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| 15th June - 19.45 - Group D Match | ||||
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| 2 - 1 | ||||
| Czech Republic Team | Latvia Team | |||
Petr Cech |
Alexsandrs Kolinko Aleksandrs Isakovs Mihails Zemlinskis Igors Stepanovs Olegs Blagonadezdins Imants Bleidelis Valentins Lobanovs Andrejs Rubins Vitalijs Astafjevs Andrejs Prohorenkovs Maris Verpakovskis |
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| Czech Republic Subs | Latvia Subs | |||
| Jaromir Blazek Marek Heinz Tomas Hubschman Martin Jiranek Antonin Kinsky Vratislav Lokvenc Pavel Mares Jaroslav Plasil David Rozehnal Vladimir Smicer Roman Tyce Stepan Vachousek |
Igors Korablovs Juris Laizans Mihails Miholaps Marian Pahars Andrejs Pavlovs Anderjs Piedels Jurgis Pucinskis Vits Rimkus Maris Smirnovs Andrejs Stolcers Arturs Zakresevskis Dzintars Zirnis |
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| Match Report |
| While the many people were looking forward to the later Holland v Germany game, the Czech Republic - who many people's outside bet - took on Latvia.
Maris Verpakovskis netted on the stroke of half-time to give the men from the Baltic the lead and they held on until first Baros then Heinz broke their hearts in Aveiro. The Czechs dominated in the first half and only failed to score because of a combination of inept shooting and fine goalkeeping by Aleksandrs Kolinko. The Baltic side showed little ambition but on the stroke of half-time Igors Stepanovs found Andrejs Prohorenkovs down the left and his cross was converted by Verpakovskis. The pattern of play continued after the break but it looked as if the Czechs' efforts would be in vain as first Karel Poborsky struck the post then Baros squandered two chances. Kolinko then came to his side's rescue again by saving well from Pavel Nedved but a weak punch from the keeper three minutes later presented Baros with the chance to level and he made no mistake with a powerful shot. Substitute Heinz gave Latvia a scare eight minutes from time as his long-range shot clipped the top of the bar, but he did not have long to wait as three minutes later he lashed the ball home to give the Czechs all three points. |
