Soccer: Greece delight while Poland, Russia crash out at Euro 2012 - by John Doyle

It was important that co-host Poland stay in tournament. All that money spent on stadiums and infrastructure to showcase the country. If Poland itself had to drop out after just three games, then more than the feel-good factor would evaporate. Jobs lost, less money spent on meals, merchandise and beer.

Awkward questions being asked about billions spent on an event that turned into a fun time for somebody else.

Poland is out of the tournament, defeated 0-1 by the Czech Republic.  The co-hosts utterly controlled the first half, but for all the passion, running and attempts at scoring, the key weaknesses in the team was exposed - Poland was not equipped with enough speed in midfield to allow its strikers to take full advantage of scoring chances.

The small contingent of Greece supporters and media had justification for feeling left out of the fuss. This game against Russia had context for Greece too, coming the night before another crucial election there.

Even the financial markets were watching this game closely - some analysts predicted that if Greece won and stayed in the tournament, then the pro-austerity parties were more likely to win. And a global economic crisis averted. A handy side-effect, you might say.

Greece did win. And soundly, defeating a Russian team of vastly talented, deeply experienced players. And that is the most stunning, shock result of this tournament so far.  Greece used the same quiet, defensive determination it used to win Euro 2004, a waiting game relying on corners, free kicks and mistake by opposition to squeeze out a win.

Russia looked like strolling into the quarter-finals until Giorgios Karagounis scored on the cusp of half-time. All it took was a Yuri Zhirkov mistake and Karagounis pounced to fire a low shot into the net.

Greece stays in the Euro, the soccer tournament. Happiness in Athens and who knows what will happen from that? Poland is out of the Euro and Russia collapse. The Czechs do well, unexpectedly. All on a day when the stock markets aren't even open. Always, soccer games mean more than the game itself.

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