GDANSK, June 21: Germany are planning to bide their time and eventually wear down defensive-minded Greece when they meet in the Euro 2012 quarter-finals on Friday.

The Germans advanced through Group ‘B’ with three wins from three games but are bracing for a much tougher defence than what they faced against Portugal, Netherlands and Denmark.

Greece conceded only five goals in 10 qualifiers, though they also let in three goals in three Group ‘A’ games, advancing as runners-up behind the Czech Republic.

“We got a small taste of what we can expect when we faced the Danes,” said Germany holding midfielder Sami Khedira of their 2-1 victory on Sunday.

“Greece are a very compact team, tactically very strong, well organised and aggressive. They are also fast on the breaks and if you see that they had three or four chances in the tournament so far and scored three goals you can tell they are masters of efficiency.

“So patience will be necessary from our side. We have to move because if we remain static it will be very difficult against them. We have to wear them out, tire them out and keep moving.”

Midfielder Thomas Mueller also expected Greece to seek their luck in a tight defence.

“They are not going to throw four strikers at us. We know what we have to do, but it's not going to be a piece of cake,” Mueller said.

Mueller added that the Germans are too well prepared and too confident to even contemplate their elimination by the Euro 2004 winners.

“Under no circumstances whatsoever,” he said. “We are success orientated and we are too focussed on victory to consider our elimination.”

Greece, meanwhile, are hoping for another giant killing after having shocked Russia 1-0 on Saturday in Group ‘A’ to confirm their place in the Gdansk last-eight clash.

“It was always our main aim to reach the quarter-finals. So now we have nothing to lose,” said defender Kyriakos Papadopoulos, one of the many Greece players with Bundesliga experience. “We are playing against one of the best teams here. All I can say is that we'll fight. If we get the win, it would be a huge result.”

The David verses Goliath clash has added spice between two nations at the heart of the Eurozone financial crisis with Berlin backing an austerity plan for the debt-ridden nation.

Germany's most prominent fan will be in the stands and that could provide extra motivation for Greece.

Chancellor Angela Merkel is believed to bring luck to the German team but in Greece, she is not popular having provoked anger for leading calls on Athens to impose tough austerity measures in return for financial assistance from Germany to help to bring down debt.

Both teams have played down the political connotations of the game and Greece will be looking to cause an upset only on the pitch, even without suspended captain Giorgos Karagounis.

Greece coach Fernando Santos has yet to reveal who will replace the inspirational midfielder but it is likely to be Grigoris Makos, a more defensive player, who will try to break up German attacks early.

“There is an atmosphere of self-sacrifice in this team,” said midfielder Kostas Katsouranis. “All 11 players will give it all we have got. We have been successful as a team where each one player plays for the team, and that is what we will do again.”—Agencies