Euro 2008: Matchday Five Round Up

After opening day victories over Switzerland and Turkey, Czech Republic and Portugal came head to head in the second match day of Group A. The collective play of Scolari’s side meets a Czech side that hasn’t reached its peak with a lack of direction in attack, shown by using the selfless running of Milan Baros preferred to the static Jan Koller as the neat passing of Karel Buckner’s side looked to secure a quarter final spot.

The eastern Europeans started the brighter with Libor Sionko’s shot being blocked as he dribbled into towards the box from the right flank. Yet Portugal cut open the Czech defence as Ronaldo ran into the box after a deft touch from Nuno Gomes. Ronaldo appeared to round Cech but the brilliant Chelsea keeper denied him, and blocked Deco’s follow up, but the out of favour Barcelona man shot on the third opportunity his side were presented and the ball crept in after deflecting in off a Czech defender. The Portuguese played a patient build up as space opened up for Armando Petit to rush forward and shoot from distance, but Cech gathered well

Yet the Czechs rushed forward as Baros headed over, and Sionko dribbled to the byline getting the better of Pepe, but his cut back was met by none of his team mates but Petit anxiously cleared for a Czech corner. The former Rangers’ man, his country’s best performer in the last match, timed his run perfectly to beat Petit to the ball from Plasil and headed past Ricardo into the net to level the score. As the Czechs began to influence proceedings more with a higher tempo and the earlier ball to lone frontman Milan Baros, Polak was booked as he overran the ball and lunged in a 50-50 with Real’s Pepe. Yet Portugal showed why they are considered one of the favourites as Deco strode forward and aimed for the top right hand corner but fired over while countryman Ronaldo shot through a crowd of players in a bid to surprise Cech, who once more was unfazed.

The Portuguese struggled with set pieces as Plasil whipped in a ball from the left to the far post, which was knocked back into the danger area. As Portugal slowed the game down, Chelsea’s new signing Boswinga showed fine strength to win the ball back having lost it, but lacked the composure to lay the ball off. This was evident as his over exuberance in the tackle earned him a yellow card having once more lost the ball. The ‘Republic of Czechoslovakia’, according to David Pleat, began to break frequently as another early tackle, this time by Simao prevented this forays into their half. Yet a fine dribble by Baros, having not scored once in 16 appearances for Portsmouth on loan, allowed him to trick his way down the right wing beating several Portuguese players, but his final pass was lacking as he aimed a cross for team mates gathering at the far post.

Then Ronaldo hit another, left footed this time, powerful shot at Cech, who palmed the ball away at full stretch. Then bursting forward towards the Czech defence, he fell dramatically, as the fans glimpsed the unsavoury side of the Real Madrid target and stayed down clutching his face. Immediately, as the play resumed to normal after Paulo Ferreira received a nasty cut by his eye, Ronaldo fired a dipping free-kick, which Cech was once more equal to. The game was typical of a recent upturn in the quality of the games with chances at both ends and a fascinating contest between two contrasting styles: neat possession and the swift counter attack.

Pepe, having tackled Baros, strode forward with ease to the opposition box and crossed to win a corner. Yet the Czechs continued their improvement as the very lively Sionko dribbled to the byline, from a brilliant pass from Matejovsky, once more and cut back, with Baros not reading the direction of the cross as it trickled across the goalmouth before being cleared. The slow build up of Portugal almost broke through the wall of red that is the Czech defence, as a pass from Simao luckily found Nuno Gomes, who improved well by turning well from three defenders before firing on target but at Cech. The Benfica striker stole the ball from Lazio defender Rozenhal but his shot was blocked as the former Newcastle man recovered well.

Deco drove forward and poked a pass through to Simao, whose shot was blocked by Cech while Grygera blocked Ronaldo’s follow up. The Atletico Madrid winger then ran forward in another attack but his pull-back was too close to Cech. While Scolari altered his tactics when defending set pieces, reducing the chance to counter attack by bringing back more players, still Ujfalusi’s flick on attracted two players who couldn’t connect in a very good chance highlighting a fragility in this aspect of his side’s play.

Yet it didn’t matter as Ronaldo hit a low, early shot from Deco’s square pass and it passed through the legs of Grygera, to disguise it from Cech until late on when he was helpless, allowing Portugal to take the lead. The Czech Republic brought on Jan Koller alongside Milan Baros to provide an aerial threat, as Ricardo flapped at another dangerous free-kick. Soon after, Bruckner’s side threatened once more as an early cross from Baros was touched on by Koller, but the finish was lacking from Sionko, who played in an advanced role late in the game. The set-pieces of Plasil always disturbed Portugal, but it was their quick thinking that allowed a quick free kick to be played on towards Ronaldo, who ran free and faced Cech but squared to Porto’s Quaresma, who slotted home to confirm their place in the quarter finals.

The fine combination play of Portugal allowed them to overcome an improved Czech side but the sycophantic and hyperbolic presentation of Ronaldo did once more overshadow the ITV coverage, mentioning him once in every minute of playing time (93) and 27 times during the half time break. They must really find another angle to their coverage of Portugal to appeal to all aspects of their varied audience.

Czech Republic 1 – 3 Portugal FT

When Turkey and Switzerland last met, the game ended on a sour note in a 2006 World Cup play-off as television showed images of fighting in the tunnel as Switzerland qualified through the away goals rule despite losing 4-2 on the night. No doubt the game would have had revenge and a shot at qualification high on the list of priorities. The hosts had already lost captain and star striker Alexander Frei and Kobi Kuhn was under pressure to restore pride lost in the opening day defeat to the Czech Republic. Erin Derdiyok, of whom commentators will be so swift as to remind us of his debut goal against England, replaced the Dortmund man.

Arda Turan, chased by Newcastle among others, showed a flash of skill as he did the roulette, moving away from two Swiss players in the opening stages. Decent possession football by Turkey pressured the Swiss into deeper areas with the four attacking players involved heavily. The Swiss looked to up the tempo by taking the quick throw or the early forward pass to throw Fatih Terrim’s side from their stride.

As the rain poured down in Basel, Inler decided to use the pitch to fire a low shot that could have troubled Volkan, who gathered. Arsenal’s Senderos made a perfectly timed sliding tackle on Tuncay after Arda Turan had mad headway through the Swiss defence. The young defender had a lapse in concentration having gathered he ball in the left back area, he blindly passed down the line to a white shirt, sparking goalmouth scramble. Inler found Hakan Yakin wide on the left and he drove forward and hit a stinging drive which was palmed away by Volkan, who bettered himself with a diving save from a Yakin free-kick once more.

Turkey increased their pressure following a Swiss spell of possession, as Tuncay turned well on the edge of the box but was fouled to win a free-kick, from which Nihat crossed only for Benaglio to clear onto the head of Galatasaray youngster Turan who hit the post. Senderos played a long ball to Derdiyok, who ran past the keeper and cut back accurately for Hakan Yakin to tap in as the ball was held up in one of the many puddles on the pitch. Yet the same man became the villain in the following minute as Behrami crossed for Yakin, who was in an identical position to his goal but hit his shot wide, as the Swiss frequently played the ball in the air to progress without the disadvantage of the pitch, which hindered the more cultured style of the Turks. This tactic brought out the best in the more physical Swiss with Erin Derdiyok pressing well from the front.

Turkey seemed to have adapted to the wet pitch after half time but their improvement was dampened by Hakan Balta’s blatant handball and he was rightly booked. Barnetta countered as the Swiss looked to extend their fragile lead but his shot never looked like troubling Volkan as he sliced it wide. Lazio’s Behrami stole the ball deep in the Turkish half and drove to the byline where he did well to cross albeit to no-one. Yet Turkey equalized from a simple cross as Senturk headed straight at the keeper Benaglio, who was at fault by slapping the ball into the net, rather than lifting it over his goal. The centre backs were also poor in holding the line throughout the game.

Nihat then shot from the edge of the area; he tried to claim a penalty for handball from Senderos, whose hands were firmly behind his back. With their hopes predominantly resting on this game, Turkey almost went ahead, as a fine Turan pass reached Tuncay, whose cross evaded his strike partner as he stretched for it. As the game came into the final ten minutes, Aurelio found an opportunity as the ball broke in the area but his shot was valiantly blocked. Turkey piled forward for a free-kick but Nihat’s dead ball was cleared by the first man and Switzerland broke with three attackers against one as Derdiyok slid the ball through, and it was knocked it back to Vonlanthen, whose shot was saved while Volkan bravely grabbed the loose ball as well before Yakin could follow up.

There was blood and panic as Turkey rushed to bring Emre Asik back on the pitch, who suffered a deep cut and the Swiss drove forward to find a winner but Asik was waved back on and the Turks broke and the brilliant Arda Turan, whose suggested £13 million transfer value has surely risen, ran down the left and cut in and scored the winner with the aid of a deflection. The improvement in conditions surely aided the Turks and sadly the co-hosts are knocked out just five days into the tournament despite their spirited performance. Now what is sure is the winner between an interesting game between the Czech Republic and Turkey will join Portugal in the quarter final.

Switzerland 1 – 2 Turkey FT