Czech Republic are into the Euro 2020 quarter-finals as they beat the Netherlands 2-0 in Budapest.
A well-balanced clash was turned on its head when Matthijs de Ligt was sent off and the Czech’s took full advantage to win.
Getty
The first period between the two sides was the kind of testy encounter you might imagine between two outsiders in the last-16.
It would burst into life just after half-time though with chances galore and a red card for Juventus superstar De Ligt, for a handball which denied a goalscoring opportunity.
A super header from midfield maestro Tomas Holes got the Czechs ahead and star striker Patrik Schick put the game to bed, after more fine work from his teammate.
They will now play Denmark on July 3 in Baku, which promises to be another intriguing encounter in a fascinating tournament.
Getty
The aim was apparent from the off for the Dutch, they got out of the blocks quickly and, within a minute, Donyel Malen had fired a cross from the left to an on-rushing Denzel Dumfries at the back post.
The wing-back couldn’t connect but no doubt they would try again.
In response, Holes walloped a shot from range but Maarten Stekelenburg didn’t have to worry about the wayward effort.
Dumfries and De Ligt also had chances as the Dutch opened up on top.
Getty
Speed appeared to be the key element for the Dutch, with Malen – once on the books of Arsenal – a key target for the ball in the inside left channel.
The Czechs were willing to have a physical battle, though, slowing their opponents and allowing the opportunity to counter.
With 21 minutes gone there was warning for the Dutch as West Ham ace Tomas Soucek got his head onto a cross from the right.
It was, though, a glancing blow and the ball flashed across goal rather than endangering Stekelenburg’s net.
Had it been Vladimir Coufal and not Petr Sevcik with the delivery, things might have been different.
Getty
And as the Czechs grew into the match, Euro 2020 net-botherer Schick saw a deflected strike nestle in Stekelenburg’s gloves.
Malen offered a riposte but his close-range shot cannoned out for a corner as the Czech defence rallied.
In previous games Georginio Wijnaldum had been the main man for the Dutch but he was being stifled in a congested midfield.
Not that this stopped Antonin Barak from rifling a shot on goal, which was blocked at the last.
But perhaps the best chance came to Patrick van Aanholt in the last seconds before half-time.
Incredible work from Depay gave him space inside the penalty area but the left-back could only scuff a shot wide – he’ll thank his lucky stars he was ruled offside.
AFP
While the first half was quiet, the second half opened with a bang, literally.
Dumfries’ elbow clattered into the head of Pavel Kaderabek, earning the Dutchman a yellow card.
And moments later, teammate Malen should have had the Dutch ahead but when he went through on goal Czech goalkeeper Vaclik did well to save it and then immediately deny Depay too.
The real drama would come at the other end of the pitch.
Getty
De Ligt was one-on-one with Schick but lost the tussle and in a bid to deny the forward a run on goal, he handled the ball.
Referee Sergei Karasev initially gave a yellow but VAR told him to refer to the pitchside screen.
This allowed him to see De Ligt had denied his rival a goalscoring opportunity – red card.
“It’s unfortunate,” said ex-England international Trevor Sinclair. “He slipped but was under all kinds of pressure, Patrik Schick is the last player you want to do that around.
“I was thinking when a yellow card was given he was fortunate. The officials have come to the right decision.”
It meant all four Netherlands red cards at European Championships have come against the Czech Republic/Czechoslovakia.
AFP
Getty
With the Dutch using a back-three prior to the red, there wasn’t too much of a rejig to be done, but winger Quincy Promes did arrive in place of Malen.
Coufal, meanwhile, hit the resulting free-kick into the wall and with the Dutch countering, earned a yellow card for flooring Dumfries.
The PSV Eindhoven ace has mainly been known for his attacking prowess but he proved his defensive qualities with a super block to deny Kadarebek.
The Dutch couldn’t hold out for much longer though and a Holes was able to head home a knock down from a corner, given away by a poor Stekelenburg error.
Getty
Schick helped force the error from De Ligt for the red card and he finished off the Dutch 10 minutes from time.
After a stunning run from teammate Holes, where he superbly intercepted the ball, he laid it back into the path of Schick.
The Leverkusen striker has scored from the halfway line so close range was no bother and he passed the ball home to make it 2-0.
Getty
Schick’s fourth goal of the tournament now puts him one behind current top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of Portugal’s tie with Belgium in the last-16.
Can the Bayer Leverkusen ace claim a Golden Boot like compatriot Milan Baros did in Euro 2004?
from Football - news, transfers, fixtures, scores, pictures https://ift.tt/3gXm7FV
via IFTTT
No Comment