?Greece played to a 1-1 draw with the tournament’s home team Poland in
the opening match of the Euro 2012 tournament. Poland took the lead in
the 17th minute with a goal from Robert Lewandoski. Things went worse
for Greece when defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos was controversially
sent off for a second yellow card offense against Rafal Murawski.
Dimitris Salpigidis, subbed in at the half, got Greece back in the game
with an equalizer just six minutes in. He was later taken down in the
box by Polish keeper Wojciech Szcz?sny, earning Szcz?sny a red card and
Greece a penalty. With both teams down to 10 men and a penalty
opportunity, Greece might have taken the match then and there, but the
hurriedly subbed-in second keeper Przemys?aw Tyto? saved the kick of
Giorgos Karagounis. Despite Greece’s failure to capitalize on this
advantage, the draw represents a greater defeat for Poland’s team,
playing on home ground.
Greece made its first appearance in the Euro tournament in 1980 and in
the World Cup in 1994. Their victory over Portugal in the 2004 Euro
final was one of the biggest upsets the football world has ever seen,
but since then, the team has yet to live up to that glorious moment.
Presently ranked by FIFA at 15, Greece’s national team is led by former
Portuguese footballer Fernando Santos, who said his team was in good
spirits leading into the tournament. Can Greece repeat the magic of
their 2004 victory? It’s early days, and anything could happen. Greece’s
next match opposite Group A opponent the Czech Republic will be on June
12.
