"The tone of debate over Greece is sharper and more antagonistic than it is over Spain or Italy. Discussions of Spain in the German news media tend to focus on the suffering stemming from the extremely high unemployment and particularly the youth unemployment rate, and the government’s efforts to cut deficits in spite of a contracting economy. Reports on Italy emphasize the competitive industries in the north and the progress made by its technocratic prime minister, Mario Monti, to make structural reforms.

Greece, on the other hand, is roundly criticized for lying about the true state of its finances again and again, before and after joining the euro zone, and its failure to take any of the numerous steps demanded by its creditors to modernize its economy and — a particularly sore point — its tax collections."

German Patience With Greece on the Euro Wears Thin (New York Times, 09/05/2012)