Greece want to spread joy amid debt crisis
Reuters - Wednesday 06 June 2012, 17:04
Greece are determined to lift the
mood back home during Euro 2012 with the country's huge debt
woes causing worry and fear, striker Giorgos Samaras said on
Wednesday.
"I don't like to say big words or throw promises around," he
told a news conference. "We are all thinking about the [deciding
Euro qualifier] against Croatia and how we managed to help
people celebrate and escape from their daily problems for a
while.
"That is what we will try to do again. I do not know how far
we will go and what we can do but with our joy of playing
football we want to give joy to Greeks.
"We are a young team and the atmosphere in the squad is
outstanding and that is where everything starts."
Euro 2004 champions Greece face co-hosts Poland in the
tournament's opening game in Warsaw on Friday.
Eight years ago Greece caused a huge surprise by claiming an
unlikely success in Portugal, while also riding a wave of
enthusiasm ahead of the Athens Olympics a month later.
Now, the country is on the brink of bankruptcy and with talk
of a potential euro zone exit swirling, is facing a second
general election in less than two months with sharp austerity
measures angering Greeks.
"I see all the messages we get sent from our fans and that
is additional motivation for us," said defender Avraam
Papadopoulos. "We want to make the people happy who are with us
during good times as well as bad times."