German forward Thomas Muller cooks a risotto with star chief Holger Stromberg (not in picture), the national team’s chef, after a press conference at media centre near the Dwor Oliwski hotel in Gdansk on Wednesday. — AFP photo

Germany midfielder Thomas Muller has said any talk of their Euro 2012 elimination at the hands of Greece in today’s quarter-final is unheard of in the German camp.
Germany are the only team at Euro 2012 with a 100 per cent record after winning the so-called ‘Group of Death’ with victories over Portugal, Holland and Denmark as Group B winners.
Greece are bidding for a second giant killing at the European championship having shocked Russia 1-0 to book their berth in the last eight clash at Arena Gdansk, but Muller said they can forget about pulling off another surprise.
‘Under no circumstances whatsoever,’ said the Bayern Munich midfielder when asked if he could accept defeat at the hands of the Euro 2004 winners.
‘If Greece throw us out of the tournament, we will have to accept it, but it’s not something I can dedicate a lot of time to.
‘We are success orientated and the word elimination is simply not in our vocabulary.
‘There would be huge disappointment, no doubt.’
Muller said Germany are too well prepared and too confident to lose to the Greeks, but Greece are sured to be fired up to reach the semi-finals.
The match is being played under the political spectre of the Eurozone financial crisis.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has provoked anger in Greece for leading the calls on Athens to impose tough austerity measures in return for financial assistance from Germany to help to bring down debt.
The Germans are keen to play down the game’s political background and Muller says they are ready for any potential banana skin.
‘I think we are focused and prepared enough, just as we have been in the last three matches, to go on the attack and work hard,’ said Muller.
‘I think the overall package will be good enough to beat Greece, but I am not a clairvoyant.’
Having come through the qualifying campaign with ten wins from ten, Muller said Germany deserve their reputation as one of the favourites, but that presents a new set of problems.
‘Greece, judging by experience, can be expected to sit deep and defend,’ he said.
‘In qualifying, we have worked hard for our reputation to be tournament favourites, which means teams we play against tend to play deep and not send out four forwards against us.
‘We know what to do and surely we will have to be patient.
‘Football matches aren’t beds of roses and we will have to work.’
With the knock-out phase to begin on Thursday, expectations are growing in football-mad Germany with the public desperate for Joachim Low’s team to win the nation’s fourth European title.
After Germany finished second at Euro 2008 and finished third at the last two World Cups, Low’s team need a title to realise their potential.
‘We have high expectations on us and we have set the bar high ourselves,’ said Muller with Germany based in Gdansk for the duration of Euro 2012.
‘It is a superb advantage for us to play in Gdansk, it is a superb venue and we won’t have to fly.
‘We expect a win of ourselves and we want to progress as far as we can and hopefully make the dream come true.’