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QF1 - Czech Republic vs Portugal

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EURO 2012: CZECH REPUBLIC V PORTUGAL

  • Venue: National Stadium, Warsaw
  • Date: Thursday, 21 June • Kick-off:19:45 BST

Coverage: Live on BBC one, BBC Radio 5 live and BBC Sport website

TEAM NEWS

Czech Republic captain Tomas Rosicky is still nursing the Achilles injury he picked up against Greece in the second group match.

Daniel Kolar is set to deputise once again, but Rosicky is fit enough to feature from the bench if required.

Portugal duo Bruno Alves and Raul Meireles both appear to have overcome the knocks picked up against the Dutch.

Head coach Paolo Bento has no other fitness concerns and will hope to name an unchanged side.

MATCH PREVIEW

It was this fixture, 16 years ago, where Ruud Gullit coined the term "sexy football". He was talking about Portugal, who seduced the former European Footballer of the Year with their attractive play in a Euro 96 quarter-final against Czech Republic, but still crashed out after a 1-0 defeat at Villa Park, courtesy of the famously scooped goal which earned Karel Poborsky an ill-fated move to Manchester United.

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The only man from either camp involved in that 1996 encounter is Vladimir Smicer, now the Czechs' 'sports manager' - Michal Bilek's assistant in layman's terms, or their version of Gary Neville. Like England's number two, Smicer enjoyed a distinguished international career, collecting more than 80 caps. The ex-Liverpool man, in the job since 2009, has helped Bilek sift through 32 players in order to find the 23-man squad that has taken their country to a first quarter-final in eight years.

It's perhaps not a vintage Czech side - yet. This squad boasts nine players aged 26 or under as the country looks not only to the present but also to the future. Smicer had a hand in discovering midfield duo Petr Jiracek and Vaclav Pilar - who, despite possessing fewer than 20 caps between them, have shone at this championship with two goals apiece. The Czechs surprisingly lost their first qualifying match to Lithuania and were humbled in their Euro 2012 opener against Russia, but on both occasions recovered, showing resilience, character and togetherness. If Bilek, and in particular Smicer, can instill some of that 1996 spirit into this current Czech side then their journey might just continue.

Portugal have hit form at the perfect time despite alarming pre-tournament form which saw them fail to win four matches, scoring only once. Though evidently inspired by captain Cristiano Ronaldo, Paulo Bento's men increasingly looked a real team unit as they emerged from the 'Group of Death' behind Germany. Despite going behind against the Dutch in their most recent game, Portugal's 2-1 win rarely looked in doubt, with top-class performances all over the park. Counter-attacking penetration came from both wings, and through the centre of midfield.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

  • Since the "velvet divorce" with Slovakia, the Czech Republic have met Portugal only twice - beating them 1-0 in the quarter-finals of Euro 96, but losing 3-1 in the group stage of Euro 2008.
  • Czech Republic/Czechoslovakia and Portugal have met 12 times, winning four apiece.

Czech Republic

  • The Czechs are only the second side to top a European Championship group despite shipping five goals (after Spain in 2000).
  • They also qualified from the group stage with a negative goal difference in 1996 - when they went on to reach the final.
  • Michal Bilek's side lost their first match of Euro 2012 (4-1 against Russia). In 1988, the Netherlands became the only country to win the Euros after losing their first group match.

Portugal

  • Having scored one goal in their first four matches this year, Portugal have now scored five in two.
  • Ronaldo is the first Portuguese player to score at five major tournaments. He also scored at the Euros in 2004 and 2008, and at the 2006 and 2010 World Cups.
  • Portugal were the only country during the group stage to use the same starting line-up in each match.

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O Fenomeno
O Fenomeno

His CV looks like Arry's

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EURO 2012: CZECH REPUBLIC V PORTUGAL Venue: National Stadium, Warsaw Date: Thursday, 21 June • Kick-off:19:45 BST Coverage: Live on BBC one, BBC Radio 5 live and BBC Sport website TEAM NEW

Mephisto
Mephisto

Nani>

Posted

Fuck keown

/

Told man all tournament ronaldo would love the coach to leave with postiga still sleeping before a game.

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