Greece beat Russia 1-0 to enter EURO CUP 2012 quarterfinals

Greece enters EURO CUP 2012 quarterfinals

Greece with the help of skipper Giorgos Karagounis only goal of the game ended Russia’s euro cup 2012 dream. Veteran Greece captain Giorgos Karagounis before the end of stoppage time in the first half dodged between the Russian rearguards fired a powerful low cross shot past goalkeeper Vyacheslav Malafeev at the Polish capital's modernistic national stadium.

Russia and Greece finished on four points behind Czech Republic, who topped the section on six points with their 1-0 win over eliminated co-hosts Poland, but it is Greece who progress on the head-to-head records between the two countries to the quarterfinals of the UEFA Euro Cup 2012.

Euro Cup 2004 winners Greece, who drew 1-1 with Poland in their Group A opening match and then lost 2-1 to the Czechs, looked the hungrier side from the start and refused to play a walk on part in Russia's expected drive to the quarter-finals.

Russia showed their strength as the half progressed, underlining the Greeks' vulnerability to counter-attacks.But Greece's defence remained solid at the end.Five minutes from half-time, Yuri Zhirkov took a superb short corner, only to shoot over the bar.With two minutes added on, Karagounis's strike came just seconds before Swedish referee Jonas Eriksson's half-time whistle.

 Greece were the more purposeful side in the second half and should have been awarded a penalty when Karagounis was somehow booked after appearing to be felled in the Russian area by Sergei Ignashevich around the hour-mark.

Karagounis will now miss a possible quarter-final against likely Group B winners Germany in Gdansk on Friday, but he had already contributed to the biggest upset of the tournament so far. He was replaced by Grigoris Makos on 67 minutes.

Giorgios Tzavellas also whacked a free-kick off the bar from 25 yards out on 70 minutes as Greece attempted to put breathing space between themselves and the Russians, who looked dazed at full-time.

The Czechs top Group A, but Greece celebrated like they had won the tournament at full-time.

Russia dominated large swathes of possession, but came up short on the night with their inability to penetrate Greece all too obvious.