Tuesday June 12, 2012 Group Stage: Group A Finished Stadion Miejski

Greece 1 - 2 Czech Republic

  • Gekas 53’
  • Jirácek 3’
  • Pilar 6’

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  1. Czechs bounce back with victory

    Czechs bounce back with victory

    The Czech Republic got their Euro 2012 campaign back on track with a 2-1 victory over Greece in Wroclaw. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Greece
    • Czech Republic
    • 90+3' FULL-TIME! The Czech Republic get their Euro 2012 campaign back on track with a 2-1 victory over Greece in Wroclaw.
    • 90+2' Katsouranis' cross is over the head of Mitroglou. Time running out now for Greece.
    • 90+1' Gekas tees up Papadopoulos 25 yards out but he eschews the shooting chance and his pass runs out of play.
    • 90' Three minutes of added time.
    • 89' Frantisek Rajtoral on for Kolar. The sub is subbed.
    • 88' Pilar tries to keep the ball in the corner but is penalised.
    • 87' Czech Republic win a corner that will use up vital seconds.
    • 86' Karagounis, not for the first time, angry when a Czech has the temerity to touch him. Surely a last major tournament for the 35-year-old.
    • 85' Sivok continues to gobble up the aerial balls thrown at him.
    • 84' Another high ball aimed at Samaras is over the head of the Celtic forward. One dimensional in the extreme have been the 2004 champions.
    • 83' The ball from the left is cleared by the Czechs and Limbersky leads the counter.
    • 82' Jiracek hauls down Karagounis and Greece can test Cech with a high ball.
    • 81' Good turn of pace from Pilar but he runs the ball out of play instead of delivering the square pass.
    • 80' Easy for Cech as he claims another high ball from deep. Greece have not looked like getting behind the Czech full-backs all day.
    • 79' Only one of Greece’s 11 Euros goals has been scored after the 66th minute.
    • 78' Salpingidis fails to find a team-mate with his header across goal. They have not carved out a chance in open play.
    • 77' Plasil's free-kick is headed powerfully by Papadopoulos into the path of Pilar whose half-volley from distance is high and still rising.
    • 76' The ever-willling Limbersky wins a free-kick which will allow the Czechs to test Sifakis.
    • 75' Greece have never come back to draw or win in a Euros or World Cup match after trailing by two goals. They have 15 minutes to change that.
    • 74' Mitroglou, who was born in Greece but was raised in Germany, was second on the top scorer list in Greece last season, scoring 17 goals for Atromitos Athinon where he played on loan from Olympiacos.
    • 73' Karagounis' shot deflects off Sivok into the path of Gekas who is flagged offside. A poor decision as he was comfortably onside when the captain struck the ball.
    • 72' Kostantinos Mitroglou replaces Fortounis.
    • 71' The Czechs clear their lines with two crucial headers before a cross from the right drifts into touch.
    • 70' Torosidis' cross is headed behind by Jiracek for a corner. Greece's first.
    • 69' Greece netted just 14 times in 10 qualifying matches, the lowest tally among the finalists.
    • 68' Karagounis tees up Maniatis but his 30-yard strike is six yards wide.
    • 67' Pilar gets to the by-line but his cross is high for everyone in the box including Jiracek at the far post.
    • 66' And now Kolar becomes the sixth man to see yellow. A little nudge on Fortounis.
    • 65' Kolar tries his luck from distance but it trickles past the post of Sifakis.
    • 64' Tomas Pekhart replaces Baros.
    • 63' Gebre Selassie's father Chamola is Ethiopian, and came to Czechoslovakia as a doctor when both nations were under communist rule. In 2007, he became the first black player to play in the Czech Republic under-21 national team.
    • 62' Samaras with a run down the flank but the impressive Gebre Selassie blocks him off and it is a goal kick.
    • 61' Sivok blocks Papadopoulos' shot. The Czechs a little nervy.
    • 60' More decisive from Cech as he punches clear the free-kick.
    • 59' A bustling run from Torosidis down the right flank and he is fouled by Pilar. Greece will have a chance to test Cech once more.
    • 58' Salpingidis booked for a sliding tackle on Limbersky, perhaps he got something of the ball.
    • 57' Gekas scores his 22nd international goal for Greece and surpasses Dimitris Papaioannou and equals Dimitrios Saravakos on third place on the all-time top scorer list for Greece.
    • 56' Kyriakos Papadopoulos booked for a late tackle on Baros.
    • 55' Remember Cech also had a horror show in Geneva against the Turks in that match I mentioned a few minutes ago.
    • 54' Cech raced off his line but then turned his head away as he feared a collision with Tomas Sivok.
    • 53' GOAL! A lifeline for Greece after a horrible blunder from Petr Cech. A nothing ball from Samaras into the area is fumbled by the Chelsea keeper and Gekas can pass the ball into the empty net.
    • 52' Greece have only taken up half of their 6000 allocation.
    • 51' 41,000 in the ground, 19 thousand of whom are Czech fans.
    • 50' Comfortable claim for Cech as Greece pump another aerial ball into the area.
    • 49' The last time a team failed to win a Euros match after leading 2-0 at half-time was by Czech Republic: a 3-3 draw vs Russia in the group stage at Euro 1996. They are also the last team to lose after leading by a 2-0 score, a 3-2 defeat vs Turkey four years ago.
    • 48' Jiracek goes down in a heap after a knee in the groin from Holebas but the Greek full-back escapes censure.
    • 47' Gebre Selassie's cross falls into the path of Baros little more than eight yards from goal but he fails to take the effort first time and a great chance is lost.
    • 46' Here we go for the second-half with changes to both sides. Daniel Kolar is on for Rosicky while Theofanis Gekas replaces Fotakis.
    • 45' HALF-TIME: The Czechs are full value for their 2-0 lead against a rather dismal Greece side.
    • 45' Just one added minute.
    • 44' Greece's sole tactic from open play has been pumping low diagonal balls onto the head of Samaras and hope for knockdowns of which there have been precious few.
    • 43' Greece are unbeaten when Salpingidis scores for them – six wins and two draws.
    • 42' Salpingidis sees his volley from 20 yards charged down.
    • 41' Jiracek with time again down the right but he slices his shot wide from the angle.
    • 40' The tightest of decisions, the PAOK man was perhaps half an inch (not half a yard) offside.
    • 39' Torosidis' cross from the right is headed into the back of the net by Fotakis but it is ruled out for offside.
    • 38' Greece have only won one of their 10 group matches at European Championship finals.
    • 37' Samaras with the header across goal but the Czechs have time to clear.
    • 36' The Czechs have not beaten Greece in 30 years since a 2-1 win in a friendly in March 1982.
    • 35' Jiracek booked for a high tackle on Giannis Maniatis. Somewhat needless deep in the Greek half.
    • 34' Torosidis booked for a foul from behind on Pilar.
    • 33' But cleared by the Greeks who have still yet to register a shot.
    • 32' Limbersky wins a corner after a galloping run.
    • 31' Salpingidis offside again. The PAOK man has none of the impact he had against Poland, when after coming off the bench he scored, won the penalty and had a goal ruled out for offside.
    • 30' Vaclav Pilar is the second Czech player to score in the first two matches of a Euro tournament. Milan Baros did it at Euro 2004 (vs Latvia and Netherlands).
    • 29' Rosicky's corner cleared by Samaras and the Arsenal man volleys the follow-up wide. A rather scuffed effort from the angle.
    • 28' Rosicky pulls the trigger from distance and Sifakis dives low to his right to nudge it past the post.
    • 27' Cech punches Holebas' free-kick away to safety.
    • 26' Yellow card for captain Rosicky after catching Karagounis in the face with his follow through after clearing a bouncing ball.
    • 25' At Euro 2008 there were three countries that progressed from the group despite losing their opening match. The Czechs did it in 1996 and could do so again.
    • 24' Karagounis' free-kick is over Samaras and headed clear in the penalty area.
    • 23' Sifakis only played four games for Aris last season.
    • 22' Greece have lost only once in 22 matches under coach Fernando Santos, not on this display.
    • 21' Chalkias has picked up an injury somehow and needs to come off. On comes Michail Sifakis in goal.
    • 20' Pilar comes in off the left flank but drags his 20-yard shot wide of the near post.
    • 19' Samaras' flick on trickles through to Cech. Greece have offered nothing in the opening 20 minutes.
    • 18' Woeful free-kick delivery from Holebas. Tomas Rosicky clears as a chance to put the ball in the mixer is spurned.
    • 17' But Chalkias claims at the second attempt.
    • 16' Pilar earns the first corner for the Czechs.
    • 15' Karagounis' free-kick is headed away and then Dimitris Salpingidis drifts offside.
    • 14' Jaroslav Plasil needs treatment after an aerial collision with Georgios Fotakis.
    • 13' Before today Greece had not conceded a goal in their last four matches against the Czech Republic – winning 1-0 twice and drawing 0-0 twice.
    • 12' Better ball into the box from Vassilis Torosidis but Georgios Samaras has strayed offside.
    • 11' Giorgios Karagounis' free-kick easily claimed by Petr Cech.
    • 10' Greece coach Fernando Santos is animated on the sidelines as Jiracek powers forward from midfield only to stumble over the ball.
    • 9' This is the fastest ever 2-0 lead in a European Championship match. Previous record was Netherlands vs Germany at Euro 1992 when the Dutch led 2-0 after 15 minutes.
    • 8' The Czechs look dangerous every time they have the ball.
    • 7' Viktoria Plzen youngster Pilar was almost on his knees as the ball bounced off him into the net. Vassilis Torosidis and Kostas Katsouranis unable to shepherd the ball clear. You have to say left-back Holebas was culpable in the build-up. He was also very poor in the first game.
    • 6' GOAL! 2-0 Czech Republic and a blunder from Chalkias. Theodor Gebre Selassie gets to the by-line and his cut back goes under the hand of the Greek custodian and it is smuggled into the back of the net by Vaclav Pilar.
    • 4' Kostas Chalkias got a hand to the effort but couldn't keep it out. A second international goal for the 26-year-old Wolfsburg midfielder.
    • 3' GOAL! Just the start the Czechs wanted. A slide rule pass from Tomas Hubschman inside the full-back and Petr Jiracek, from the left channel, gets past Jose Holebas and slots home.
    • 2' Early possession for the Czechs but they fail to carve out an opening.
    • 1' And we are off!
    • 16:55 Today's referee Stephane Lannoy from France leads the teams out. Lots of Czech fans in the crowd, it's around a four hour drive from Prague, under three from Ostrava.
    • 16:50 Will we see many goals? Both teams need to find their scoring touch with Greece having netted just 14 times in 10 qualifying matches, the lowest tally among the finalists. The Czechs rely on Milan Baros but the Euro 2004 Golden Boot winner has scored just three times in the past two years for his country and looked isolated with little support against Russia. Let me know what you think on Twitter: @Lee_Eurosport
    • 16:45 According to Infostrada's Euro Club Index, which also projects competitive international matches, Greece have a 38% chance of beating Czech Republic, while the Czech have a 36% chance of winning.
    • 16:40 Despite their terrible start to the tournament, Czech defender Roman Hubnik said the difficulty they had qualifying for the finals after a play-off with Montenegro will help them deal with the pressure against Greece. "If we lose our chances are gone," Hubnik said. "The pressure for this game will be higher than the pressure in our (final group) game against Russia."
    • 16:35 The Czechs also face defensive problems after Russia ripped them apart with four goals but Santos was coy when asked whether he would seek to exploit that weakness by adopting attacking tactics. "From our part we have analysed the Czech team and we have done our homework with respect with what we have to do," Santos said.
    • 16:30 Greece coach Fernando Santos said his team cannot afford to ease into the match as they did in their Euro 2012 Group A opener against Poland. Greece clawed their way back against the hosts for a 1-1 draw after conceding an early goal and having a man sent off in the first half. "Whenever the going gets tough they manage to perform well," Santos told reporters on Monday. "We hope there will be no need for difficulties to show up for us to play our best."
    • 16:25 Czech coach Michal Bilek has moved Michal Kadlec back to central defence from the left side and drafted in David Limbersky, while defensive midfielder Tomas Hubschman starts the game to reinforce the rearguard. Limbersky comes in at full-back for Roman Hubnik, while Shakhtar Donetsk's Hubschman replaces Jan Rezek.
    • 16:20 Georgios Samaras is back in the center forward role tonight. Fortounis on the left and Salpigidis on the right with Sotiris Ninis and Theofanis Gekas omitted.
    • 16:15 The Greeks are without two key defenders. Avraam Papadopoulos, who is out of the tournament with a knee injury, and Sokratis Papastathopoulos who is suspended. Veteran midfielder Costas Katsouranis anchors the backline alongside 20-year old Kyriakos Papadopoulos who came on for his namesake against the Poles. That opens a spot for midfielder Giorgos Fotakis to start and the other changes see Dimitris Salpingidis and Salpi Fortounis come in to the starting XI.
    • 16:10 TEAMS: Greece: Chalkias, Torosidis, Kyriakos Papadopoulos, Katsouranis, Holebas, Fotakis, Maniatis, Karagounis, Salpingidis, Samaras, Fortounis. Subs: Tzorvas, Tzavelas, Malezas, Makos, Liberopoulos, Mitroglou, Gekas, Ninis, Fetfatzidis, Sifakis /// Czech Republic: Cech, Gebre Selassie, Sivok, Kadlec, Limbersky, Hubschman, Plasil, Jiracek, Rosicky, Pilar, Baros. Subs: Lastuvka, Suchy, Hubnik, Necid, Rezek, Petrzela, Rajtoral, Kolar, Pekhart, Lafata, Darida, Drobny
    • 16:05 The Greeks withstood Poland's frenzied start to battle back for a 1-1 draw in the tournament opener and a win would set them up nicely for qualification to the knockout stages. Russia ran riot in a 4-1 victory over the Czechs on Friday, mainly due to glaring mistakes at the back from Michal Bilek's side.
    • 16:00 Surprise Euro 2004 winners Greece face the Czechs in Wroclaw in Euro 2012 Group A as the second round of games commence.

  • Summary

    • 53' GOAL! A lifeline for Greece after a horrible blunder from Petr Cech. A nothing ball from Samaras into the area is fumbled by the Chelsea keeper and Gekas can pass the ball into the empty net.
    • 47' Gebre Selassie's cross falls into the path of Baros little more than eight yards from goal but he fails to take the effort first time and a great chance is lost.
    • 28' Rosicky pulls the trigger from distance and Sifakis dives low to his right to nudge it past the post.
    • 6' GOAL! 2-0 Czech Republic and a blunder from Chalkias. Theodor Gebre Selassie gets to the by-line and his cut back goes under the hand of the Greek custodian and it is smuggled into the back of the net by Vaclav Pilar.
    • 3' GOAL! Just the start the Czechs wanted. A slide rule pass from Tomas Hubschman inside the full-back and Petr Jiracek, from the left channel, gets past Jose Holebas and slots home.
    • 16:10 TEAMS: Greece: Chalkias, Torosidis, Kyriakos Papadopoulos, Katsouranis, Holebas, Fotakis, Maniatis, Karagounis, Salpingidis, Samaras, Fortounis. Subs: Tzorvas, Tzavelas, Malezas, Makos, Liberopoulos, Mitroglou, Gekas, Ninis, Fetfatzidis, Sifakis /// Czech Republic: Cech, Gebre Selassie, Sivok, Kadlec, Limbersky, Hubschman, Plasil, Jiracek, Rosicky, Pilar, Baros. Subs: Lastuvka, Suchy, Hubnik, Necid, Rezek, Petrzela, Rajtoral, Kolar, Pekhart, Lafata, Darida, Drobny

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

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    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      Substitution Out23′ 4.1 4
      Defenders
      Yellow Card 4.3 5
      Yellow Card 5.2 7
      4.5 6
      4.4 4
      Midfielders
      5 5
      Substitution Out45′ 5.8 5
      5.6 5
      Strikers
      Yellow Card 4.7 5
      Substitution Out71′ 4.9 5
      5.1 5
      Subs
      Substitution In45′ Goal 7.3 6
      Substitution In23′ 4.3 5
      Substitution In71′ 4 5
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      6.2 5
      Defenders
      7.1 7
      6.9 7
      7.2 6
      7.1 7
      Midfielders
      7.1 7
      7.3 6
      Goal Yellow Card 7.7 8
      Yellow Card Substitution Out45′ 6.9 6
      Goal 8.1 7
      Strikers
      Substitution Out64′ 6.8 5
      Subs
      Substitution In45′ Yellow Card Substitution Out90′ 7 5
      Substitution In64′ 7 5
      Substitution In90′ 7.8 5

Comment 42 - 62 of 62

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  1. That #7 for Greece looks like a Caveman!

    From Seth Lewis, on Wed 13 Jun 4:14

  2. The Group now is more open. Russia 4pts, Czech 3pts,­ Poland 2pts, Greece 1 pt. If Czech beat Poland and­ Greece beat Russia, then on goal difference either­ Russia or Greece will qualify after Czech. ANYTHING IS­ POSSIBLE !

    From Nnamezie, on Tue 12 Jun 21:57

  3. Football was once described as the beautiful gameis now­ a disgrace, players more important than the teams and­ suporters they play for unable to stay on their feet­ when they feel a breeze, roll over as though they have­ been shot when there was clearly no contact, referees­ who are so one sided its untrue all in the so called­ name of sport, unbelievable

    From Terry, on Tue 12 Jun 19:24

  4. Chelsea need Theodor Gebre Selassie as right back. he­ is excellent!!!

    From F, on Tue 12 Jun 19:20

  5. lol #

    From , on Tue 12 Jun 18:52
  6. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    For the first six minutes, I thought the Greeks were­ being managed by the same people who manage the Greek­ economy!!

    From Master, on Tue 12 Jun 18:51

  7. ALEX CHICK IS THAT YOU DOING THE LIVE­ TEXT!?!??!?!?!??!?!?

    From Philip Bond, on Tue 12 Jun 18:49

  8. at the stadium

    From , on Tue 12 Jun 18:39
  9. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    typical for Yahoo , their site is alraedy totally­ overloaded with ads, but not enough , they tolerate­ this trash even on forums, check­ 'zioncrimefactory' to find out who owns and­ controls Yahoo...yes ,the(self)'chosen­ ones'......who else.. money money money money....

    From Shlohmo, on Tue 12 Jun 18:38

  10. What a scruffy herbert Greek No 7 Samaras is!

    From Bobby Dazzler, on Tue 12 Jun 18:32

  11. -ไๆ11111111111///////#3653;--------­ -------- Verschwindet ihr­ italienischen Arschloecher !

    From HeinVorname, on Tue 12 Jun 18:29

  12. ๆ-11111111111///////#3653;----------------­ Verschwindet ihr­ italienischen Arschloecher !

    From HeinVorname, on Tue 12 Jun 18:29

  13. But whats up with the Chelsea keeper letting in 5 goals­ in 2 games??

    From Roger, on Tue 12 Jun 18:28

  14. ok, now we've got a game at hand , eh Cech, do some­ more fumbling, please

    From Shlohmo, on Tue 12 Jun 18:15
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    ๅๅๅ11111111111///////#365­ 3;---------------- Verschwindet ihr­ italienischen­ Arschloecher !

    From HeinVorname, on Tue 12 Jun 18:15
  16. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    ๅๅ11111111111///////#3653;---------­ ------- Verschwindet ihr­ italienischen Arschloecher !

    From HeinVorname, on Tue 12 Jun 18:15

  17. ๅ11111111111///////#3653;----------------­ Verschwindet ihr­ italienischen Arschloecher !

    From HeinVorname, on Tue 12 Jun 18:15

  18. Great start for the Czechs. Keep it up.

    From Choose this side, on Tue 12 Jun 18:08

  19. Well it was lucky but I have a feeling Greece will win­ 3-2.

    From , on Tue 12 Jun 18:05

  20. hey Katharina, check 'zioncrimefactory' there­ you'll find answers to your questions these­ ars*sholes here are mostly 15,16 year old brainwashed­ clowns

    From Shlohmo, on Tue 12 Jun 18:03
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