Greece goalkeeper Michalis Sifakis, bottom, stops Russia's Yuri Zhirkov during the Euro 2012 soccer championship Group A match between Greece and Russia in Warsaw, Poland, Saturday, June 16, 2012. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
June 16, 2012 - 4:43 PM
WARSAW, Poland - Giorgos Karagounis put Greece into the European Championship quarterfinals Saturday, scoring just before halftime to give the 2004 European champions a 1-0 victory over Russia.
Karagounis, in his record-tying 120th international appearance, sent a low shot under Russia goalkeeper Vyacheslav Malafeev with the final touch of the first half. The Greeks then did what they do best: defend.
Even as the Greeks closed down at the back, Karagounis looked to have won a penalty when Sergei Ignashevich appeared to have brought him down in the area, but Swedish referee Jonas Eriksson instead booked the Greece captain for a dive, meaning he will miss the quarterfinals.
News from © The Associated Press, 2012