More than just a game? Soccer's biggest grudge matches

(CNN) -- After months of turmoil in Europe's financial markets, Greece has an opportunity to do something that just a few weeks ago would have seemed incomprehensible -- knock Germany out of the Euro.

Not the single currency, of course, but Euro 2012 -- the competition that pits the continent's best soccer teams against each other.

Friday's quarterfinal clash is being heralded as the ultimate grudge match after months of wrangling over the future of Europe's economy, and Germany's insistence on sweeping austerity measures in Greece after providing the bulk of its bailout money.

Though the recent rivalry has been provoked by matters of finance, the suffering endured during Nazi occupation in World War II has left many Greeks with strong anti-German feelings.

It is far from the first time political and sporting lines have become blurred, even in the current European Championship tournament.

UEFA fines Croatian racism by their fans at Euro

The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) announced Tuesday a fine of 80.000 euros against the federation of Croatia for the "improper conduct" of their fans during the game against Italy in Group C of Euro 2012 .

"The Croatian Football Federation has been fined 80,000 euros for the development and thrownness of flares, and improper conduct of supporters (chants and racist symbols) at Euro 2012," UEFA said in a statement.

The facts reported by the governing body of European football occurred during the June 14, in a match played in Poznan, Poland, in which Croatia drew 1-1 with Italy.

Investigations against Croatian fans were announced last Saturday, after the UEFA president, Michel Platini, asked fans "behave with dignity and respect."

Racist insults against Croats concentrated Manchester City striker, Mario Balotelli, one of only two black players of the Italian, along with defender Angelo Ogbonna.

Balotelli was also a victim of racism in the game against Spain, against the facts that UEFA also announced investigations.

Incidents of racism have been constant since the early days of the Championship, organized jointly by Poland and Ukraine.

Members of the Dutch alleged racist abuse during a workout before the start of the event in Krakow. The assailants went to the black members of the team making monkey noises. The incident occurred after a joint visit to Auschwitz, was described as a real misfortune captain Mark Van Bommel.

Days later, Russian fans showed illegal banners and made racist insults against the selection of Czech Republic, where Theodor Gebre Selassie defender is the only black.

On behalf of the England team, the families of black players Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain and Theo Walcott decided not to travel to the tournament to the reports of racism in Eastern Europe.

Syrian children tortured, used as human shields

United Nations (CNN) -- The Syrian regime has used children as human shields and tortured youths whose parents are suspected dissidents, according to a U.N. report.

The report on children and armed conflict details accounts of juveniles allegedly abused by pro-government forces and came as a top U.N. official said the conflict in Syria has spiraled into a civil war.

"Yes, I think we can say that," U.N. peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous said when asked if Syria is in a civil war. "Clearly what is happening is that the government of Syria lost some large chunks of territory, several cities to the opposition, and wants to retake control."

Ladsous, who made the remarks to two news agencies, was not available for comment Tuesday because he was traveling. His spokesman Kieran Dwyer confirmed them to CNN, but said what one calls it is not what's important.

"Whether we call it all-out civil war ,whether we call it partial civil war, civil war in some places, the point is that it's hugely escalated, that it's across nearly all parts of the country and that the civilians, ordinary Syrian people, are the ones that are suffering," Dwyer said.

The U.N. report about children, dated late April, was released Monday by the United Nations.

"Most child victims of torture described being beaten, blindfolded, subjected to stress positions, whipped with heavy electrical cables, scarred by cigarette burns and, in one recorded case, subjected to electrical shock to the genitals," the report states, citing dozens of witness accounts. "Children were detained and tortured because their siblings or parents were assumed to be members of the opposition or FSA, or they themselves were suspected of being associated with FSA," a reference to the rebel Free Syrian Army.

Dozens of children between ages 8 and 13 were reportedly used as human shields by pro-regime forces during a raid on the village of Ayn l'Arouz in March, the report says.

It includes allegations that rebel forces such as the Free Syrian Army recruited and used children, despite the FSA's stated policy of not recruiting anyone younger than 17 years of age.

Free Syrian Army officials could not immediately be reached for comment.