Euro 2012 Man of the Day: Giorgos Karagounis

Greece’s prospects of qualifying for the last eight had looked as bleak as the current state of their economy, but in their hour of need, it was their captain that stepped up to the plate.

On the evidence of what had transpired in Group A before last night, it would have taken a brave man to predict that it would be Czech Republic and particularly Greece that would be the teams to progress from probably the weakest group in the tournament.

The Greeks benefitted from some horrendous goalkeeping from first Wojciech Szczesny and then Petr Cech to just be heading into the final group game with a distant shot of qualification, but against a Russian side who had looked imperious in their opening encounter, they weren’t given a chance.

Prior to the tournament, not many people gave Giorgos Karagounis a chance of making an impact either. Even in his own country, it was suggested that the only reason he was going to the Euros was so he could play three games and equal the record of Theo Zagorakis as the most capped Greek player of all time.

Karagounis did manage that against Russia last night, making his 120th appearance for his country, but he wasn’t there to make up the numbers, scoring the only goal of the game on the stroke of half-time to send the Russians packing and ensure that Greece were the most unlikely of quarter-finalists.

Karagounis will, in all likelihood, go out on his own as Greece’s most capped player against whomever they come against up from Group B and though they are unlikely to come through that one, he has already proved the doubters wrong.

Besides, nobody gave them a hope against Russia and look what happened then.

That’s a few days down the road yet, however. For now, we’ll let Karagounis bask in the glory of his goal, the Greek win and the far more prestigious honour of our McCoy’s Man of the Day award.