The stands at the sunny Puskas Stadium in Budapest were packed and dominated by Dutch supporters when the round of 16 final between the big favorite and the Czech Republic kicked off.
The Czech Republic immediately showed that they did not intend to be intimidated by the Netherlands’ fast-paced offensive and put high and hard pressure early, which several times resulted in the Czech half after Dutch ball losses.
But as the Czechs slowed down somewhat in the 31-degree heat, the Netherlands came into the game, mainly the breakthrough man Denzel Dumfries looked alert and threatened again and again. But the dangerous situations did not materialize.
Instead, the Czech Antonín Barák was close to shocking the favorite in the 38th minute. He was completely released in the right part of the penalty area after a fine combination play, but Juventus defender Matthijs de Ligt threw himself self-sacrificingly and steered the ball away.
Just a minute later, the Netherlands instead had the chance to take the lead when Dumfries turned around on the right wing, but the hard play could be steered away by Tomáš Vaclík in the Czech goal.
The score was level at 45 after 45 minutes, but a bit of a struggle for the Dutch made the favorite look to have the game under control.
But two fateful minutes in the second half would prove to be the decisive final, and seal the Netherlands’ European Championship fate.
In the 52nd minute it erased itself Dutchman Donyell Malen was completely free, but alone with the goalkeeper he tried to pretend to an open goal. However, Tomáš Vaclíks decided he fancied doing his job and cleared it with an assured header.
When the game turned, it was the Czech king of shooters Patrik Schick who was about to get an open street towards the goal when the ball bounced past Matthijs de Ligt, who fell. But the hill poked the ball away with his hand in front of the Czech striker. After the VAR referee stepped into the action, De Ligt was sent off and the Dutch uphill slope steep.
The Czech Republic took over the game and pressed for a winning goal against a low-sinking Dutch defense. With the scoreboard showing that 67 minutes had been played, Stekelenburg nearly put themselves up another goal after 67 minutes, but his finishing shot hit the post. Then came the goal when midfielder Tomáš Holeš nodded in 1-0 after a fine performance from Kalas.
The Netherlands then tried to get a draw despite their numerical disadvantage, but the Czechs were compact and successfully defended.
Instead, the final decision came in the 80th minute, when Patrik Schick was given a free kick played by the 1-0 nod Holeš. The Czech breakthrough placed the 2-0 goal ice cold and sent his team on in the tournament, but also himself up to a split second place in the shooting league with four goals scored.
The result was a miscalculation for the Netherlands, who impressed in the group stage. The country has won a European Championship gold in history, and must now continue to wait for the next chance to repeat the success of 1988.
– The goals we conceded, the chances we did not take, it all spins around in our heads. After the red card, it became difficult for us to push them, everything became more difficult, says team captain Georginio Wijnaldum to Uefa.
The expelled Matthijs de Ligt was remorseful after the match.
– Of course it does not feel good. We basically lost the match because of what I did. In retrospect, I should not have let the ball bounce, he says to Uefa.
In the next match, the team will face Denmark in an unexpected European Championship quarter-final.
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