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Greece\'s Giorgos Samaras scores his side\'s first goal past Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer during the Euro 2012 soccer championship quarterfinal match between Germany and Greece in Gdansk, Poland, Friday, June 22, 2012. (AP Photo/Gero Breloer)

Germany goals abound in 2nd half as team reaches Euro 2012 semifinals with 4-2 win over Greece

GDANSK, Poland – A trio of second-half goals put Germany into the European Championship semifinals for a record seventh time Friday after a 4-2 win over Greece.

Philipp Lahm gave Germany the lead in the 39th minute before Georgios Samaras equalized for Greece in the 55th. But Sami Khedira, Miroslav Klose and Marco Reus all scored to pull Germany clear. Greece scored a consolation penalty in the 89th through Dimitris Salpigidis.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel made the trip for the match and stood to cheer every time her team scored.

The match was played amid a political background between the countries. Germany has been a major contributor to economic bailouts for Greece and was instrumental in demanding unpopular spending cuts.

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Abbey Westbury

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