Greece dash Russian hopes

The Greeks took the lead just before the halftime whistle when Giorgos Karagounis sent a low shot under Russia goalkeeper Vyacheslav Malafeev with the final touch of the first 45 minutes.
"The moments are pure magic for all of us. This is a great night for all Greeks," Karagounis said. "I thank God for living these moments. I cannot describe how I feel. It's so great."
The win put the Greeks into the next round, where they could face Germany in a politically charged match that would bring the financial crisis onto the field at Euro 2012. Greece will vote for a new government on Sunday amid a financial crisis that has threatened its membership in the eurozone. Germany has put pressure on any new government to accept strict austerity measures and stand by promises to international creditors.
On Friday, however, it will be back to football in Gdansk for a shot at the semifinals.
"What inspires us is Greece's history. That inspires me a lot," said Greece coach Fernando Santos, who is Portuguese. "The Greeks have great pride and they have earned respect from everyone. History democracy, science, values â€" it all started in Greece."
Karagounis, playing his national record-tying 120th international match, will miss the quarterfinals after getting a yellow card for diving. The Greece captain thought he won a penalty when he made contact with Sergei Ignashevich in the area, but Swedish referee Jonas Eriksson instead booked him.
Playing without Karagounis in the next round will be a big loss for the Greeks, but doesn't matter much right now.
"We are proud that we gave the people back home some joy and a break from their problems â€" even for a short while," Greece striker Georgios Samaras said. "We did very well defensively, but the will we had was the main thing. That stopped them from scoring goals.
"I'm not concerned with who we play next, it's just great to have done this."
Russia had been the overwhelming favorite going into the match at the National Stadium, but it was again guilty of squandering chances. The Russians finished the match with 25 shots on goal, while Greece managed only five.
"We should have won by a wide margin tonight but we didn't. My compliments to Greece," Russia coach Dick Advocaat said. "A number of players weren't sharp enough to score."
The Russians became one of the tournament favorites with their 4-1 win over the Czech Republic in their opening match, but then drew with Poland and finally lost to Greece, snapping a 16-match unbeaten run.
"We did go forward, were very attacking. We played well, but you have to score goals," Advocaat said. "We did that in first game and despite all the possession today we didn't do that today."
Russian players dejectedly tramped off the field immediately after the final whistle, while Greece's euphoric players hugged one another and then celebrated with fans.
"What I'm feeling is overwhelming. I think we did deserve more, but it didn't happen," Malafeev said. "To concede that goal just before halftime was an awful feeling."
Earlier, Giorgos Tzavelas nearly gave Greece a two-goal cushion when he curled the free kick over the Russian wall in the 70th minute but saw the ball slam against the top of the post. And Michalis Sifakis then ensured his team would advance when he saved a close-range shot by substitute Pavel Pogrebnyak in second-half injury time.
Russia came close several times in the first half, but even as the team laid siege to the Greek goal it was largely restricted to long-range efforts after the break as it went after the equalizer.
Russia forward Alan Dzagoyev came close in the 84th minute with a glancing header off a cross from Andrei Arshavin, but the ball drifted just wide.
Greece, knowing it needed a win to progress after a draw and a loss in its first two Euro 2012 matches, started the match with a defensive set up aimed at stifling Russia's passing game in the midfield. Russia only needed a draw to reach the quarterfinals.
As the minutes drew down, the Greek fans sang the national anthem and the Russians lit of flares and walked out of the stadium.
"We gave joy to all the Greeks, and that's great," Santos said. "We are definitely satisfied."