Sport has a lovely habit of imitating life. After causing a huge upset by beating an impressive looking Russia, the Greek team, the lowest ranked team in the tournament, last night faced favourites Germany in the quarter finals of the European Championships. The action was as equal on the football field as it is in the economic one. The Germans won comfortably even though it’s a fair bet that most fans were rooting for the underdog. Against the backdrop of a continent in crisis, it’s difficult to guess which country most enjoyed their sporting success.
The eurozone crisis is rapidly becoming as damaging to Germany’s political image and international status as it has been to the Greek economy. The dogged and formidable Angela Merkel has found herself playing the role of the pantomime villain. The latest issue of this magazine described Angela Merkel as “Europe’s most dangerous leader” while successive summits at EU and G8 level have seen her politically isolated and singled out as the one leader able to solve the eurozone crisis. How can it be that hard-working, competitive and austere Germany deserves to be lampooned as the chief roadblock to reform and potential wrecker of the euro?
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