Euro 2012: Germany v Greece – in pictures

€300 a pop – that's the price tickets to tonight's match are costing. Some might say it's a waste of cash for such a forgone conclusion as this. Germany are bound to win, right? Photograph: Alvaro Barrientos/AP

This fan probably doesn't think so. He's channelling the spirit of ancient Greek Corinthians Photograph: Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters

While this German fan seems to have gone for a Heath Ledger aesthetic Photograph: Piotr Pedziszewski/EPA

After so much rain in the area, Germany's coach Joachim Löw checks the pitch prior to kick-off. He's named a curious team for this clash, benching his front three from the previous match (Mario Gomez, Thomas Müller and Lukas Podolski) and replacing them with Andre Schürrle, Marco Reus and Miroslav Klose Photograph: Thomas Bohlen/Reuters

German pepper the Greek goal from the off ... Photograph: Gabriel Bouys/AFP/Getty Images

Only a linesman's flag keeps the game goalless in the first ten minutes after Schürrle and Klose bundle the ball into the net Photograph: Anne-christine Poujoulat/AFP/Getty Images

The German Chancellor Angela Merkel shouldn't have been so quick to celebrate Photograph: Peter Andrews/Reuters

For Greece's goalkeeper Michalis Sifakis, the whole episode has left him with a sore head Photograph: Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters

He recovers to make a smart save from Mesut Ozil. But Ozil ought to have placed his drive out of the keeper's reach Photograph: Gabriel Bouys/AFP/Getty Images

In the 39th minute, Germany finally breach their opponent's goal. Philip Lahm let's fly from 25 yards ... Photograph: Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters

... and his sweet strike is too powerful for the diving Greek keeper Michalis Sifakis to keep out Photograph: Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters

Lahm celebrates with his team-mates. Though they really should be more than 1-0 up at half-time Photograph: Tony O'Brien/Action Images

The second half brings with it an unexpected twist. Greece, who have thus far been inept, scamper away on a counter-attack and Georgios Samaras prods a delicious low through ball underneath Manuel Neuer Photograph: Bartosz Jankowski/Reuters

It's 1-1. The Greeks can hardly believe it Photograph: Bartosz Jankowski/Reuters

But it only lasts for a matter of minutes. Sami Khedira soon wallops the ball home at the other end - it looks like a header but it is in fact a right-footed volley - to restore Germany's lead Photograph: Bartosz Jankowski/Reuters

Then Klose heads in from a corner to make it 3-1 in the 68th minute Photograph: Jason Cairnduff/Action Images

... and Reus batters a volley in off the bar to make it 4-1 in the 74th minute Photograph: Bartlomiej Zborowski/EPA

Giannis Maniatis looks perplexed by his team's defensive failings Photograph: Filip Singer/EPA

A late and soft penalty for a handball, which is converted by Dimitris Salpingidis, reduces the deficit Photograph: Bartosz Jankowski/Reuters

It was predictable, though maybe not routine. But Germany can celebrate nonetheless. Final score: 4-2 Photograph: Alex Grimm/Getty Images