?The Greek football team was eliminated from the 2012 Euro Cup June 22 in a semifinal clash with rival Germany in Gdansk, Poland. The 4-2 win for Germany put that side into the semifinals and sent the Greek team home.
As sad as the quarterfinal loss was for Greece, the team can hold their heads high after a great run up to that point. Greece was placed in Group A, along with co-hosts Poland, the Czech Republic, and Russia, who were the favorites to win the group.
Greece won the Euro Cup in 2004, and drew the hearts of fans around the world into the tournament this time around. Could the team repeat the heroics of 2004? The odds were against them, but after impressive play in Group A there was hope.
The opening match of Euro 2012 featured Greece playing Poland to a 1-1 in Warsaw. That gave each side one point, to advance would take a win. The Greek team played a defensive style of counter attacking football that was impressive.
The big test came when Greece faced Russia June 16. The Russians were atop Group A at the time, and the Greek team could not advance without a win. The strong Greek defense shocked the favorites in a 1-0 win.
Greece played the tournament in the shadow of the economic problems facing the country, and the fact that they faced Germany in the quarterfinals had that subtext. Germany's political leadership stands strongly behind the austerity measures Greeks were forced to accept in order to receive a bailout. Press and fans on both sides used the match as a platform for voicing political concerns.
In the end, Greece went home with a good overall performance but a bitter disappointment in the quarterfinals.
