Live from Euro 2004
Czechs thrash Denmark to book Greek date
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| Czech forward Milan Baros celebrates after scoring the second goal for his team, 27 June 2004 at Dragao stadium in Porto, during the quarter final Euro 2004 football match between Czech Republic and Denmark at the European Nations championship in Portugal. AFP PHOTO Joe KLAMAR |
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| Czech forward Jan Koller celebrates his opening goal, 27 June 2004 at Dragao stadium in Porto, during the Euro 2004 quarter final football match between Czech Republic and Denmark at the European Nations championships in Portugal. AFP PHOTO Vincenzo PINTO |
Milan Baros was the hero of the hour as the Czech Republic booked the last spot in the semi-finals on Sunday after his three minute double helped overwhelm Denmark 3-0 at Porto's Dragon Stadium.
Jan Koller opened the scores in the 49th minute with a typical towering header, but his strike partner was the man who buried Denmark.
Baros' double -- a clever chip and an unstoppable rising left-footed drive -- took his goal tally to five in four matches, making him the tournament's highest goalscorer.
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| Czech midfielder Pavel Nedved applauses, 27 June 2004 at Dragao stadium in Porto, at the end of the Euro 2004 quarter final football match between Czech Republic and Denmark at the European Nations championship in Portugal. Czech Republic won the match 3 to 0. AFP PHOTO FRANCK FIFE |
Pavel Nedved Produced a captain's performance and supplied Baros with a cutting pass for the third goal.
The Czech Republic, beaten finalists in 1996 when they lost to Germany at Wembley stadium in England, will play Greece in the semi-finals here at the same stadium on Thursday.
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| Czech forward Jan Koller (L) celebrates his opening goal next to his teammate, forward Milan Baros (R), 27 June 2004 at Dragao stadium in Porto, during the Euro 2004 quarter final match between Czech Republic and Denmark at the European Nations championship in Portugal. AFP PHOTO Vincenzo PINTO |
"It was a great moment for the Czechs," Baros said. "If someone had told me before the tournament that I would score five goals I would not have believed them.
"But the most important thing is that we are in the semi-finals."
Baros denied that the Czechs would be hot favourites to defeat Greece.
"I don't think we are favourites. They beat France 1-0 and they played very well. They have a good defence but this will be a different sort of game."
The Czechs will now be many people's favourites to go on and win the tournament from a fascinating remaining quartet that also includes Portugal v Holland on Wednesday.
The Portuguese of course were beaten 2-0 on the opening night by Otto Rehhagel's dark horses Greece, who also beat France in the quarter-final for perhaps an even bigger upset.
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| Czech forward Milan Baros (down) is congratulated by his teammates after scoring the third goal for his team, 27 June 2004 at Dragao stadium in Porto, during the Euro 2004 quarter final football match between Czech Republic and Denmark at the European Nations championship in Portugal. AFP PHOTO Joe KLAMAR |
The hosts have overcome their early shock with two consecutive gut-wrenching wins over first Spain to win their group and eliminate their neighbour and then won the penalty shoot-out after an absolute battle against England.
Holland meanwhile were involved in the best match of the first round against the Czechs, who came from 2-0 down to win a five goal thriller. The Dutch won't worry too much about the dull nature with which they beat Sweden and seem to be improving.
But the Czech Republic are Sunday's heroes maintaining their unbeaten run, the only one in the tournament, in tremendous style.