Greece relishes Germany clash
Every once in a while a sports tournaments pits two nations against each other for whom the confrontation could not be more timely.
Greece progressed from the Euro 2012 group stage against all expectations and will play Germany on Friday for a place in the semifinals. In Athens, the soccer clash is being relished.
"Get us Merkel now," screamed several sport web sites, once the meeting with Germany was clear.
"Bring it on," said Greek newspaper "Sport Day".
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is a deeply unpopular figure in Greece for the tough austerity principles she has imposed on the country mired in debt, in deep recession where optimism about the future is in short supply.
After weeks of political turmoil voters on Sunday gave parties supporting a bailout a slim parliamentary majority, to the rest of the euros zone's intense relief.
"This is the classical case of a football match that will carry a meaning that goes well beyond sport," said Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, a German of Greek descent who is a centrist member of the European Parliament.
"The atmosphere is reminiscent of World War Two," he told Italian daily La Stampa, referring to the military conflict that tore Europe apart in which Nazi Germany occupied Greece.
Germany's Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle took a more diplomatic view.
"It will be a German-Greek football party," he said.
CELEBRATE IN THE STREET
With several dangerously indebted nations competing in the tournament, Europe's economic crisis has constantly lurked in the background as politicians from all countries hope success on the pitch can lift the national gloom.
Several football coaches have given bemused or irritated responses when questioned about euro zone austerity programmes when they would rather talk about tactics.
Among the euro zone countries struggling hardest with debt, Portugal and Greece have secured quarterfinal berths. Spain and Italy hoped to do the same later on Monday. For Ireland, two lost matches meant their tournament dreams were over.
A group of Ireland fans won Internet fame when posing with a banner saying "Angela Merkel thinks we are working".
The Greek team, which staged the largest upset of the tournament in knocking out Russia 1-0 to earn their quarterfinal spot, know the joy they are bringing to their country.
"The most important thing for us is to give some happiness to the Greek people, that's all, to make them celebrate in the street, given everything that is going on," midfielder Giannis Maniatis said on Monday.
The team have faced widespread mockery, such as a cartoon of a Greek player jumping to catch and pocket a euro coin flipped by the referee, or a Greek team in jerseys emblazoned with a German eagle, suggesting Germany is their sponsor.
Greek conservative leader Antonis Samaras, who won Sunday's election and who wants to renegotiate Greece's bailout deal was jokingly asked if he would also negotiate with Angela Merkel about the match.
"No, this is not negotiable," he laughed.
Top-selling German daily Bild which has often ribbed Greece by handing out drachmas in Athens - the country's pre-euro currency - or suggesting the country sell an island, is readying for the battle.
"The Greek team is rubbish compared to world-class stars. The Greek players are shelf warmers whose time is up. But this team has got something which they didn't learn from training. Their country is in a state of emergency. They have to help their country," wrote Franz Josef Wagner.
"Their country is fighting a losing battle. A losing battle is a place for heroes. The Greeks played so their country could rise from the ashes and smile again."
