Greeks celebrate country's win over Russia

ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- Amid the gloom of a political and economic crisis, Greece's gutsy 1-0 win over Russia to advance to the Euro 2012 quarterfinals has at last given the country's weary citizens something to cheer about.

Thousands poured into Athens' central Omonia Square on Saturday waving Greek flags, lighting flares and setting off firecrackers amid the din of hundreds of honking cars and renditions of the national anthem in a spontaneous outpouring of patriotic fervor.

On the eve of pivotal elections that could decide their economic fate, the win gave ordinary Greeks a chance to exhibit a little in-your-face swagger and to thumb their nose at Europe.

Revellers broke into chants of "bring on the Germans", relishing the prospect of meeting their most outspoken critics in a quarterfinal showdown with political connotations.

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