 2-0 Greece
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