Xtra Time Web Desk: Strikes from Tomas Holes (68’) and Patrick Schick powered Czech Republic through to the quarter finals of EURO 2020 by virtue of a 2-0 win against Netherlands at the Puskas Arena in Budapest on Sunday. Netherlands were reduced to 10 men in the 64th minute as Matthijs De Ligt were flashed a red card for deliberate handling of the ball. The Czech’s will now face Denmark in a repeat of the 2004 Quarter finals.
Favorites Netherlands made a great start as De Ligt rose to meet Daley Blind’s short corner after eight minutes but it was off target. The Dutch came close again five minutes later when Denzel Dumfries’ diagonal run was found by Blind but Tomas Kalas did well to block it.
Czech Republic’s first opportunity arrived mid-way through the first half when Tomas Soucek outmuscled Marten de Roon to meet Petr Sevcik’s cross but his glanced header didn’t trouble Maarten Stekelenburg.
The game turned on its head in the 52nd minute when Donyell Malen cut through the Czech defence but was denied by Czech goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik . Jaroslav Silhavy took full advantage of the reprieve as he gave a through pass only to find De Ligt on the wrong side of Schick, as he deliberately handled the ball. The referee initially did not notice it but upon VAR review he flashed a red card at the Netherlands defender.
Making full use of the one man advantage the Czech’s finally got the lead in the 68th minute when Kalas rose at the far post to head a short corner back across goal for Holes to head in from close range.
Holes was again in action as did remarkably well to skip through the Dutch midfield before he passed on the ball to a rushing Schick who made no mistake to send it home.
The win will see Czech Republic meet Denmark in the quarter finals at Baku next Saturday.