Day Nine

Greece 1 Russia 0

Czech Republic 1 Poland 0

The final games in each group are played simultaneously, because otherwise the teams in the second match would know exactly what they had to do to qualify, which would give them an unfair advantage. It's the most equitable approach, and in modern corporate football any attempt to be equitable can only be applauded, but it does pose a challenge for bloggers in the habit of watching entire games uninterrupted, then writing about them.

As both games are televised on different channels, the usual thing is to watch one game, whilst occasionally flicking to the other. I decided to bring you the Czech Republic against Poland, as it seemed likely to be the most significant game.

Poland needed to win or they were out, but the Czech Republic would get through with a draw, unless Greece beat Russia. This being considered about as likely as the banks bailing us out, it was expected that Poland would make most of the running.

So it proved early on. Pilar did have a good chance for the Czechs after 4 minutes, but after that it was all Poland in the first half. Lewandowski pounced on a loose pass, but his shot crashed into the side netting. Polanski and Boenisch both had efforts, Boenisch forcing Cech to push it around for a corner. You started to wonder if Cech had any more major errors in him.

The Czechs weren't getting forward much, but in the 37th minute Baros nearly got onto a lobbed ball alone in the box. It wasn't quite apparent how he missed it, but in the event it came tamely through to Tyton. Two minutes later a deflected shot bounced kindly to him as well, then he slightly fumbled a Pilar shot, but recovered before Baros could reach it. None of this really stretched him, it just served to keep him fresh and focused.

I turned over to Greece v Russia at halftime, and was lucky enough to see the Greek captain Karagounis score against Russia, apparently completely out of the blue. Karagounis just took the ball from a poor defensive header from Ignashevich on the touchline, ran it into the penalty area and shot under the keeper.

This changed the whole strategic balance of the group. It meant that as things stood, Russia would top the group with Greece in second place. The Czechs started the second half much more offensively than they finished the first. You felt that when they had the necessary incentive they were a far more potent attacking force than Poland, who also still needed to win.

The third round is always the most exciting part of the group phase. Teams make plans, they run routines on the training ground and bring them out onto the pitch, they get halfway through a game and then suddenly they have to do an instant doubletake because of events somewhere else. No-one had expected Greece to do anything against Russia, and here they were a goal up.

I switched back over, but the football had been replaced by some theatre. It was Aeschylus' Oedipus trilogy, the scene where the protagonist, realising what he's done, is about to tear out his eyes with his mother's brooch pin. He rends his hair, a rictus of despair carved into his motherlicking face. Oh no, it was just Karagounis again. He looked a little upset.

It turned out that he'd had a penalty denied, been booked for dissent (or possibly simulation) and would now miss the quarter final even if Greece qualified. Just to add to the tragedy, it would have been the game that made him Greece's most capped player. It was fortunate that Aeschylus is safely in his grave, for the horror would surely have overwhelmed him.

The Greek manager substituted him for Makos. It seemed for the best. Firing one last expletive in the ref's direction, he handed the captain's armband to Katsouranis and left.

I turned back to see the Czechs take the lead against Poland. Hubschman stole the ball from Murawski, ran it up to the box and laid it off to Baros. He played a one-two with Jiracek, jinked to the right and blasted home.

Suddenly the Czechs were top of the group, and Greece were second. The Russians were out because now the Czechs had scored they were head to head only with Greece, who were beating them, and not with the Czechs, who they'd beaten.

It was hard to know which game to follow, it was all so tight. I found myself flicking randomly between games every time the ball in the game I was watching went dead. Poland needed two goals to win, one goal to take it from the Czechs and give it to Russia. They were the only team who'd never been on to go through all evening, but they were still trying.

So were Russia. On one visit I saw Arshavin get his head to the ball from a Carroll-like distance. Going for direction rather than neck-busting force, he saw it flash just wide.

I stuck with them for the last five minutes. Greece were under almost constant pressure at the end, but they stood firm, held the line and got their reward. Let's hope the same happens in their election. Of course, there's one killing irony, which is that they'll now most likely be knocked out by Germany.

For Poland it was the end of the line. Even a late equaliser wouldn't have helped them, it would just have given Russia back the top spot. As things finished, the two winning teams are the two qualifiers from the group.

So one home nation is eliminated. Ukraine are also out unless they can beat England. If they did, England would be out unless France lost to Sweden by more goals. Everyone but France wants Sweden to get a hatful, but realistically England's progress depends on putting out the last host.

Greece and the Czech Republic play two from Germany (likely), Denmark and Portugal (50/50) and Holland (unlikely). We'll find out their opponents tomorrow, or as it's known in real time, today.