Germany Boots Greece —From Soccer Tourney

With Chancellor Angela Merkel cheering every step of the way, Germany dominated Greece—on the soccer field. The Germans reached the European Championship semifinals for a record seventh time by beating Greece 4-2 yesterday in a match played amid the contentious political backdrop between the countries.

Just as in the real world, where Germany has been a major contributor to economic bailouts for Greece, the three-time champions were in control at the Arena Gdansk in Poland. And after the match, Merkel visited the players in the changing room. "(Merkel) congratulated us and said that we played very well," said Germany forward Mesut Oezil. "The rest of what she said will stay among us." (More Germany stories.)