Greece Dash Russian Hopes, Czechs Progress
Greece on Saturday pulled off a shock 1-0 win to advance to the Euro 2012 knockout stages at the expense of opponents Russia, while the Czech Republic beat Poland by the same score to win Group A and dump the co-hosts out of the tournament.
A goal two minutes into first half injury time by veteran Greece captain Giorgos Karagounis was all it took to take Fernando Santos' side through -- and send the 4,000-strong travelling Greece fans, plus hundreds of thousands back home, wild.
Euro 2004 winners Greece finish second in Group A ahead of Russia on the head-to-head rule while the Czechs ended top with six points after Petr Jiracek scored the only goal 18 minutes from time to beat the Poles in Wroclaw.
Russia, who had an estimated 20,000 fans in the National Stadium, finished an agonizing third, with Poland propping up the table after two draws and a defeat.
The Greek win sets up a potential tie with Germany if they win Group B in a tie loaded with symbolism given the eurozone crisis and Berlin's pressure on Athens for tough austerity measures to combat crippling debt.
"I believe that this (win) tonight puts a smile on their faces... we're happy we managed to do this for Greece, for our country, for Greeks all over the world," Karagounis told a news conference.
In Warsaw, Dick Advocaat's Russia, with four points in the bag, had been favorites to qualify and needed just a draw to progress if the Czech Republic-Poland match ended with honors even.
But Russia found themselves a goal down after a defensive blunder from Sergei Ignashevich, who failed to get proper contact on a headert, allowing the ball to drop to Karagounis, who gratefully fired past Vyacheslav Malafeev.
Greece held on for the win but Panathinaikos midfielder Karagounis will miss the quarter-final after he was booked for diving in the Russian box in a decision he later questioned.
In Wroclaw, Poland dominated the first half but were a different team in the second, with another mistake costing the home side dearly, ending their hopes of qualifying for the knock-out stages for the first time.
Lech Poznan midfielder Rafal Murawski tried to drive forward from midfield, as the Poles pushed for a win, but lost the ball with little cover behind him, allowing in Wolfsburg midfielder Petr Jiracek for the only goal on 72 minutes.
Poland coach Franciszek Smuda announced he was quitting as manager after the game and three years in charge.
Elsewhere, Croatia were facing a possible stiff penalty after UEFA said it was taking action over racist chanting against Italy's Mario Balotelli during the two countries' Group C match in Poznan on Thursday.
UEFA's Disciplinary and Control Board will discuss the case on Tuesday but the sanction is being watched closely given European football's frequent assertion that it has a "zero tolerance" policy on racism.
Croatia, already in the dock after missiles and fireworks were thrown in their match against Ireland, could face a heavy penalty, with Russia facing having six points docked from the Euro 2016 qualifying if their fans misbehave.
The Croatian Football Federation appealed for leniency and said it backed UEFA's efforts to stamp out anything that tarnishes the game's image, publicly distancing itself from and condemning "all deviant behavior".
"The Croatian Football Federation appeals to UEFA not to punish the Croatian national team... and not to associate it with a section of fans who actually are not supporters but hooligans," it said.
UEFA has received two other complaints of alleged racist chanting, one also aimed at Balotelli, and is investigating. The European governing body and host nations have denied claims that far-right gangs are rife at their football grounds.
Source: Agence France Presse
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://mobile.naharnet.com/stories/en/43713 |