Portugal 3 - 1 Czech Republic
Goals from Deco, Ronaldo and Quaresma help Portugal into Quarters
An entertaining, occasionally boisterous game between a fast but physically light Portugal side saw the Iberians beat a solid Czech team 3 - 1. The win was all the more impressive as the Czechs made a significant step up in play from their opening game against Switzerland.
Crafty, glamorous football from the small but skillfully heavyweight Portuguese gained goals for Deco (8), Ronaldo (63) and Quaresma (90). The impressive Czechs equalised (at that time the first equalising goal of the tournament) from a scorching header from former Rangers midfielder Libor Sionko (17).
The result was the first time that the Portuguese national first team have beaten the Czech Republic since 1984 and it marks them as being serious challengers to win the newly modelled Henri Delaunay trophy.
Deco's goal came early and was the result of some stunning passing around the front of the Czech penalty area. Ronaldo received the ball and skipped through the centre of the defense before his run was blocked by Cech the Brick. Deco's feet found the ball after Cech's hands failed to keep hold of it and after a couple of attempts he muddled it into the net. It's surely testament to Ronaldo's faith in the team as he probably could have got away with a penalty when he went down in the box, should he feel he needed one.
The equaliser came 9 minutes later. A sweetly curling corner ball was latched onto by Sionko's charging head and he powered the ball from 6 yards past a bemused Ricardo.
The rest of the half saw chances from both sides, particularly shots from Deco and Ronaldo and an opportunity created by a run from striker Milan Baros. The solidity of the Czech defense lead to Scolari's men aiming long shots, most of which posed no problems for the hands of Petr Cech.
HALF TIME:
Portugal 1 - 1 Czech Republic
Ronaldo scored his first goal of the tournament on the 63rd. Deco made a run down the centre-right before losing the defenders by cutting in to play the ball to Ronaldo. The first touch slammed the ball into the goal.
Possibly the Greatest Footballer in the World said, "I'm very happy to have helped my team mates win. I managed to score and my goal is dedicated to the Red Cross". Before the tournament, UEFA started a campaign where they donate €4000 to the Red Cross for every goal, not including those in a penalty shootout, to benefit landmine victims in Afghanistan.
The trailing Czech's piled on the pressure, occasionally causing trouble for the far too porous-looking Portuguese defense. Sionko was just denied his second after his head again connected with a good cross and sent the ball towards the top of the net, only to be denied by a full stretch from the Portuguese hands of Ricardo.
The goal to finish the fight came on the 90th. Ronaldo dodged the offside trap and ran on to a high ball. Quaresma was there in support, with no defenders present and Ronaldo selflessly passed it to him to allow him a goal of his own.
The good result is an important one for a team who are prepared to go all the way and who have experts believing that they can, but only if they play consistently good football. There were many moments of world class play in this game but the defense often looked auspiciously fragile. If they keep scoring they will go far and the passion of their game will surely win them many fans in England.
Portugal:
Ricardo, Bosingwa, Pepe, Carvalho, Ferreira, Petit, Joao Moutinho (Fernando Meira 74), Ronaldo, Deco, Simao (Quaresma 80), Nuno Gomes (Hugo Almeida 79)
Czech Republic:
Cech, Grygera, Ujfalusi, Rozehnal, Jankulovski,Galasek (Koller 73), Sionko, Matejovsky (Vlcek 68), Polak, Plasil (Jarolim 85), Baros
