Germans' proud record is scratched

GERMANY will be represented in the quarter-finals of the European Championships after all, but not as they would have wished.

The competition specialists departed the competition in Portugal with a whimper, losing to what was virtually a Czech Republic second choice team, and they must watch with envy as German-born coach Otto Rehhagel leads Greece in today's quarter-final against France in Lisbon.

Germany, with five final appearances and three wins in the competition, boast a record far superior to that of the rest of Europe.