Euro 2012: Greece 1-0 Russia – Russians Head Home After Greek Drama In Warsaw (Photos & Highlights)

Alan Duffy

16th, June 2012

12 Comments

By Alan Duffy

Greece pulled off a genuine shock in Warsaw on Saturday night, defeating group favourites Russia 1-0, a result which put the unfancied Galanolefki through to the last eight at the expense of both Russia and hosts Poland.

Russia came into the game knowing that a draw would be enough to see them through, but despite the prompting of Andrei Arshavin and Alan Dzagoev, they couldn’t get that vital goal.

Star of the show was the Greeks was veteran playmaker Giorgos Karagounis, who bagged the only goal of the game on half-time.

After the break, the former Inter Milan midfielder should have earned his side a penalty kick after he was blatantly tripped in the box. However, referee Jonas Eriksson made a right dog’s dinner of the decision, erroneously booking the Greek captain for diving instead. That booking sees the legendary schemer miss the knockout stages.

As for Russia, they badly missed a proper world class centre-forward, with the likes of Pavlyuchenko, Kerzhakov and Pogrebniak all unable to produce a moment of magic.

So the unfancied Greeks go through to the last eight (along with the Czech Republic) while Russia go home (along with Poland) after a thoroughly inconsistant tournament.

Photos…

Highlights to follow…

Photos: PA

Posted in Euro 2012, Videos

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12 Comments

  1. fouldsy says:

    didnt know that the euros dont use goal difference! not sure if thats fair or unfair….

  2. Terry Shedingham says:

    I’m not sure the ref got it as wrong as everyone’s making out. There was something suspect about the way Karagounis went down and I’m sure he could’ve stayed on his feet if he’d really wanted to.

  3. SS says:

    His name is Giorgos not Giorgios…..

  4. dc says:

    i need a gif/video of Karagounis’s reactions after he was booked– all 5 minutes, please… the most entertaining thing ive seen in world football in the last year, and one of the greatest greek tragedy performances since oedipus rex

  5. zamboni says:

    http://cjzero.com/gifs/KaragounisFace.gif

    Typical Karagounis.. He’s 35 and still can’t handle a referee’s decision calmly, without his childish antics…

  6. Wynton says:

    Greece being in the quarter final is a fucking joke.

  7. Nuno says:

    I think someone should show Karagounis’ goal to Balotelli, and tell him that’s what you’re supposed to do in that position, instead of falling asleep and wait for the defender.

  8. Swiss Mafia says:

    Since they are not using goal difference, can anyone tell me what they use to figure out who goes through? Is it the result between the to teams which share the same amount of points? (In this case Greece because the beat Russia 1-0).
    I can’t find it anywhere. Any input would be appreciated, Thanks!

  9. Nuno says:

    @fouldsy
    Euro’s first tie-braker criteria is the game(s) between the teams tied. I think that’s as fair as you get. Goal difference may be biased by more goals against weaker teams or against a team already eliminated in the third round. If it’s the best teams that should go through, you can’t get a best tie-breaker than a game between those two teams.

  10. Nuno says:

    @Swiss Mafia
    http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=2012/format/index.html
    Point 8.07:
    1) Points in games between teams tied
    2) Goal Average in games between teams tied
    3) Goals scored in games between teams tied
    4) Overall group goal average
    5) Overall group goals scored
    6) Position in UEFA ranking
    7) Fair Play
    8) Draw
    The fact that the UEFA coefficients are ahead of fair play is very stupid, but the rest seems pretty fair to me.

  11. Humding says:

    The Greece fan dressed as a philosopher was awesome!

  12. Michael_D says:

    @dc – Karagounis’ reaction to his booking was epic, I was laughing heartily at it for a solid 5 minutes. To be fair, it was a crap decision, and particularly as it happened in clear view of the line official who could’ve/should’ve clarified it to the main official, who didn’t have the best view of the incident. It was tragic in that instead of earning a penalty that would’ve sealed the deal for the Greeks, he’s booked and will miss their next match. Shame

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