What a day for the Czechs. They proved their mettle and showed more resilience by wading off the attacks of the Orange boys. Everyone expected the Czech Republic to win and I expected the same too. The Netherlands fired blank on the day and they have themselves to blame for the loss in this game.
The Netherlands started brightly and in the 1st minute when Malen tried to pick out Dumfries at the far end of the post but the ball had too much power and it went beyond the reach of Dumfries. In the 13th minute, there was a long ball to Dumfries who powered a header past the goalkeeper but he was denied with a last-minute block from Kalas. It was a timely intervention else the ball would have found the back of the net. No doubt, Dumfries has been in a sensational form for the Oranje.
The Czech Republic got a chance of their own too in the 22nd minute when a brilliant delivery into the box picked out Soucek but he couldn't generate enough control of the ball as it went wide. 6 minutes after, Schick had a shot deflected before the goalkeeper managed to save it. At this point, both teams were showing good attacking intents and the game was evenly balanced.
In the 31st minute, Malen had his two shots blocked off and both led to a corner kick which the Netherlands didn't do much about. Barak was played in for the Czechs in the 37th minute and with the goal at his mercy, he had a shot but for the quick intervention of De Ligt, the ball was blocked for a corner kick.
The ever bright Dumfries managed to beat his marker for pace and drove into the box. He tried to pick out his teammate but his effort was blocked off. Another huge frustration for the Netherlands. The shocking miss of the game came for the Netherlands in the 52nd minute when Malen was played through. He expertly beat his marker for pace and he tried to round off the goalkeeper but expertly, the goalkeeper got a hand on it and that threat was nullified. It was a shocking moment and a wasted opportunity for the Netherlands but a moment of brilliance for Vaclik who was well aware and stood his ground.
3 minutes after, the Netherlands went from bad to worse as De Ligt was sent off for a deliberate handball as he was going down. It was adjudged that he denied a goal-scoring opportunity and he was initially given a yellow before the VAR reviewed it and the referee also made use of the side monitor to make an informed decision to send him off. The Netherlands were down to 10 men.
The Czechs were hoping to have a penalty appeal to their way with the help of VAR again his time around but it was not given. The impressive Dumfries denied Pavel Kadeřábek right inside the box as he was trying to find the bottom corner of the post.
The moment of magic came for the Czechs when Kalas set up Holes from an indirect freekick to find the back of the net in the 68th minute. They left the Netherlands chasing the game with 10 men. Dumfries tried all he could and he produced a lovely delivery into the box but there was no one there to connect with it.
The Czechs also had two decent chances in the 77th minute to kill off the game but the goalkeeper saved both comfortably but in the 80th minute, luck ran out for the Netherlands as Schick broke their hearts with the second goal. Schick sent the Czech Republic to the quarter-finals with a composed finish after Holes burst with pace, drove into the box and left a pass for Schick who powered in a low drive strike to the near post. The honeymoon is over for the Netherlands and they missed out while the fairytale continues for the Czech Republic.
Thank you for your time.
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