Euros Marvel:Czech Shock Dutch, Pick Last 8 Slot
Czech Republic pulled off the shock of the European Championship so far by defeating the Netherlands and booking their place in the last eight after defender Matthijs de Ligt was sent off.
Tomas Holes nodded in the opener 13 minutes after De Ligt saw red for handball following a VAR review, denying Patrik Schick a clear goalscoring opportunity.
Holes then turned provider for Schick as the Czechs doubled their lead on 80 minutes.
The Netherlands, down to 10 men for over half an hour, had a huge chance earlier on as Donyell Malen raced through one-on-one with goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik.
But the Czech Republic, ranked 40th in the world, 24 places behind the Dutch, went on to silence those in orange at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, setting up a quarter-final with Denmark on Saturday, 3 July.
The Netherlands have shown attacking intent throughout the tournament and that did not change in Budapest as wing-backs Denzel Dumfries and Patrick van Aanholt caused problems early on.
Dumfries was their main threat, getting in behind at one point on the left and flicking it over the keeper but unable to beat the last defender.
Memphis Depay was heavily involved too, while Malen got into some dangerous positions.
But while the Netherlands caused problems out wide, so did the Czech Republic, as Vladimir Coufal exploited space in behind left by the roaming Van Aanholt.
Both teams looked susceptible in defence but when De Ligt tripped and pulled the ball back with his hand in the second half, it left referee Sergey Karasev with no choice but to overturn his original decision to show just a yellow card.
And then the Netherlands were on the back foot.
Dumfries made a goal-saving block to deny Pavel Kaderabek but Holes punished the Dutch minutes later, finishing off a knock-back from Tomas Kalas on a corner.
Schick’s fourth goal of the tournament finished it off after the Netherlands had pushed for an equaliser – only Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo has more goals than the Czech forward so far.
They travel to Azerbaijan to take on Denmark next, who they beat 3-0 in the quarter-finals of Euro 2004.
Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portuguese side lost grip of the last eight slots in the on-going Euros tournament, after all hopeful efforts, but yielded to the Belgian team’s 0-1 with a superior goal struggle from Hazard.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Sam Udekwe is a journalist working in the News and Current Affairs department, Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS) Enugu. He is well trained in all genres of journalistic venture.
Mr Sam read Mass Communication, graduating all with Distinction in National Diploma, Higher National Diploma and Postgraduate Diploma at IMT, Enugu and Madonna University, Okija, Anambra state, while he is presently on his M.Sc programme also in Mass Communication, at National Open University of Nigeria.
He is currently the NUJ Chairman, Enugu state.
samowailo@gmail.com
