Czech Republic vs. Portugal
Creaky Czechs up against underperforming Portugeezers. A top of the group clash.
posted by gooner71 @ 7:30 AM
Lakenheath Old Boys
We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Creaky Czechs up against underperforming Portugeezers. A top of the group clash.
Lakenheath Old Boys
We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
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- Switzerland vs. Czech Republic
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Right then, I've had a good night's sleep and now I'm fresh and ready to enjoy the start of the second round of games.
The teams for today's match:
Czech Republic: Cech, Grygera, Ujfalusi, Rozehnal, Jankulovski, Galasek, Sionko, Matejovsky, Polak, Plasil, Baros
Subs: Blazek, Zitka, Kovac, Fenin, Koller, Sverkos, Vlcek, Pospech, Kadlec, Jarolim, Sivok, Skacel
Portugal: Ricardo, Bosingwa, Pepe, Carvalho, Ferreira, Petit, Joao Moutinho, Ronaldo, Deco, Simao, Nuno Gomes
Subs: Quim, Rui Patricio, Bruno Alves, Fernando Meira, Raul Meireles, Hugo Almeida, Miguel, Jorge Ribeiro, Quaresma, Veloso, Nani, Postiga
Referee: Kyros Vassaras (Greece)
It's as you were for Portugal, who looked mighty impressive against Turkey the other day, while big Jan Koller has been relegated to the Czech bench.
The absence of Koller puts even more pressure on Milan Baros, who was top scorer at Euro 2004 but hasn't been in good form recently.
By his high standards, Cronaldo was a wee bit quiet on Saturday; he'll want to rectify that today. I really liked the look of Joao Moutinho the other day and am looking forward to seeing more of him today. The Portuguese really do seem to have a knack for producing tiny, skillful midfielders.
The Czechs have started as if shot out of a cannon. Smart move; as an older team they'll surely tire as the match goes on, so it would be useful for them to get an early goal on the board.
Daniel King of the Daily Mail reported yesterday that the deal has been done to bring "Big Phil" Scolari to Chelski for next season. More reason to hate the Blues then.
GOAL! Portugal strike first. A great move involving four or five different players ends with a scrambled goal by Deco. Cech tried valiantly to keep that one out but the ball seemed almost drawn to the back of the net there.
Portugal 1-0!
A half chance there for Baros but he couldn't keep his header down. The Czechs have responded well to going a goal down, but you somehow wonder if they'll be able to keep the pace with the speedier and younger Portuguese in the second half.
GOAL! 1-1! Well, would you believe it! We finally have a real game on our hands. A great ball is knocked over and Sionko beats his marker and bravely stoops to nod home.
Portugal 1 Czechs 1
First mention of Andy Gray today. Sionko's effort is referred as an "Andy Grayish goal" by Derek Rae. That's a relief. I was wondering if after their spat yesterday, if Andy had been banished from the studio by the ESPN bosses. Looking forward to his comments at half time then.
Great effort from Deco, who looks particularly inspired today. He jinked inside his man on the left side and launched a fierce drive just over the bar.
Cronaldo running at three Czech defenders somehow squeezes off a good shot but Cech saves well.
A nasty clash there leaves both Pepe and Baros prone on the ground.
Plasil knocks a deep corner over, Ricardo completely misjudged it and Sionko nearly turned it back toward Baros at the back post. The Portuguese back line is looking a good deal shakier today than against Turkey on Saturday.
A frantic sequence ends up with Bosingwa yellow carded.
The Czech midfielders have done a really nice job closing down the danger men for Portugal.
Coming up on the interval and Ferreira wins a corner for Portugal...
Short to Deco who plays Simao in but it's cleared away for another corner.
Half time: 1-1. Certainly the most compelling and competitive of the tournament to date. It's exquisitely poised for the second half now. A draw in this match would certainly be heartening to the Turks who will want a win against Switzerland tonight.
Boy, it's a relief to see Andy Gray back alongside Julie Foudy in the studio this afternoon. He must have got the afternoon off yesterday. Welcome back, mate.
Second half starting....
No changes as of yet. Paulo Ferreira had some treatment during the interval so he may not last the pace.
Derek and Tommy are pointing out that the exclusion of Jan Koller has worked well for the Czechs as it's allowed the inclusion of another midfielder and more movement in the Czech game. Still, Koller might be a useful battering ram to toss on in the last twenty minutes to cause some flutters in Portuguese hearts.
Great move there but Sionko just couldn't find Baros in the middle there. Out for a corner.
Cronaldo seems to be getting frustrated by the close attentions of the big Czech defenders. I would luv it if he lashed out at one of them and got himself sent off.
Nuno Gomes had a real chance on the turn there but he couldn't keep his composure and just chipped it into Cech's arms.
It's about time for both Bruckner and Scolari to consider the changes that might lead to a victory that would almost certainly gain a quarter final berth.
Simao tests Cech again but the big Czech goalkeeper has kept his side in this one.
Bosingwa plays a lovely delicate ball over the top to Simao who just can't cross. Cech collects. But the Portuguese are pushing for a winner here definitely.
Those of you who chose the Czechs over the Turks in this group obviously knew something I didn't. My hat's off to you - they've been much more compact than I'd expected them to be.
Sionko in particular has been brilliant today. There again, he brings down a long ball on a dime and then just can't keep his shot down.
Ooh, Ujfalusi nearly directed Plasil's corner on target. Somehow Baros couldn't nick it in at the backpost.
GOAL! Cronaldo does it! A moment after the Czech's chance at the other end, Simao delivers a ball across the area and the golden boy delivers the goal we'd all been expecting.
Portugal 2-1!
Simao, who had a relatively quiet first half, has come to life in the past fifteen minutes and he was the architect of that goal.
Jankulovski earns a useful free kick off Petit and now the Czechs can send their big men up....
Ricardo flaps at another one but his defenders rescue him. That's got to be a big worry for Scolari when it comes to the later stages.
On second look, it was Nuno Gomes with the key block there!
Twenty five minutes left for the Czechs to rescue this one. And here comes the first move with Metejovski off for Vlcek, who also came on as a sub in the first match against the Swiss.
Joao Moutinho gives away another free kick. It's a risky manouver giving the Czechs more chances to test Ricardo's nerve coming for long balls.
It must be close to Jan Koller time now. I'd love to see him clattering into Ricardo if the Czechs pick up more set pieces.
The Portuguese fans are singing with relish but Vlcek nearly latched on to a long ball from Plasil.
Sure enough, Bruckner is giving Koller some directions on the bench now. Must have been something like:
"Get yer 'ead on it, lad!"
Here comes Koller with Galasek making way. A good attacking move there from the Czechs. They're going for it.
The withdrawal of Galasek will certainly open some space in the midfield for Portugal as he's been marshaling Joao Moutinho all game. Either the Czechs will nick an equalizer or Portugal will go on to win 3-1 IMHO.
Meira comes on for the quiet Joao Moutinho.
Deco wins a free kick in the perfect spot for a Cronaldo special....
The Portuguese midfielders, Deco in particular, look like they're arguing about who'll take the free kick.
Simao takes and it's straight into the wall. Disappointing.
Oh, Baros should've done better there. A good ball in but Baros headed miserably wide. He also took it away from Sionko who was better placed.
Derek and Tommy are comparing Spain and Portugal now. I reckon that Spain are much stronger. Casillas is much stronger than Ricardo and the scoring threat from Torres and Villa is much more significant than the feeble Nuno Gomes.
Indeed Nuno Gomes is making way for Hugo Almeida, a Werder Bremen striker.
Down to ten minutes left. Quaresma is coming on for Simao and Scolari seems to be trying to waste time through serial substitutions.
I would love to see a Czech equalizer. Koller plays his role, knocking down a long ball to Plasil who just can't get over the ball, well over the bar.
We're experiencing another tropical storm today which has temporarily knocked out the satellite.
Portugal are living dangerously here. A Czech goal would surely rattle the nerves.
One last roll of the dice here for the Czechs. Plasil is withdrawn.
Five minutes left here. This has been an absorbing match from beginning to end.
Petit commits yet another foul. He's surely close to a yellow card now.
Jankulovski swings another free kick in and it bobbled around in the Portuguese box but it's cleared away. Baros should've have had another there. He's been useless today.
Famous last words. Baros makes a lovely run, dinks it in to Koller who thighs it down for Sionko who can't keep his shot on target. They've certainly had the chances to equalize.
GOAL! Just as I'd predicted, the lack of cover for the Czechs opens up space for Cronaldo who walks in on goal, slides across for a grateful Quaresma who won't score an easier goal.
Portugal 3-1. Game over.
Into stoppage time. The Czechs are still gamely coming forward. They might let in a fourth if they're not careful.
Full-time: Portugal 3-1. In the end a comfortable win for Scolari and his team. He'll certainly rest a few stars for the third match against Switzerland on Sunday.
This result sets up an almighty clash against Turkey the same day to see who will go through to the next round. That is, unless the Swiss pull off a surprise this afternoon.
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