Turkey 3-2 Czech Republic
What a way to kick off the final round of group games. Turkey were on the verge of elimination, down 2-0 with 15 minutes to go, but they put together an amazing comeback to beat the Czechs, including two goal in the last three minutes.
It was a nervy opening to the game, with a couple Turkish players booked in the first 10 minutes. There were a few chances for both sides, but the Czechs had the better of the first half. And they took the lead after about half an hour through Jan Koller — picked instead of Milan Baros for this match — who opened the scoring with a characteristic header from Zdenek Grygera’s cross.
Turkey started the second half more strongly — an acrobatic scissor kick by Nihat Kahveci that went wide of the target, a good save by Petr Cech to snatch the ball off Nihat’s forehead — but the Czechs extended their lead. Jaroslav Plasil slid in to connect with Libor Sionko’s ball in from the right wing, with Turkey indignant because they had been attempting to substitute an injured player.
But Turkey were given a boost in the 75th minute, as Arda Turan made it 2-1 with a shot from the top of the box that just snuck past Petr Cech at the near post. They really went for it after that and were rewarded with just three minutes left, as Cech fumbled a routine cross (yes, it was raining, but you expect better from somebody who’s supposed to be one of the best keepers in the world) and Nihat Kahveci pounced. It looked like the game was heading to penalties to decide who would qualify for the quarter-finals, but instead Nihat scored again, through on goal — I’m not sure if he was offside or if the Czech defence just switched off — to curl his shot over Cech into the far corner. (Poor Petr. He deserves better, really.)
And then, as if that wasn’t enough craziness: Volkan Demirel, the Turkish keeper, got himself sent off. Yes, really. On the verge of stoppage time, knowing there’ll be a penalty shootout if your opponents equalize, and he decides that shoving Jan Koller is a good idea. The really excellent part is that Turkey had already used all their subs, so Tuncay ended up in goal, just to add the perfect touch of comedy to a brilliantly insane game.
Switzerland 2-0 Portugal
A thoroughly meaningless match, with Portugal already having clinched top spot in the group and Switzerland the wooden spoon. And it was as uneventful as you’d expect. I actually missed 20 minutes of the first half because my recording cut out, but I don’t think I missed that much at all.
Mostly it was a lot of pointless prancing around in midfield by Portugal’s B-team — including one of those Ronaldo-esque wrapping-one-leg-behind-the-other crosses by his doppelganger Ricardo Quaresma. Portugal also had a couple of decent penalty shouts, but they were both waved off by the referee, and nobody seemed too bothered — I think the Portuguese players were more worried about not getting their pretty white kits all dirty. The exception to this was Paulo Ferreira, one of only three regulars to retain his place, who had to be hauled off before halftime to stop him being sent off, after a nasty tackle on Valon Behrami. Actually, there were quite a few yellow cards for what should have been a relatively peaceful game.
Switzerland did start to push forward more in the second half, once they’d figured out that (a) Portugal was too busy faffing around to actually score goals and (b) Ricardo was having a shaky game in goal. They were rewarded for their effort when Hakan Yakin scored in the 70th minute, a good finish through the keeper’s legs after a long ball forward that was flicked on by Eren Derdiyok. Yakin added a second goal 80 minutes later with a penalty after Tranquillo Barnetta was fouled by Fernando Meira. The Swiss fans were delirious, as their team was able to finish the tournament with a tiny smidgen of dignity.
As for Portugal, it’s possible that they’ll be unsettled by the loss — not to mention all the foofaraw about Phil Scolari moving to Chelsea — and lose momentum, but I think they have enough natural arrogance to carry them through regardless.
Next up: Portugal will play whoever finishes second in Group B in the first quarter-final on Thursday, while Turkey face Croatia on Friday
Bad hair of the day award: Miguel Veloso, who looks remarkably like a rooster
Written by Jen on June 16th, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on Czech Republic and Euro 2008 and Switzerland and Turkey and portugal.
Here it is. The first last day of the tournament. Yes, Group A gets sorted today, and this is the match that will do the sorting. While Portugal takes it easy against the host Swiss on the other side, Turkey take on the Czechs for the second qualifying spot into the next round.
Before we get to the tale of the tape, a quick look should be taken at our Euro 2008 Pick ‘em on ESPN.com. At the top of the group, two users who are definitely not UF writers. For shame, us! El Ninos d’Or and Ballack’s Bollocks lead the early charge. If this one of these is you, feel free to gloat in the comments. These two have correctly guessed 11 of the first 16 matches. They are closely followed by a group of six with one less correct. Over the next four days, though, I am confident that Joey Barton’s Cellmate will rise to the top of the group.
It seems we can’t do a live blog (save one) without highlighting the lovely ladies of the competing countries. Today will be no different. After all, it is Father’s Day, and these ladies have fathers, so we have to.
Turkey will go first.
This is Gizem Ozdilli. Besides having a snickerable first name, meh.
And for the Czechs, we have Adriana Karembeu
Yes, please. And she is married to former French footballer Christian Karembeu. So, there’s that.
Well, it should be pretty obvious who wins this matchup–the girl from the country I picked to win the whole shebang. Join me after the jump to watch me meltdown as the Czechs fail to advance at the first hurdle.
For bonus fun, you can play “Count the Misspellings” in the comments. With these two teams, I’ll be sure to make it worth your while.
Turkey’s speculative lineup (4-4-2):
Demirel; Altintop, Gungor, Cetin, Balta; Tuncay, Topal, Aurelio, Turan; Senturk, Nihat (C).
And for the Czechs (4-5-1):
Cech; Grygera, Ujfalusi (C), Rozehnal, Jankulovski; Sionko, Polak, Matejovsky, Galasek, Plasil; Koller.
Referee: Peter Frojdfeldt (Sweden)–the guy who did the UEFA Cup final, again.
Interestingly, this game will go to an immediate penalty shoot-out at the end of full-time if the match is tied.
On to the game.
So, another 4-5-1 for the Czechs. I wonder how long that will hold out?
-1.00 Alright, I’ve had an obscene amount of coffee, started the wash, have a boxful of doughnut holes next to me and an empty house. As long as the cable and internet hold out, let’s have some fun.
0.00 Man, I wanted to see Kazim Kazim today. Also, I wanted to see the blue jerseys.
0.00 Hey Turkey, how about figuring out what shoes you want to wear before kick-off? Blatant time-wasting to let the other game get started first.
0.10 The Czechs waste no time on the kick-off attempting to get a shot on goal. Over and wide, though.
2.00 Free kick from the right for the Czechs. two players wide open on the back post, and. . .nothing.
4.00 The Turks seem to be playing for penalties already. A free kick at midfield is taken by their keeper.
5.30 Yellow Card Turkey get the first yellow as Topal fouls Polak in midfield
8.00 Czech Republic are not afraid to shoot today, though nothing is going on net. I was serious about Turkey playing for penalties. Time-wasting at the back seems to be the order of the day. Maybe since it worked for their good friends the Greeks four years ago?
10.00 Yellow Card Um, I didn’t see it. Aurelio CetinAurelio goes into the book for Turkey, possibly for getting his elbows up on a header challenge against Koller. for dissent. Since Koller is so tall, Aurelio gets him in the upper back. The resultant free kick leads to a header over the bar.
14.00 Gungor gets a talking to, Camera cuts away before any card shown.
15.00 The ref, who had such high praise from us before, does not want to see Turkey challenge for high headers, it would seem. Every time a Turk goes for the ball, they are deemed to be fouling the (to be fair, perfectly positioned) Czechs.
16.00 I was correct earlier, Aurelio also got a yellow for dissent. Tuncay shoots wide for the Turks.
17.00 Matejovsky shoots weakly from distance, but on net. Keeper covers it easily.
18.00 Another correction. Cetin was not booked, only Aurelio.
22.00 More attacks from the Czechs, but no finishing touches. Turkey still playing rough.
24.00 Actual attacking possession from Turkey. Comes to nothing as they pass it back to the defense.
25.00 Sionko does not miss by much. Aims for the far, upper corner from outside the box and puts it a foot over.
26.00 Aurelio writhes in pain after a tackle from Rozenhal. Gets up without magic spray.
28.00 Turkey are doing a fabulous job at frustrating the Czechs. The whistles have calmed down and Turkey, though not packing the back, are keeping the Czechs from any good attacking moves.
31.00 For two teams with nothing to play for, the other match sounds pretty exciting. Dammit.
32.00 Another Turk on the ground. This time it is Altintop, who took a ball to the ribs. Get up nancy-boy.
(10 seconds pass, play stops for him)
He did.
33.00 So close. Czechs cross in from the left, Sionko tracks it and the keeper smothers.
34.00 Goal! Fuck yeah, the Czechs score. Koller with a header (who’d a thunk it?) off a cross from Grygera. Turkey, the US feels your pain.
36.00 Nihat’s corner forces a nice reaction from Cech as he beats Turan to the ball.
38.00 Matejovsky has to be carried off the pitch and substituted after a collision with Tuncay. It didn’t look that bad, but Jarolim comes on anyway.
39.00 The goal has aroused the attacking instincts of the Turks. Czechs on the back foot for now.
42.00 Yep. You can’t coach tall. Koller has another shot at goal on a long free kick. At goal, not on goal. Over by six feet.
43.00 The Czechs have their attacking verve back. Koller, like Klose, should not be relied on to shoot with his feet, though.
45.00 Hey look the Tigers might have a winning streak going. The Bottom Line always gets me. 2 minutes extra time.
45.00 +3 (Stealing this) Tweet. Tweet. Tweeeeet. Half time.
Czechs came out as the team wanting to win, and got the goal that might do it. The referee calmed down after 20 minutes or so, so Turkey doesn’t have as bad a yellow card problem as they looked to in the first 15. Czechs are down a sub already, and tired second-half legs may fail them yet.
Turkey did show flashes of attacking ability after giving up the goal, but were hanging their heads by the half. We should see a pretty open affair in the second half with only one question to be answered.
How long do Turkey wait to pull the goalie?
Oh, and I’m not watching Foudy, sorry.
Shots 9-5 Czechs, 3-2 on goal. Possession is even.
45.00 Sarioglu on for the Turks, Senturk is off.
46.00 Cech is also very tall. Cleans up on a Turk free kick.
47.00 Turks pressing early. Another couple quick chances for them.
50.00 Czechs are definitely backed in, and looking for counterattacking chances, which aren’t materializing.
51.00 Perhaps there is a strong wind? The Turks, attacking the goal the Czechs did in the first half, are all over their opponents. Now for their third corner in four minutes.
52.00 “The Czechs have a lot of defending to do here” No shit. Turkish fans are in full voice as Tuncay gets saved by Cech. It’s probably time to take Koller off and get someone who is speedier in there.
54.00 On cue, Koller kills a possession with a poor pass.
55.00 Cech cleans up again. The Czechs are playing with eight in the box right now and it is not enough. Turkey must have had some kick-ass coffee over the break.
57.00 Kazim Kazim (Richards) is in! Topal off for the Turks.
58.00 Altintop with a great ball from the right, right across the six-yard box, but the Turk forwards forgot to make runs.
59.00 Some interesting looking Cech fans in the stands. Gungor is down for the Turks. Gets stretchered off.
61.00 Koller gets a breakaway, and left foots the ball three yards wide. Ouch.
62.00 Goal! Plasil comes in from way over on the left to slide in Sionko’s cross. Keeper gets a hand to it, but cannot bat the ball out. 2-0
64.00 For looking so bright coming out of the half, the Turks start to look defeated, deflated and chippy. Turan gets a Yellow Card for Turkey. Turkish coach is well-pissed that he was not allowed to substitute for the injured Gungor before the second goal.
66.00 Linesman needs a new flag, or Cialis.
67.00 Czechs, well aware of the hurting Turkey looks to put on them now, are diving to get foul calls.
68.00 Turks go close after the Czech defense tries the always-ineffective “let’s all raise our hands” defense. Cech bails them out with his positioning.
Other Game Swiss go up 1-0.
71.00 ESPN, fucking quit it! I don’t care about the other game. Polak off the post as ESPN breaks in with the other score.
Polak paid for it on the rebound, as he got his face scraped with studs trying for the header. He will be the second player playing with a headwrap today.
73.00 Yellow Card Asik (the other head-wrapped guy) takes down Rozenhal who was way forward. Very close to being last man back, too.
75.00 Goal! Arda Turan scores after Altintop’s cross from the endline dribbles all the way across the box. Arda goes near post, beating Cech with ease 2-1
77.00 Altintop is playing off of his head on the right side.
78.00 Two more great chances for the Turks come from the right. Can the Czechs hold out? They look spent.
79.00 Turkiye! Turkiye! Turkiye!. This match is pulsating, and the crowd is in full voice. Koller still in. Why?
80.00 Yellow Card Galasek for the Czechs. Kadlec on for Plasil.
Other game Another goal for the Swiss.
82.00 Altintop puts the ball right on Cervi’s head from two yards out. Cervi glances it wide. I really like this second half Turk squad.
83.00 It’s the Czech squad who have started to hack at their opponents. If Galacek did not already have a card, he would have just earned one.
84.00 Vlcek on for Sionko. Koller to play entire match, die of heart attack afterwards.
85.00 Czechs are completely packed in, but the Turks are getting close.
87.00 Goal!!! Cech fumbles a cross (Altintop, natch) at the six yard box and
Nihat pokes it in. I started this game pulling for the Czechs, but dammit, I cheered.
89.00 HOLY SHIT
GOAL!!! Turkey score again. Nihat onside, Czechs try to claim otherwise. Raised arms don’t stop attack. Nihat squeezes the ball under the bar. I’m breathless.
90.00 Four minutes added time.
90.00 +2 Red Card Turkish keeper Demirel sent off after making a hash of a clearance. Punched Koller after the ball was out. No subs left. Tuncay in the net. No penalty kick.
90.00 +4 Yellow Card Ufjalusi, I don’t know what it was for, I can’t keep up.
90.00 +5 Yellow Card Baros, who isn’t even on.
90.00 +5 Full Time Give me some time to breathe before I recap.
That’s it. I am a full-on Turk supporter for the rest of this tournament.
Just saw another angle on Nihat’s second. Fuck me, that was a great shot.
Well, they started the game as negative as could be, but Turkey showed what it takes to win a game from two down in the second half. Altintop is, by far, my man of the match. He abused Czech Republic’s left side for the entire second-half.
I can’t help but believe that if Baros was in for Koller in the second half, the speedier player could have finished a counter to make it 3-0 at some point. Simply put, Turkey were pressed forward, and Koller did not have the wheels to put them under pressure.
I don’t know if I can watch the US game now. I’m almost emotional at how good this game was.
PR-
Red Card whistled for at 1.30 of added time, game restart at 3.15. Added time was 4 minutes, whistle blown at 5.21.
They did lose some time, but also got called for 2 yellow cards in the same time. I think the ref took all of it into account.
I do agree that some more time was warranted, but the Czechs were no longer on the attack.
————————————————————–
Finally–The group is done, with Turkey joining Portugal in the second round. Turkey will face Croatia, while Portugal are most likely to see Germany (though Poland and Austria both still have a shot).
Written by Darkvader on June 15th, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on Czech Republic and Euro 2008 and Live Blogs and Turkey and ü75.
Portugal 3-1 Czech Republic
Cristiano Ronaldo and co. have made easy work of the group stages so far. They got off to a good start in this game as well, with an early goal. Ronaldo was played into the box via a one-two with Nuno Gomes; Petr Cech did well to just barely tip the ball away from him, but it fell to Deco and he scrambled it across the goal line. Libor Sionko equalized for the Czech Republic less than 10 minutes later, getting up well to power in a header from a corner.
The Czechs certainly looked more lively than they did against Switzerland in their opening game, but they weren’t effective enough up front. Apparently we got the Premiership Milan Baros (i.e., lots of headless chicken running) rather than the Euro 2004 version that actually knows how to put the ball in the net. I suppose it didn’t help that he was pretty isolated up front. Anyway, in the absence of goals, much of the middle section of the game involved niggly fouls, people randomly falling over and whining at the ref, and Portuguese players preening in their skintight white kits. I have to admit, they kind of looked nice with Ronniecakes’ shiny green boots.
Speaking of preening: Ronaldo, after 63 minutes, scoring the winning goal for Portugal. They were awarded yet another free kick, and this one was sent wide to Deco, who set up Ronaldo at the top of the box, and he slotted it through a crowd of defenders and past the keeper. And then followed that up a little while later by squabbling with Simao over who’d get to take a free kick. Silly boy, doesn’t he know that it’s always Ronaldo’s turn to shank it into the wall? The Czechs had a few more chances to pull themselves back into the game, but couldn’t take advantage. Instead Portugal added a third goal in stoppage time, after a quick free kick that set Ronaldo free behind the defence. He drew Petr Cech out and then squared it to Ricardo Quaresma for an easy finish. It wasn’t all about Ronaldo in this game — Deco, for one, played very well too — but it is hard to look past the gel-monkey right now.
Turkey 2-1 Switzerland
This could have been a very dull match (I didn’t watch the whole thing, actually), but it was enlivened by the torrential rain that turned the pitch into a gigantic slip-and-slide. Switzerland opened the scoring after half an hour with a long ball to Eren Derdiyok, who rounded the keeper and then squared it to Hakan Yakin — only for the ball to stop in a puddle along the way before he could poke it over the line.
They weren’t able to hold on to their lead, though. Substitute Senturk Semih equalized for Turkey partway through the second half, attacking a cross from the left and getting up ahead of the defender for the header. Switzerland still had hopes of hanging on for a draw, but they were sucker-punched by a Turkish counter-attack in stoppage time, as Turan Arda’s shot from the edge of the box was deflected past Diego Benaglio in goal. It was a devastating result for the Swiss, who have had absolutely no luck in this tournament. Unfortunately, they lacked the firepower up front to take advantage of Turkey’s periodic defensive lapses — Yakin, for example, missed a great chance just after the first goal. I am a bit disappointed by the lack of post-game fighting, but I guess they were all just too waterlogged.
Anyway, Switzerland have been eliminated, while Portugal have guaranteed their spot in the quarter-finals as group winners. The Czech Republic and Turkey face each other in their final group game to decide which of them will move on. They both have identical records so far, which means that the winner goes through; if there’s a tie, it will be decided by penalty kicks, according to UEFA:
Should two teams or more from the same group finish with an equal number of points, they will be ranked based on the following criteria:
- Number of points earned in matches between the teams in question;
- Goal difference in matches between the teams in question;
- Goals scored in matches between the teams in question;
- Goal difference in all group matches;
- Goals scored in all group matches;
- * In cases where exactly two teams are equal in all previously listed criteria and play one another to a draw in their final group match, kicks from the penalty mark will be conducted in lieu of the remaining criteria;
- UEFA coefficient;
- Fair play conduct of the teams in the group stage;
- Drawing of lots.
Next up in Group A: Turkey v. Czech Republic and Portugal v. Switzerland, both kicking off at 2:30 pm on Sunday
Bad hair of the day award: The Czech’s Tomas Ujfalusi, for a combination of long, lank hair and a sketchy goatee that makes him look like he belongs in a biker bar
Written by Jen on June 12th, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on Czech Republic and Euro 2008 and Switzerland and Turkey and portugal.
Welcome to the liveblog for the Czech Republic - Portugal match. The first "tale of the tape": models.
Czech Republic models: Demure
Portuguese models: Teases
As for the actual match, join me after the jump for line-ups and live-bloggisms.
The starting roster for the Czech Republic:
GK - Cech
DEF - Grygera, Ujfalusi (C), Rozehnal, Jankulovski
MID - Galasek, Plasil, Polak, Matejovsky, Sionko
ST - Baros
The starting roster for the Iberian Stepovers:
GK - Ricardo
DEF - Bosingwa, Pepe, Carvalho, Ferreira
MID - Petit, Moutinho, Ronaldo, Deco, Simao
ST - Gomes (C)
Things to note: Milan Baros starting up top in place of Jan Koller. Apparently, bald and old is no way to go through life, son.
Other notes: In order to watch the game in HD and live-blog at the same time, I am running things on my laptop, using my wireless network. So, any outages in updates are due to my running upstairs to power-cycle my router. You've been warned.
00:00 - The Czech Republic national anthem is entitled "Where is my home" - that seems a little maudlin.
2 minutes into the live-blog, and the first comment is a masturbation joke. Well done!
00:01 - And we're off!
00:39 - Carvalho with a ball to nowhere that results in a long ball to Baros on the counter. Baros then commits a foul.
02:40 - Baros is already looking lonely up top, although the Czech Republic are getting good pressure.
04:25 - Throw-in for Czechs leads to absolute shite, as the ball goes across the pitch and rolls out. Ronaldo with the throw for Portugal.
07:17 - GOAL! Portugal 1 - Czech Republic 0. Ronaldo dribbles into the box, and Cech makes the save but the ball flits to Deco who megs Jankulovsky to score.
10:07 -Portugal much more energetic after the goal, applying more pressure down the right side of the pitch. They should be - the goal was against the run of the play and Cech almost made the second save.
11:40 - Another Czech attack leads to a poor long ball. They are definitely looking out of form now, despite several attacks.
14:20 - Ronaldo with his first douchebag move, followed by a shot from Petit, which is taken easily by Cech.
15:00 - Baros gets a shot off, but it is high over the bar. Carvalho breathes easy.
15:50 - Sionko tries to play the ball across the goal mouth, but Portugal clears.
16:15 - Czech corner. GOAL! Portugal 1 - Czech Republic 1. Beautiful header by Sionko off the corner. No chance for the keeper.
18:00 - Tommy Smyth describes the goal as "Andy Gray-esque." Insightful.
19:53 - Petit takes his second shot for Portugal, but it is equally shite. Perhaps the holding midfielder is not the best striker in the world?
22:00 - First yellow of the match for Jan Polak (STUPID MISTAKE!) for a challenge from behind. 50/50 on whether a card is warranted, as he got the ball.
23:00 - Ronaldo down the right side of the pitch, and he gets the ball taken away yet again. Despite setting up the goal, he looks positively human.
23:37 - Nice shot from Deco, moving away from the goal. The ball rises up and to the right, not troubling Cech.
24:01 - Ronaldo gets off a nice shot in traffic despite being surrounded by 4 red shirts, but Cech handles it easily.
24:50 - Pepe gets an arm to the mouth in a collision with Baros going for a header.
28:00 - Corner for Czech Republic after Pepe fails to save the ball from going out. The ball comes across the goal after Ricardo completely mistimed his attempt at a clearance, but the Portuguese eventually boot it out.
30:01 - Yellow card for Bosingwa after Portugal is disposessed and Galasek clears the ball.
31:57 - Another poor ball across the pitch from Petit. At this rate, Scolari may flay him alive at half-time.
32:42 - Ronaldo makes a nice run down the left side of the pitch, eventually winning a throw-in. The ball is played back in but Simao fouls Jankulovski, so the ball goes back to the Czechs.
34:38 - Paolo Ferreira plays a nice ball into the 6, but Czech Republic clears and counters. Baros makes some magic and then plays the ball back into the middle, but the attack breaks down.
37:00 - Carvalho commits the foul on Baros, leading to a free kick in a dangerous spot. The ball goes out wide out to Grygara, who cocks it up.
38:20 - After the ball bounces around a bit, Ronaldo receives the ball and is disposessed by Grygara. The ball comes back out to Moutinho, who takes a poor shot that is easily handled by Cech.
40:08 - Corner for Portugal, delivered short by Simao to Deco. The ball is put back in and cleared by Ujfalusi for another corner. The second corner winds up on the opposite side of the pitch and played out by Portugal.
41:17 - Ronaldo with his first great shot at the match. Left-footer from about 23 yards out, and Cech makes a beautiful diving save. The throw-in leads to nothing.
43:11 - Ronaldo receives the ball in the middle of the pitch, but the ball is taken from him. Ronaldo, after a slight touch from Ujfalusi, goes down faster than a Thai hooker for a $5 bill.
44:45 - We are threatened with Rece Davis and Julie Foudy yet again for the halftime "analysis."
45:00 (+00:35) - Matejovsky commits a foul 30 yards out, and this is the last play of the half. Simao and Ronaldo line up over it, and Ronaldo takes it right at Cech, who gobbles it up.
Half-time and lunchtime - Stouffer's French-bread pizza or Chef Boyardee Spaghetti and Meatballs? Also, 6 comments for my first-ever live-blog? We better be up to 110 by the end of the game, or I am going to develop low self-esteem.
Dear Nike: I am not Dutch. Please revise your commercials accordingly.
45:28 - As the second half starts, Tommy Smyth opines on the brilliance of replacing Jan Koller with Milan Baros. Really? You think so, do you?
46:29 - Petit plays the ball into Ronaldo, who is dumped yet again. Naturally, he pouts and puts up his hand to the ref. Tosser.
47:00 - Corner kick for Portugal leads nothing.
47:30 - Czech Republic pushes forward and Sionko pushes the ball across the goal mouth, which Baros barely misses. The resulting corner leads to nothing.
Our resident Chelsea fan, in a bit of irony, questions the fortitude of Czech defender Grygera. I will not make any Ashley Cole comments. I will not make any Ashley Cole comments.
49:00 - Cech misplays the ball, resulting in a Portugal corner, which in turn leads to nothing. Relatively poor dead ball work from both teams.
51:00 - Tommy Smyth says "surely Ronaldo got tripped there." No, he didn't, and don't call me Shirley you Welsh twit.
52:00 - Gomes receives the ball with his back to the goal at the 18, but he turns and puts his shot straight at Cech.
54:45 - Gomes lopes past Rozehnal after a bad touch, but the Czech defender recovers to put it out for a corner. Simao takes the corner, but it leads to nothing.
56:50 - Free kick for the Czechs from 35 yards. The ball is put into the box and cleared by Pepe.
57:50 - Deco with a beautiful through ball to Simao, and Cech makes an excellent save with his left hand/foot. Good positioning from the keeper.
59:30 - Portugal with yet another opportunity built through the midfield. They are really starting to assert themselves, although the Czechs are defending well.
60:00 - Tommy Smyth opines that perhaps Koller is warming up because Baros doesn't have the fitness to play the full 90 minutes, bolstering his argument by mentioning that Baros was only a substitute in the Portsmouth-Cardiff City final.
61:20 - Corner for the Czechs, and Ujifalusi gets a head on it. It flashes across the goal mouth, but no one can get a head on it.
62:30 - GOAL! Portugal 2 - Czech Republic 1. Ronaldo is fed a ball across the box from Deco and absolutely blasts it home past Cech.
64:40 - Petit chops Jankulovski approximately 17 seconds after the ball is gone, leading to a free kick. (France's Petit >>>>>>>>>>>> Portugal's Petit). The free kick is served well, and Ricardo takes a swing and a miss, but Portugal manages to clear the ball.
66:40 - Corner kick for Portugal. The ball is played short to Simao, who sends it across the box to Pepe, who is 2 yards offside.
67:17 - Vlcek on for Matejovsky for the Czech Republic.
68:31 - Jankulovski sends a ball into the 6-yard box, but it's too close to Ricardo who makes the save.
69:30 - The Czechs get an excellent chance as the ball comes to the far post and is headed back across the goal. Unfortunately, Baros is too short and Ferreira makes the clearance.
69:58 - Petit is down on the pitch. It looks like he may taken a shot to the coin purse on Ferreira's clearance. He is stretchered off.
73:00 - Jan Koller on for Galasek for the Czech Republic. This removes a holding midfielder to add a second striker, so they are clearly still looking to push the pace.
74:00 - Portugal makes their first change, sending on Meira for Moutinho, adding a defensive midfielder.
75:30 - Polak fouls Deco at 20 yards, and Simao takes the free kick directly into the wall.
77:00 - Quickly down the other hand, Plasil plays the ball into Baros, who heads it wide. Sionko was behind Baros, in better position, but he doesn't get his chance.
78:30 - Portugal makes their second change, bringing on Almeida for Gomes. Gomes hands the captain's armband to Ronaldo, which is met by loud jeers from the crowd.
80:00 - Quaresma on for Simao for Portugal.
81:00 - Jankulovski looks at Quaresma, who falls to the ground as if he had been shot.
82:50 - Plasil pushes the ball up the right side of the pitch, and the ball is eventually delivered to Sionko, who forces a save over the bar by Ricardo. The resulting corner leads to nothing.
85:00 - Jarolim on for Plasil in the last substitute of the match. Plasil may be gassed, as he and Sionko have been the best players for the Czech Republic by far.
86:00 - Jarolim gets dumped, leading to a free kick. He is eventually disposessed by Pepe, so he fouls him. The AR is not impressed.
87:47 - Quaresma receives the ball in the box, but his shot is deflected by Jankulovski. The Greek AR is apparently blind, as he awards a goal kick.
88:30 - Free kick from Jankulovski from 35 yards comes too close to Ricardo, who punches it out.
89:46 - Nice run by Baros, who delivers the ball to Koller. He knocks the ball down and plays ti Sionko, who skies it over the net.
90:00 (+00:30) - GOAL! Portugal 3 - Czech Republic 1. A quick free kick by Portugal leads to a ball played through to Ronaldo, who dips his shoulder to draw Cech in and then delivers it to Quaresma for the goal.
90:00 (+03:00) - Full time. Portugal 3 - Czech Republic 1.
Okay kids, that's it for this match. Join me in 30 minutes for Switzerland v. Turkey.
Written by Darkvader on June 11th, 2008 with no comments.
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