Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live commentary of tonight's Euro 2012 quarter-final between Germany and Greece in Gdansk.
Germany are the only team at Euro 2012 to win all their matches thusfar. They also triumphed in all 10 qualifying encounters – making it 14 wins in a row in competitive international fixtures.
Meanwhile, Greece provided arguably the shock of the tournament by eliminating Russia to claim second spot in Group A.
Greece have never beaten Germany, however, with the 2004 winners losing five and drawing three of their eight previous matches against the the Mannschaft.
> Full team news for the match
21.40Germany will face either Italy or England in the semi-finals. Sports Mole's full report of the match can be found here. Thanks for joining us for the coverage!
21.38So there we have it. Germany book their spot in the semi-finals of Euro 2012 with a 4-2 win over Greece. Truth be told, the Germans dominated from the onset and perhaps should have led 3-0 within the opening 15 minutes. It took until the 39th minute for Phillip Lahm to hand them the lead, as they entered the break ahead. Greece grabbed an unlikely equaliser early in the second period, but Germany well and truly secured the win with strikes from Sami Khedira, Miroslav Klose and Marco Reus. Greece did add a consolation via Dimitris Salpingidis from the spot late on, but it was far too little far too late.
FULL-TIMEGermany 4-2 Greece
90 minGreece have their second. Meanwhile, we will play an additional two minutes.
89 minSalpingidis converts from the spot after Boateng had handled in the area.
89 minGOAL! Germany 4-2 Greece (Salpingidis)
88 minPenalty to Greece!
87 minThere's more goals in this one if Germany want them. But instead they continue to pass the match away. Who can blame them?
85 minWonderful challenge from Hummels as takes possession away from Samaras. They are just so solid in defence.
83 minGreece are enjoying a rare spell with the ball in the latter stages. It's almost like a training match now.
81 minGermany continue to keep possession as the match approaches its latter stages. It might have been five with a strike from Ozil, but the Greek stopper palmed the ball away.
79 minHere comes Mario Gomez as he replaces Klose who got his goal this evening. Meanwhile, Reus is replaced by Mario Gotze.
77 minAll of this without their best striker Mario Gomez? Oh my word. Italy or England beware!
75 minWow, it has been some response for the Germans. That of winners.
75 minWow, it has been some response for the Germans. That of winners.
74 minIt's four for Germany and this time it's Reus who thumps an effort home after Sifakis had denied Klose from close range.
74 minGOAL! Germany 4-1 Greece (Reus)
72 minLiberopoulos strikes from distance with his first touch, but it was always moving too wide. Germany continue to keep the ball.
71 minChange for Greece as Makos is replaced by Nikos Liberopoulos.
71 minSurely it is just a case of how many now as Germany continue to flood forward.
69 minIt might have been four as Muller finds Klose in the box, but this time it's good goalkeeping from Sifakis.
68 minIt's three for Germany as Klose meets an Ozil cross to thump a header past Sifakis.
68 minGOAL! Germany 3-1 Greece (Klose)
67 minChange for Germany as Schurrle is replaced by Thomas Muller.
66 minChance for Greece as Papadopoulos meets a Gekas corner, but he just heads over.
64 minYou just get the feeling that Greece needed to hang on for the next 10-15 minutes. But they couldn't. Surely they cannot score another?
63 minImmediate chance for Greece to level it at 2-2 as Gekas turns on the edge of the box. However, he fires it high and wide. What a match we have on our hands.
61 minIt's brilliant from Boateng as he searches out Khedira in the box, and the midfielder rattles the ball home with a wonderful volley.
61 minGOAL! Germany 2-1 Greece (Khedira)
60 minIt's poor from Schurrle as he curls the ball straight over the bar. The Greek fans are having a serious party here.
58 minThe goal has clearly angered Germany as they continue to push bodies forward. That must do it all again.
56 minThere's only around 5,000 Greek fans in the stadium. But it sounds like 500,000. What an atmosphere.
56 minFootball ay?! Unreal! You just cannot write it.
55 minGreece level it! And it's that man Samaras as he coverts at the far post after a brilliant cross from Salpingidis.
55 minGOAL! Germany 1-1 Greece (Samaras)
54 minHowever, Germany advance straight down the other end and come close with an effort from Klose.
54 minGreece threaten on the counter as Samaras and Gekas combine deep in the German half. That will certainly give them some encouragement.
52 minIt's poor from Sifakis as he kicks the ball straight to Schurrle. However, the move breaks down at the vital moment. Really sloppy from the Greek goalkeeper.
50 minAnother chance for Germany as Ozil finds the head of Holger Badstuber in the box. However, Torosidis clears the danger.
48 minIt's brilliant from Klose as he beats two Greek defenders to win a corner for his side. What pace for a 34-year-old!
47 minNormal service is resumed as Germany start the second half on the attack.
46 minDouble change for Greece as Fanis Gekas and Giorgos Fotakis replace Tzavellas and Ninis. Germany get us underway in the second period.
20.48A word from former Wales midfielder Robbie Savage on Twitter: "Greece are shocking, Germans have been sloppy!"
20.47Here's a stat courtesy of Opta: Germany had 82% possession in the first half, with 15 attempts on goal to Greece's two. Wow!
20.35So there we have it. Germany lead Greece 1-0 at the break courtesy of a wonderful swerving strike from Philipp Lahm five minutes before the interval. Truth be told, the Germans have dominated from the word go, and certainly should be further ahead after passing up a series of glorious chances throughout the half. Can Greece respond in the second period?
HALF-TIMEGermany 1-0 Greece
45 min+3So nearly three on the stroke of the interval as Schurrle strikes from distance, but it rattled the side-netting.
45 min+2Greek boss Santos continues to watch through his fingers. He can hardly bare to look as Germany end the half on the attack.
45 minWe will play an additional three minutes at the end of the half.
44 minPass, pass, pass for Germany as the half reaches its conclusion.
42 minNormal service is resumed as Germany continue to move forward in search of the second. They have simply dominated this one thus far.
40 minIt has been coming. What do the Greeks do now?
39 minGermany finally lead and it's Philipp Lahm who finds the top corner with a swerving effort outside the box. Just brilliant.
39 minGOAL! Germany 1-0 Greece (Lahm)
38 minFor all Germany's domination. We remain 0-0. And that is the only stat that matters.
36 minChance! So nearly for Germany as Ozil finds Khedira in the box, but again Sifakis beats the ball to safety.
36 minGreece have 11 men behind the ball as the half draws to a close.
34 minIt's brilliant from Schurrle as he turns away from Vasilis Torosidis, but his effort is just wide of the post.
32 minRare Greek attack as Samaras finds Ninis. However, the winger's shot is collected by Neuer. That's better from the Greeks.
30 minGermany have had 73% possession so far. Wow.
29 minGreece continue to drop deeper and deeper as the 30 minute mark approaches. They have well and truly parked the bus.
27 minStill the Greeks hang on as Germany continue to flood forward. Surely it has to come soon?
25 minAgain Germany come close as Reus strikes from inside the box - but he just could not find the top corner. Reus has been very very good thus far.
24 minAnother chance for Germany as Schurrle struck across the box. However, Klose just could not make contact.
23 minChance! So nearly for Germany after wonderful play from Reus who found Ozil in the box. However, Sifakis palms the ball to safety.
22 minGermany continue to pass and probe around the Greek box, just waiting for that opening. Ozil has been heavily involved in the early stages.
20 minIt's good running from Samaras as he carries the ball to safety and wins a throw for the Greeks. He gives everything for the team that is for certain.
18 minIt's really nice work from Kostas Katsouranis as he robs Schurrle of possession. However, there is just no out-ball for the Greeks at the moment.
16 minAnother chance for Germany as Jerome Boateng searches out Khedira in the box. However, it was just too long for the Real Madrid man.
15 minSamaras receives the first booking of the night as he rattles into Bastian Schweinsteiger. It wasn't a great challenge.
13 minGermany flood forward once more with Reus and Klose combining. However, Greece manage to clear the danger.
12 minThe pitch doesn't look great this evening truth be told. It is cutting up already.
12 minGermany continue to dominate possession in the early stages and Reus might have found the corner of the net after a wonderful ball from Khedira. However, it was just wide.
10 minA word from Spain defender Gerard Pique on Twitter: "Watching Germany-Greece! What do u think about game? I think Germany will win 2-0!"
9 minGreek boss Santos holds his head in his hands. But they remain level.
8 minGreece register their first effort of the match as Grigoris Makos strikes from distance. However, Manuel Neuer was always comfortable.
6 minSighter for Khedira as he strikes from outside the box. However, it was always moving high of the target.
6 minI'm not too sure if Greece have actually had the ball thus far. It's all Germany.
5 minIt could quite easily be 3-0 to Germany after just five minutes. Honestly.
4 minGermany have the ball in the net as Schurrle converts from close range after Michalis Sifakis had palmed Khedira's strike into the box. What a start.
2 minIt's another wonderful chance for Germany as Reus plays a wonderful ball to Klose. However, the Lazio man slipped at the vital moment. It could be two already.
1 minImmediate chance for Germany as Ozil searches out Klose in the box. However, the striker had just strayed offside. Sign of things to come?
1 minWell that was strange, kickoff had to be restarted with the referee unhappy. We are indeed underway now.
1 minHere we go then. Greece get us underway.
19.44Let's have a final thought from me shall we? I'm going for Germany 3-0 Greece. If the Greeks concede early, then they are in trouble.
19.42... now it's Germany's turn.
19.41It's time for the national anthems. Greece first...
19.40Economics aside, tonight is about football. The way it should be.
19.40Both sets of players are emerging onto the pitch. Five minutes to go.
19.38Pretty much every single person is backing the Germans this evening. Are there any Greek backers out there?
19.36Right, we are barely 10 minutes away from kickoff. No time for nerves now!
19.34Meanwhile, Reus bagged 21 goals for Borussia Monchengladbach last season. Not too bad for second choice ay?!
19.32What about Germany's two new attackers this evening? Well, Schurrle scored nine goals for Bayer Leverkusen last season. He also has seven goals in 16 caps for his country.
19.30Giannis Maniatis is also certain to play a key role for Greece this evening. He will seemingly be given the job of picking up Mesut Ozil. Not the easiest of jobs I must admit!
19.28Remember, the winner of tonight's match will face either England or Italy in the semi-finals. Some prize at stake!
19.26The onus therefore falls on Georgios Samaras and Ninis to provide the attacking threat. The Greeks also boast arguably one of the finest young defenders in world football in Kyriakos Papadopoulos.
19.24Right, let's take a look at the Greeks. Karagounis is certain to be a huge miss for them this evening. He has sensational in their win over Russia.
19.22So by the looks of it, if Germany take the lead tonight then they will win won't they? In theory, yes. But as we all know, football has a funny way of producing the unexpected.
19.20A word from former England defender Danny Mills: "Greece have only lost twice in 24 games and that is phenomenal, whoever you are playing against. They had trouble against the Czechs, when their back four struggled, and they don't score enough goals but they are still in the tournament clinging on. Whether they can beat Germany, I am not too sure," he told the BBC.
19.18Germany have quite remarkably not fallen behind in a competitive match since the third-place play-off against Uruguay at the 2010 World Cup. But records are there to be broken right?
19.16What do we think of the decision to start Klose this evening then? It perhaps shouldn't be much of a surprise. After all, Klose has scored 63 goals in 119 caps. Not too shabby!
19.14Meanwhile, Low stated: "Logically we are favourites, but we can deal with that. But remember - knockout games have their own character so it will not be the case that the favourite automatically reaches the next round. We saw that in the group when Russia were the big favourites and we have all seen what happened. But if we show all of our inner strength and belief, then we are strong enough to beat the Greeks of course. I am convinced we will win."
19.12A word from Santos before the match. He told Sky Sports News: "I would like to seize this opportunity to say what an inspiration for us the 2004 success is. We showed great resolution and strength and we were written off before that tournament, but we still reached the final and won the cup. That should be a source of inspiration for us this time."
19.10The most recent matches between the two nations came in qualifying for the 2002 World Cup. Germany won both games, 2-0 in Hamburg and 4-2 in Athens.
19.08They have also scored in 21 of the 24 games under the leadership of boss Fernando Santos. Will that record be extended today?
19.08Meanwhile, Greece have scored just once in each of their last eight games - winning just twice. However, the Greeks do have form in this tournament, winning the trophy in 2004.
19.06Joachim Low's side against Denmark boasted an average age of just 25 years and 107 days - making it their youngest ever line-up at a European Championship.
19.04The Germans are also competing in their fifth European championship quarter-final. They have remarkably gone onto reach the final on each occasion.
19.04It would probably be fair to state that Germany have quickly emerged as many people's favourite for Euro 2012. They topped Group B with wins over Portugal, Netherlands and Denmark. Meanwhile, as mentioned, they have won their last 14 competitive matches.
19.02Meanwhile, Greece have handed a start to Sotiris Ninis in place of their banned skipper Giorgos Karagounis. Grigoris Makos also starts in place of Fanis Gekas.
19.02Germany have recalled Jerome Boateng for tonight's encounter. Meanwhile, Miroslav Klose surprisingly starts ahead of Mario Gomez. There is also no place for Thomas Muller and Lukas Podolski with Marco Reus and Andre Schurrle coming into the side.
19.00Team News: Greece: Sifakis; Torosidis, Sokratis, Papadopoulos, Tzavellas; Makos, Katsouranis, Maniatis, Ninis; Samaras, Salpingidis
19.00Team News: Germany: Neuer; Boateng, Hummels, Badstuber, Lahm; Khedira, Schweinsteiger Reus; Ozil, Schurrle, Klose
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