LISBON, 20 June 2004 — Unfancied Latvia dampened Germany’s hopes of advancing at Euro 2004 by holding the World Cup finalists to a goalless draw yesterday as the Dutch prepared to face the Czech Republic in their Group D clash.
The result, cheered by Czech and Dutch fans alike watching on big screens at the Aveiro stadium ahead of their game, means Germany will probably have to beat the Czechs in the last of the group matches on Wednesday to stay in the tournament.
The Baltic debutants looked well organized and kept the match tight in an uneventful first half when the Germans had only two decent chances to score.
Torsten Frings fired over the bar from outside the box after eight minutes while striker Kevin Kuranyi glanced the ball just wide after a cross from midfielder Bernd Schneider.
Germany pushed forward more in the second, substitute Miroslav Klose wasting their best chance in stoppage time, but failed to find the net despite a reinforced front line.
Latvia fought bravely and threatened shortly before halftime when striker Maris Verpakovskis surged powerfully into the box and produced a good save from goalkeeper Oliver Kahn.
Ten minutes into the second half Verpakovskis’ pacy run ended when he was sandwiched by two defenders but his appeal for a penalty was harshly turned down by English referee Mike Riley.
Dutch and Czech fans had good reason to cheer the stalemate since the result puts the Germans in danger of going out.
Czechs in Last 8 After 3-2 Comeback Win
In Aveiro, Czech Republic were the first team to reach the quarterfinals after winning one of the all-time classic European Championship matches 3-2 against the Netherlands yesterday.
The Czechs came back from two goals down to win a Group D game full of exhilarating play when Vladimir Smicer tucked home the winner in the 88th minute to break Dutch hearts. The Dutch finished with 10 men after Johnny Heitinga was sent off.
The two former winners produced a series of high speed enterprising moves as they both sought the victory that would put them on course for the quarterfinals after Germany were held to a goalless draw by Latvia earlier in the day. The Dutch went 2-0 up with goals by Wilfred Bouma and Ruud van Nistelrooy before Jan Koller pulled one back to make it 2-1 at the break.
Both sides made countless further chances, the Dutch twice hitting the woodwork, before Milan Baros earned the Czechs a deserved point with a thunderous equalizer in the 71st minute.
The Dutch played out the last 20 minutes with 10 men after a second yellow card for defender Johnny Heitinga but the Czechs could not take advantage. The result puts the Czechs through with six points. Germany have two and the Netherlands and Latvia one.
Germany play the Czech Republic and Latvia face the Netherlands in the final games next Wednesday.
The Dutch army of orange-clad fans making up the majority of the 30,000 crowd had barely finished cheering Latvia’s draw with Germany when they were on their feet again at the start of what would prove 90 minutes of exhilarating football. Jan Koller had blasted a close-range volley over the bar after less than two minutes but in the fourth Dutch defender Wilfred Bouma was left totally unmarked at the far post to head in Arjen Robben’s right wing free kick.
Clarence Seedorf, recalled after missing the 1-1 draw with Germany through injury, then grazed the post with a free kick before Ruud Van Nistelrooy made it 2-0 in the 19th minute, sweeping in Robben’s low cross from the left having been left alone as he initially jogged back from an offside position.
The Czechs, knowing a win would clinch a place in the last eight, replied four minutes later after Dutch captain Philip Cocu gave the ball away to Milan Baros in the centre circle. Baros charged toward goal, broke through Jaap Stam’s tackle and rolled the ball into the path of Koller to tap in from close range.
The Czechs continued to probe, playing some excellent football but finding the Stam-inspired Dutch defense on the top of their game.
The Dutch stormed back, with Johnny Heitinga and Seedorf both flashing long range shots just wide before Davids ended the half by rattling the post with another.
The second half picked up where the first had finished, the opening two minutes producing good chances at both ends, which Dutch keeper Edwin van der Sar and his Czech counterpart Petr Cech both did well to foil.
