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Greece invoked the spirit of their Euro 2004 glory days as they reached the Euro 2012 last eight at the expense of Russia with a shock 1-0 win in Group A courtesy of a classic defensive performance in Warsaw.

Greece skipper Giorgos Karagounis scored the solitary goal of the game when he bounded into the Russian box a couple of minutes into time added on in the first half to drive the ball under goalkeeper Vyacheslav Malafeev at the Polish capital's modernistic national stadium. It was an astonishingly sloppy piece of defending from a throw-in before the goal that ultimately cost the much-vaunted Russians their place at these finals.

Russia and Greece finished on four points behind Czech Republic, who topped the section on six points with their 1-0 win over eliminated co-hosts Poland, but it is Greece who progress on the head-to-head records between the two countries.

Greece unearthed a superb performance high on energy and organisation with the kind of defending that carried them to the Euro 2004 title under former coach Otto Rehhagel against all the odds in Portugal, but it would be wrong to label this a fortunate Hellenic success.

Greece were the more purposeful side in the second half and should have been awarded a penalty when Karagounis was somehow booked after appearing to be felled in the Russian area by Sergei Ignashevich around the hour-mark.

Karagounis was furious with the referee and will now miss a possible quarter-final against likely Group B winners Germany in Gdansk on Friday, but he had already contributed to the biggest upset of the tournament so far. He was replaced by Grigoris Makos on 67 minutes perhaps for his own good.

It could hardly detract from a special evening for Karagounis, who equalled Theodoros Zagorakis's national record for Greece in his 120th appearance. It is a pity that he will not be around for the quarter-finals having also missed the Euro 2004 final win over Portugal due to suspension.

Giorgios Tzavellas also whacked a free-kick off the bar from 25 yards out on 70 minutes as Greece attempted to put breathing space between themselves and the Russians, who looked dazed at full-time having gone into the match on the back of a 4-1 win over group winners Czech Republic and a 1-1 draw with Poland. The Czechs top Group A, but Greece celebrated like they had won the tournament at full-time.

Russia dominated large swathes of possession, but came up short on the night with their inability to penetrate Greece all too obvious.

The Greeks had lost both of their previous meetings with Russia in the European Championships - 1-2 in Euro 2004 and 0-1 in Euro 2008 - but this was as good a time as any to end that record.

Malafeev was forced to tip away a Kostas Katsouranis volley in the opening moments before Russia decided to display their superior technical skills on the ball without ever ramming home the territorial advantage four years after they had cut a dash to the last four of Euro 2008.

The under-worked Greece goalkeeper Michail Sifakis saved from Andrei Arshavin on nine minutes, but had little to do as Alexander Kerzhakov - who was replaced by the equally impotent Roman Pavlyuchenko at half-time - and Yuri Zhirkov illustrated Russian profligacy by walloping efforts wide.

With the roaming Georgios Samaras producing some admirable work to carry Greece forward on the counter attack from time to time, they could easily have added to their tally with Alexander Anyukov nudging the ball away from under his own bar after some decent work and cross by the lively Vasilis Torosidis on 58 minutes.

Russia huffed and puffed, but could not find a way through the Greece wall of bodies as it became obvious the men in the white shirts were not willing to be breached. An Alan Dzagoev header that dropped wide from Arshavin's cross on 83 minutes was the last time they would come close to lancing the Greece goal.

It was a bitter pill to swallow for Russia coach Dick Advocaat, who departs the post to return to club football with PSV Eindhoven next month. It was difficult not to feel heartened by the scenes of joy emanating from the Greek fans.

With the well-publicised monetary problems in Greece all too apparent, this will be a real boost for a country addicted to the world game. They may be heading out of the Euro, but Greece are well and truly alive at the Euros.

A wonder goal from Jakub Blaszczykowski gave Euro 2012 co-hosts Poland a 1-1 Group A draw with Russia in a feisty, entertaining clash at Stadion Narodowy in Warsaw.

Alan Dzagoev’s deft header had given Russia the half-time lead after an enthralling opening 45 minutes saw the Poles create several good chances only to be denied by fine goalkeeping from Vyacheslav Malafeev, the width of a goalpost and some desperate defending.

But Franciszek Smuda’s side continued to be adventurous on the break in the second half and they were rewarded in style when skipper Blaszczykowski unleashed a ferocious left-footed curler past Malafeev and inside the far post, having bought the space with a fine touch off the impressive Ludovic Obraniak’s pass from the right.

The result leaves Russia top of Group A with four points, needing just a draw against Greece to ensure qualification for the quarter-finals.

Poland, meanwhile, need a win against local rivals Czech Republic on June 16 in what promises to be a thrilling do-or-die encounter in Wroclaw.

Speaking of local rivalry, there had been plenty of tension in the build-up to this match, which coincided with Russia’s Independence Day. A celebratory march through Warsaw by visiting fans had sparked violence beforehand, with local hooligans and Russian supporters clashing in ugly scenes that saw police wade in amidst several injuries and arrests.

There was also an air of animosity as rival fans booed each other’s anthems, with the usual Eastern European rivalry with Russia heightened by the death of Poland's president Lech Kaczynski in a plane crash in Russian airspace two years ago.

On the pitch it was an entirely different matter as two attack-minded sides with contrasting styles did battle in a largely sportsmanlike encounter.

Russia did most of their work with the ball, while Poland defended stoutly and used their pacy wide-men on the break.

Initially that approach seemed to benefit the Poles as, with Aleksandr Kerzhakov a blunt instrument for Russia up front, the early chances fell to the hosts.

Dick Advoccat’s side were saved by a fine Malefeev stop to keep out Sebastian Boenisch’s close-range header from Obraniak’s pinpoint free-kick, while star man Robert Lewandowski went agonisingly close with a flick and volley.

When the French-born Obraniak’s fine low ball flashed across the face of goal with Lewandowski and Blaszczykowski unable to convert, it looked like it might not be Poland’s night.

That theory gained momentum when, after a needless shove by Marcin Wasilewski on Yuri Zhirkov, Arshavin’s excellent curling cross was nodded home by the 21-year-old Dzagoev, who has three goals in his first two matches at a major finals.

It was Russia’s first real chance, although they had been denied by some fine tackles from the imperious Damien Perquis, another naturalised Frenchman, and some weak forward play by Kerzhakov, who was replaced by Roman Pavlyuchenko.

The second half saw Poland adopt a more direct strategy, one which paid off. Lewandowski was twice denied by Malafeev’s sprawling frame, while Perquis headed just over from a corner. Russia, meanwhile, were suddenly forced to resort to the counter-attack, from which Arshavin scuffed a low finish wide after a mazy dribble.

When Poland’s leveller came it was deserved – and it was a beauty. Swiftly countering after a spell of Russian possession, Obraniak hared down the right before feeding a low ball to Blaszczykowski.

The Borussia Dortmund midfielder, whose tragic upbringing dominated pre-tournament headlines, was running at full pace yet cut the ball in with his right foot before unleashing a glorious effort that swerved wide of the diving Malafeev before nestling inside the far post to provoke scenes of joy on the pitch and stands.

That came just before the hour mark and the match lost some of its spark from thereon in. Russia seemed content to hog possession and limit Poland’s counter-attacks, safe in the knowledge they were still in the group driving seat, while Smuda’s men focused on preventing a recurrence of their implosion against the Greeks.

There were half chances for Dzagoev and Eugen Polanski, but neither keeper was truly tested, although the latter stages did see a more frantic approach adopted when Poland won a series of free-kicks.

But a draw was the fair result, one which sees Poland with a fighting chance of progress – if they play like this against an unimpressive Czech side, there is no reason why they cannot make history again.

Alan Dzagoev scored twice as Russia justified their billing as Group A favourites with a 4-1 dismantling of the Czech Repubic at Wroclaw's Stadion Miejski.

Dick Advocaat's side could have had more goals on the night, but settled for the four with Dzagoev (15, 79), Roman Shirokov (24) and Roman Pavlyuchenko (82) leading the Czech Republic's pedestrian defence a merry dance.

At 21, Dzagoev is the second youngest player to score twice at the European Championships after England striker Wayne Rooney, who scored his two at the age of 18 in 2004.

Vaclav Pilar scored a fine goal early in the second period to give the Czechs false hope, but they were well beaten by a technically superior side.

Russia will book their place in the quarter-finals with a win over co-hosts Poland on Tuesday night with the Czechs needing a win over Greece to maintain their hopes of finishing second in the section.

They are bottom of the group after the opening day with Poland and Greece sharing a 1-1 draw earlier in the day.

Russia struck the opening goal on 14 minutes when Alexandr Kerzhakov hit the post with a header before Dzagoev followed up to smash the rebound into the unguarded net.

They added a second goal when the lively Andrei Arshavin managed to send a ball spinning through the middle of the Czech Republic defence for Shirokov to dink the ball beautifully over Petr Cech on 24 minutes.

The Czechs somehow dragged themselves back into the reckoning when Pilar bounded on to a ball from Jaroslav Plasil before rounding opposing goalkeeper Vyacheslav Malafeyev to score.

With Kerzhavov missing numerous chances - he is the first player to have seven shots off target in a single game at the Euros since 1980 - before being hauled off to be replaced by Pavlyuchenko on 73 minutes, Russia had to wait until 79 minutes to finally seal the three points.

Pavlyuchenko played provider for Dzagoev to score with a thumping shot from inside the area before Lokomotiv Moscow forward Pavlyuchenko gave the scoreline a truer reflection when he thumped the ball high beyond Cech from just inside the Czech box on 82 minutes.