Russia v Czech Republic, 08 June 2012

Score4-1 to Russia
RefereeHoward Webb
CompetitionUEFA European Championship Finals Group A
VenueMiejski Stadion, Wroclaw
Attendance40,803
Kick-off: 8.45pm local Assistant referees: Michael Mullarkey (England) Peter Kirkup (England) Fourth official: Jorge Sousa (Portugal) Additional assistant referees: Martin Atkinson (England) Mark Clattenburg (England) Man of the Match: Alan Dzagoev (Russia) Alan Dzagoev scored twice as Russia swept to a convincing victory over the Czech Republic in Wroclaw and leave his nation atop Group A after the opening games in the section. Dick Advocaat had reiterated his belief that Russia are contenders to win the tournament in his pre-match press conference. With the way his team performed in their opening game in brushing aside the Czech Republic 4-1, the Dutchman will not have changed his mind. After Dzagoev had opened the scoring on the quarter-hour, Roman Shirokov struck nine minutes later to give Russia a healthy lead at the break. Václav Pilař's goal early in the second half gave the Czechs hope, but Dzagoev and Roman Pavlyuchenko scored within three minutes of each other as their opponents crumbled in the closing stages. The gloss those goals gave the scoreline was not merely a flattering one. Advocaat had promised his side would not abandon the attractive style that had brought them this far, though initially they were not allowed to show it. The Czechs' menace stemmed only from a pair of set pieces, however, and goalkeeper Vyacheslav Malafeev, preferred to Igor Akinfeev, was untroubled, unlike his counterpart at the opposite end. Petr Čech had already seen Aleksandr Kerzhakov scuff a good chance wide before the FC Zenit St Petersburg forward struck a post with a header from Konstantin Zyryanov's cross. The Czech defence, pulled out of shape by the Russians' sharp movement and still sharper passing, reacted sluggishly as the ball broke for Dzagoev to cap a move he had started by drilling in. An almost carbon-copy attack might have immediately brought a second had Dzagoev, faced only with the advancing Čech, shown the poise Shirokov then displayed in doubling his team's lead. Though Arshavin's angled pass was intended for Kerzhakov, it ran neatly to Shirokov, whose recent burst of goals was evident in his confident chip over Čech. The fluidity in Russia's forays merely served to put the Czechs' lack of that precious quality into greater relief when they moved forward. Only Petr Jiráček provided anything like the required impetus, and a scuffed Michal Kadlec shot, which brought a leisurely save from Malafeev, summed up a disappointing opening half. Michal Bílek's men appeared set for an equally frustrating second period with Arshavin quickly slipping back into his devilishly creative mood. He was upstaged, however, by Jaroslav Plašil, who picked out Pilař's run behind the Russian back four with a sublime pass. The VfL Wolfsburg man confidently rounded Malafeev before clipping home from an ever-tightening angle. Arshavin responded to Plašil in kind, flicking nonchalantly through for Kerzhakov, but he was left looking to the heavens after dragging his shot wide of the far post. It was not a night to remember for the 29-year-old, who was substituted soon after firing another opportunity wastefully wide. Fortunately for Russia, his profligacy did not cost them, though Malafeev had to produce an excellent save to stop a Rosický drive before Dzagoev and Pavlyuchenko, who had replaced Kerzhakov, put the issue beyond doubt.

4  Russia

Manager: Dick Advocaat

1  Czech Republic

Manager: Michal Bilek

Goals:

Alan Dzagoev 15 G
Roman Shirokov 24 G
Alan Dzagoev 79 G
Roman Pavlyuchenko 82 G

Goals:

Vaclav Pilar 52 G

Starting lineup:

Goalkeeper Viacheslav Malafeev
Defender Yuri Zhirkov
Midfielder Igor Denisov
Midfielder Alan Dzagoev
Midfielder Roman Shirokov
Midfielder Konstantin Zyryonov
Forward Andrei Arshavin (captain)

Starting lineup:

Petr Čech Goalkeeper
Roman Hubnik Defender
Michal Kadlec Defender
Tomáš Sivok Defender
Jaroslav Plašil Midfielder
Tomáš Rosický Midfielder (captain)
Milan Baroš Forward
Petr Jiracek Forward
Vaclav Pilar Forward
Jan Rezek Forward

Substitutions:

Roman Pavlyuchenko for Alexander Kerzhakov 73
Aleksandr Kokorin for Alan Dzagoev 85

Substitutions:

Tomáš Hübschman for Jan Rezek 46
Milan Petrezela for Petr Jiracek 75
David Lafata for Milan Baroš 86

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev
Goalkeeper Anton Shunin
Defender Vladimir Granat
Defender Kirill Nababkin
Defender Roman Sharonov
Midfielder Denis Glushakov
Midfielder Marat Izmailov
Midfielder Dmitriy Kombarov
Midfielder Igor Semshov

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Jaroslav Drobny
Goalkeeper Jan Lastuvka
Defender/Midfielder Marek Suchý
Midfielder Vladimír Darida
Midfielder Daniel Kolar
Midfielder David Limbersky
Midfielder Milan Petrezela
Forward David Lafata
Forward Tomas Necid
Forward Tomáš Pekhart

4  Russia

Manager: Dick Advocaat

Goals:

Alan Dzagoev 15 G
Roman Shirokov 24 G
Alan Dzagoev 79 G
Roman Pavlyuchenko 82 G

Starting lineup:

Goalkeeper Viacheslav Malafeev
Defender Yuri Zhirkov
Midfielder Igor Denisov
Midfielder Alan Dzagoev
Midfielder Roman Shirokov
Midfielder Konstantin Zyryonov
Forward Andrei Arshavin (captain)

Substitutions:

Roman Pavlyuchenko for Alexander Kerzhakov 73
Aleksandr Kokorin for Alan Dzagoev 85

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev
Goalkeeper Anton Shunin
Defender Vladimir Granat
Defender Kirill Nababkin
Defender Roman Sharonov
Midfielder Denis Glushakov
Midfielder Marat Izmailov
Midfielder Dmitriy Kombarov
Midfielder Igor Semshov

1  Czech Republic

Manager: Michal Bilek

Goals:

Vaclav Pilar 52 G

Starting lineup:

Petr Čech Goalkeeper
Roman Hubnik Defender
Michal Kadlec Defender
Tomáš Sivok Defender
Jaroslav Plašil Midfielder
Tomáš Rosický Midfielder (captain)
Milan Baroš Forward
Petr Jiracek Forward
Vaclav Pilar Forward
Jan Rezek Forward

Substitutions:

Tomáš Hübschman for Jan Rezek 46
Milan Petrezela for Petr Jiracek 75
David Lafata for Milan Baroš 86

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Jaroslav Drobny
Goalkeeper Jan Lastuvka
Defender/Midfielder Marek Suchý
Midfielder Vladimír Darida
Midfielder Daniel Kolar
Midfielder David Limbersky
Midfielder Milan Petrezela
Forward David Lafata
Forward Tomas Necid
Forward Tomáš Pekhart