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It's Germany 8, Greece 0 even before kick-off
Posted Friday, June 22, 2012 by YAHOO Sport

Germany could lose to Greece in an upset Euro 2012 football quarter final later on Friday, but in terms of what really matters these days it has already won 8-0.

 If you think it's all over, it is - at least economically speaking.

 On a broad range of measures - from economic growth to joblessness - Germany absolutely thrashes Greece. It is after all the fourth-largest economy in the world, worth around $3.6 trillion, compared with Greece's $303 billion.

 A comparative review of eight key measures by Reuters showed Germany "winning" on all counts - direction of economic growth, borrowing costs, debt to GDP, debt to deficit, unemployment, labor costs, current account balance, and manufacturing.

 The most painful comparison for Greeks is joblessness. During the debt crisis, the German unemployment rate has fallen to 5.4 percent, while Greece's has leapt to around 22 percent.

 Friday's game in the Polish city of Gdansk may end up being about pride. But Germany's overall triumph is assured.

Standings
    Rank Team W/D/L Pts

    Cities & Stadiums

    The Top 3 Teams of Previous Tournaments

    Year Winners Runner-up Third place
    2008SpainGermanyRussia / Turkey
    2004GreecePortugalNetherlands / Czech Republic
    2000FranceItalyNetherlands / Portugal
    1996GermanyCzech RepublicFrance / England
    1992DenmarkGermanyNetherlands / Sweden
    1988NetherlandsSoviet UnionItaly / West Germany
    1984FranceSpainDenmark / Portugal
    1980West GermanyBelgiumCzechoslovakia
    1976CzechoslovakiaWest GermanyNetherlands
    1972West GermanySoviet UnionBelgium
    1968ItalyYugoslaviaEngland
    1964SpainSoviet UnionHungary
    1960Soviet UnionYugoslaviaCzechoslovakia