Netherlands v Czech Republic, 19 June 2004

Score3-2 to Czech Republic
Referee Manuel Mejuto González
CompetitionUEFA European Championship Finals Group D
VenueEstadio Municipal de Aveiro, Aviero
Attendance29,935
Kick-off: 7:45pm local Assistant referees: Rafael Guerrero Alonso (Spain) Oscar Martínez Samaniego (Spain) Fourth official: Pierluigi Collina (Italy) Man of the Match: Pavel Nedvěd (Czech Republic) In one of the most exciting encounters in UEFA European Championship history, the Czech Republic came from 2-0 down to clinch victory with two minutes remaining, Vladimír Šmicer hitting the winner after John Heitinga had been sent off for the Netherlands. Dick Advocaat's side were in control after Wilfred Bouma and Ruud van Nistelrooy had put them two goals to the good inside 20 minutes. Yet in an open match Jan Koller replied swiftly and after Milan Baroš's 73rd-minute equaliser and Heitinga's dismissal the stage was set for Šmicer to apply the coup de grace. The game was an open affair from the start and Koller might have scored as early as the first minute, volleying Tomáš Rosický's clever chip over the bar. Moments later Marek Jankulovski broke through only to misfire from 15 metres, so it was against the run play that the Netherlands took a fourth-minute lead, Bouma nodding in Arjen Robben's free-kick. Clarence Seedorf twice went close to doubling the lead, grazing the outside of the post from a free-kick, but the pressure told on 19 minutes when Van Nistelrooy pounced on Robben's low cross to make it 2-0. Just as the match was assuming a distinctly orange hue Baroš intercepted Phillip Cocu's square pass, raced into the Dutch area and teed up Koller to finish. Yet the first half ended with the Czechs on the back foot, as rasping drives by Seedorf and Heitinga flew fractionally over and Edgar Davids struck the woodwork. Robben spread panic throughout, but the winger was substituted early in the second period. Meanwhile Marek Heinz, scorer of the winner against Latvia, came on to set up a chance for Šmicer, who was denied by the flying Edwin van der Saar. The goalkeeper had no chance, however, when Koller chested down Pavel Nedvěd's cross and Baroš blasted in the equaliser. At the other end Petr Čech saved with his legs from Andy van der Meyde but 15 minutes from time Heitinga received a second caution for a second foul on Nedvěd. Ten-man Oranje were relieved when Nedvěd rattled the bar from 20 metres but it was only postponing their fate; sealed by Šmicer's close-range strike.

2  Netherlands

Manager: Dick Advocaat

3  Czech Republic

Manager: Karel Brückner

Goals:

Wilfred Bouma 4 G
Ruud Van Nistelrooy 19 G

Goals:

Jan Koller 23 G
Milan Baroš 71 G
Vladimír Smicer 88 G

Starting lineup:

Goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar
Defender Wilfred Bouma
Defender Johnny Heitinga
Defender Jaap Stam
Midfielder Phillip Cocu (captain)
Midfielder Edgar Davids
Midfielder Arjen Robben
Midfielder Clarence Seedorf
Midfielder Andy van der Meyde

Starting lineup:

Petr Čech Goalkeeper
Zdeněk Grygera Defender
Martin Jiránek Defender
Tomáš Galásek Midfielder
Pavel Nedvěd Midfielder (captain)
Karel Poborský Midfielder
Tomáš Rosický Midfielder
Milan Baroš Forward
Jan Koller Forward

Substitutions:

Paul Bosvelt for Arjen Robben 60
Michael Reiziger for Andy van der Meyde 79
Rafael van der Vaart for Clarence Seedorf 85

Substitutions:

Vladimír Smicer for Zdeněk Grygera 25
Marek Heinz for Tomáš Galásek 62
David Rozehnal for Jan Koller 75

Cards:

Clarence Seedorf 9 Y
Johnny Heitinga 26 Y
Johnny Heitinga 75 Y
Johnny Heitinga 75 R

Cards:

Tomáš Galásek 55 Y

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Ronald Waterreus
Goalkeeper Sander Westerveld
Defender Frank de Boer
Defender Michael Reiziger
Midfielder Paul Bosvelt
Midfielder Marc Overmars
Midfielder Wesley Sneijder
Midfielder Bolo Zenden
Forward Roy Makaay

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Jaromir Blažek
Goalkeeper Antonín Kinský
Defender David Rozehnal
Defender/Midfielder Roman Tyce
Midfielder Pavel Mares
Midfielder Jaroslav Plašil
Midfielder Vladimír Smicer
Forward Marek Heinz

2  Netherlands

Manager: Dick Advocaat

Goals:

Wilfred Bouma 4 G
Ruud Van Nistelrooy 19 G

Starting lineup:

Goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar
Defender Wilfred Bouma
Defender Johnny Heitinga
Defender Jaap Stam
Midfielder Phillip Cocu (captain)
Midfielder Edgar Davids
Midfielder Arjen Robben
Midfielder Clarence Seedorf
Midfielder Andy van der Meyde

Substitutions:

Paul Bosvelt for Arjen Robben 60
Michael Reiziger for Andy van der Meyde 79
Rafael van der Vaart for Clarence Seedorf 85

Cards:

Clarence Seedorf 9 Y
Johnny Heitinga 26 Y
Johnny Heitinga 75 Y
Johnny Heitinga 75 R

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Ronald Waterreus
Goalkeeper Sander Westerveld
Defender Frank de Boer
Defender Michael Reiziger
Midfielder Paul Bosvelt
Midfielder Marc Overmars
Midfielder Wesley Sneijder
Midfielder Bolo Zenden
Forward Roy Makaay

3  Czech Republic

Manager: Karel Brückner

Goals:

Jan Koller 23 G
Milan Baroš 71 G
Vladimír Smicer 88 G

Starting lineup:

Petr Čech Goalkeeper
Zdeněk Grygera Defender
Martin Jiránek Defender
Tomáš Galásek Midfielder
Pavel Nedvěd Midfielder (captain)
Karel Poborský Midfielder
Tomáš Rosický Midfielder
Milan Baroš Forward
Jan Koller Forward

Substitutions:

Vladimír Smicer for Zdeněk Grygera 25
Marek Heinz for Tomáš Galásek 62
David Rozehnal for Jan Koller 75

Cards:

Tomáš Galásek 55 Y

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Jaromir Blažek
Goalkeeper Antonín Kinský
Defender David Rozehnal
Defender/Midfielder Roman Tyce
Midfielder Pavel Mares
Midfielder Jaroslav Plašil
Midfielder Vladimír Smicer
Forward Marek Heinz