More pain for Greeks, Merkel jubilant at Euro 2012

The Associated Press

AP Photo/Frank Augstein
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, right, reacts beside UEFA President Michel Platini, left, prior to the kick-off of the Euro 2012 soccer championship quarterfinal match between Germany and Greece in Gdansk, Poland, Friday, June 22, 2012.

GDANSK, Poland (AP) — Greeks whistled and jeered at Angela Merkel, but the German chancellor had the last laugh, jumping to her feet in joy every time her team scored.

After a year in which the Greek economy imploded and Germany insisted on deep austerity measures in return for bailout funds, Greek soccer fans were yearning for a victory on the playing field. It would've restored some pride and allowed the Greeks to have the upper hand, even just for a day.

It wasn't meant to be. In their European Championship quarterfinal match, as in the crisis-hit eurozone economy, German influence proved tough for Greece to overcome and the final score was 4-2.

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June 22, 2012

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1. Philip Vorgias wrote on June 22, 2012 10:11 PM	Merkel is a partisan German fan, no question. Reflects her attitude, which is more that of a German than a european-IMO.

2. Niko Seretis wrote on June 23, 2012 12:25 AM	Agreed Philip. Watching her rejoice made me want to vomit.

3. Philip Vorgias wrote on June 23, 2012 7:49 AM	Me to, Niko. I'm critical of Greek governments and economic policy, but my blood runs blue and white. I wanted to smash a pie in her smirking face during that game.
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Friday, May 24, 2013 Last Update: 6:29 AM ET