EURO 2020 Half-time: Netherlands 0-0 Czech Republic. The Dutch started vibrantly but the organised and athletic Czechs gradually grew into the game and it’s now very even between two contrasting sides. I mentioned the Czechs famous win over the Netherlands at Euro 2004; well, that Czech team ultimately lost to Greece; and this Czech team has certain similarities with those Greeks. This is tricky for the Dutch.
The lovely move by the Netherlands, with virtually every player getting a touch. When it reaches Depay in the box, he rolls past Kalas at the right-hand side of the box and flips a pass-through to van Aanholt … who drags his shot wide from nine yards! Oh, he was offside anyway.
There will be at least two more minutes before half-time, presumably because of the drinks break. After a bout of Dutch probing, Blind suddenly aims a diagonal pass to Van Aanholt, who believes he has sprung the offside trap and is in on goal! But he;’s wrong. “Has somebody already made the joke about the Czech defence being full of Holes,” wonders John Little. “If so, can I add the players who took Czech through against the Netherlands in 1976 were Sastny and Nehoda, which translates as ‘happy accident.’”
The Czechs have generally succeeded in suppressing the early Dutch vim but Dumfries has just burst down the right and fired in a vicious low cross. The keeper deflected it away with his legs. Nice move by the Czechs Republic led through the middle by Soucek. Masopust then slips it through to Barak at the right-hand side of the box. His shot from 12 yards is deflected over by De Ligt!
That’s how to unlock a disciplined defence! Well, nearly. Wijnaldum made a a sudden dash from deep to create space for Malen to drift into, whereupon the forward was picked out by Dumfries. But when Malen unloaded a shot from 12 yards, there were still several bodies in the way, and one diverted it behind for a corner.
Rehydration seems to have served De Jong well, as he muscles Masopust off the ball on the edge of his own area and spins away. “What the hell is Frank de Boer wearing?” barks Steven Davidson. He’s wearing a short-sleeved black polo shirt and black strides. What the hell is your problem with that? Don’t answer, I don’t care.
Second Half awaits
