LEGIONOWO, Poland — Greece coach Fernando Santos says his players are thriving on their "life-or-death" matches at the European Championship as they prepare to face a rampant Germany in the quarterfinals.
From the verge of elimination from the tournament, Greece managed to beat Russia
1-0 in their last Group A game. Santos said the need to win that match
helped his players overcome their earlier lapses in concentration.
Friday’s
game between Greece and Germany in Gdansk will be played amid a wave of
resentment among many Greeks in the crisis-hit country over harsh
bailout terms, which are backed by lead rescue creditor Germany.
Pro-bailout conservatives in Greece won a narrow victory Sunday in bitterly contested general elections.
