Netherlands 0-2 Czech Republic
A sea of colour at Euro 2020, how wonderful it was to see Budapest’s Ferenc Puskas Arena packed to capacity again – the only venue at the tournament currently allowed to be full due to Covid restrictions.
On one side Oranje, at the other end the charismatic Czechs.
A meeting between nations with history.
Ask me to remember the first ever European Championships I watched growing up, and my mind goes back to 1988 and THAT Marco van Basten goal which defied logic.
Ask me to think of a meeting between these two nations and it was a Euro 2004 comeback which stunned me as the Czechs fought back from 2-0 down – a game fondly remember by all connected with the victors.
Seventeen years on, what Euro 2020 highlights could they produce in Hungary?
Highlights of the game
There was just one change to the Dutch team which beat North Macedonia as Marten de Roon replaced Ryan Gravenberch.
Other than striker Luuk de Jong, ruled out of the tournament after suffering a knee injury in training, boss Frank de Boer had a fully fit squad to choose from.
There were three changes to the Czech Republic side which lost to England with Jan Boril suspended, captain Vladimir Darida injured and Jakub Jankto dropping to the bench.
That meant starts for Pavel Kaderabek, Antonin Barak and Petr Sevcik with the side captained by West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek.
It was always bright, always enjoyable to watch but the probing Orange shirts were thwarted by the well-organised men in white.
In humid conditions, the best chance of the first half fell to Soucek whose glancing header was just wide of the post after an inviting ball from Sevcik.
And when the rampaging Denzel Dumfries found a way through at the other end five minutes before the break, his pull-back was stopped impressively by goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik.
Holland, looking to win their opening four games of a European Championship for only the second time, were left to reflect on a crucial 30 seconds early in the second period.
First, Donyell Malen made a fine run and his pace took him clear only for Sevilla shot-stopper Vaclik to dive on the ball as he attempted to round the keeper.
Straight away, the play went up the other end and, with seemingly little danger, promising young centre back Matthijs de Ligt slipped and handled the ball on the edge of the area.
While he was initially booked, VAR intervened and it was ruled the Juventus defender had intentionally prevented a one-on-one chance for Patrik Schick.
Yellow became red and the task for Oranje became even tougher for the pre-match favourites.
Playing with 10 men is tough at any level but, particularly at the highest level, and the SBOTOP Euro 2020 betting odds were already leaning towards the Czechs when Tomas Kalas directed a selfless header across goal and the unmarked Tomas Holes powered a header home beyond three Dutch defenders on the goal line.
Ten minutes from time and it was all over as the impressive Holes surged onto a long Vaclik kick and his deft touch was swept home with composure by Schick.
As Czech players urged their fans to roar them home, the dispirited Dutch were well beaten and it would have been 3-0 in stoppage time but for a fine block by veteran goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg.
The Dutch dream is over; the Czechs are into the last eight.
Key Statistics
Schick is only the ninth player to score as many as four goals in their first four Euros appearances and the first since David Villa for Spain in 2008.
He has netted 15 times in 30 matches for the Czech Republic, while only Milan Baros (five) has scored more goals at major tournaments than Schick (four) among Czech players.
Holes is the first Czech player to score and assist in a European Championships game since Jan Koller and Milan Baros at Euro 2004, also against the Netherlands.
For the first time since all Euro and World Cup games are analysed (1980), the Netherlands failed to record a single shot on target in a tournament game.
De Ligt’s dismissal was Holland’s first red card in the tournament since John Heitinga in 2004, also against the Czech Republic.
Only Edgar Davids (three) has received more red cards in the history of the Dutch national team than de Ligt (two).
Since winning the tournament in 1988, Holland have progressed from just two of their eight knockout stage games in the European Championship.
The Czech Republic have only won two of their past eight games at major tournaments.
What’s next?
It’s off to Baku now for the Czechs for a quarter-final meeting with Denmark next weekend (July 3).
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
