The Czech footballers made perfect use of the Dutch player in the round of 16 finals of the European Championship in Budapest.
After a red card for Matthijs de Ligt, they managed to turn the goalless match to their side and after goals by Tomáš Holeš and Patrik Schick they won 2: 0.
They will start among the top eight on Saturday, July 3, in Baku against the Danes (18.00 CEST).
The Dutch team had a chance to take the lead on Malen’s dazzling drive up the left, but the opportunity fizzled away as his shot went just over the bar after 1 minutes. Soon the “Oranjes” could open the score again, the fast Dumfries ran for a long pass, Vaclík ran very inefficiently and Kalas had to surprise him in the slip.
In the first half, the Dutch optically had more of the game, but the Czechs were also able to work out solid possibilities. After the center, Ševčík placed himself in the header, Souček, but did not direct the ball into the space of three poles. In the 38th minute, Kadeřábek pulled out Barák in the penalty area, whose shot was blocked by De Ligt at the last minute.
Shortly before the break, Dumfries returned to the big lime and Vaclík had to save after a shot from a sharp angle.
The second half was started by huge hesitations of the defenders at both ends of the field. After the foot of Depaya, Malen ran through Kalasa and rushed all alone at Vaclík, but the Czech goalkeeper deftly caught his intention, threw himself under his feet and grabbed the ball.
Immediately burning on the opposite side, Schick was already making his way through De Ligta into a separate run, and the Dutch defender thwarted the action with his hands in the fall. The head referee Karasjov first pulled out a yellow card, but after consulting VAR, he dismissed De Ligta.
The Czechs tried a signal from a direct free kick, Coufal only hit the wall and immediately collected a yellow card for a foul in an attempt to prevent a quick counterattack. After more than an hour of play, he was in VAR action again and confirmed that the Dutch did not play hands in the penalty area.
With 64 minutes played, the home side managed to get a 1 – 0 lead as Kadeřábek flipped the ball in after a cross from the right.
Four minutes later, the Czech Republic received an opening intervention. After a direct kick, Kalas na Holeša headed on the back post, who sent his team into the lead with his head. It was a settlement in the Netherlands, but it did not come under pressure in numerous advantages.
On the contrary, Holeš went for the kicked ball, performed a perfect individual action and passed to the running Schick. He fired at the pole into the counter-movement of Stekelenburg and significantly brought the Czech Republic closer to the gates of the quarterfinals. In the remaining time, the Netherlands has not been able to dramatize the duel.
Round of 16:
Budapest
Netherlands – Czech Republic 0: 2 (0: 0)
Goals: 68. Holeš, 80. Schick. Judges: Karasjov – Demeško, Gavrilin (all Rus.), ŽK: Dumfries, F. de Jong – Coufal, ČK: 55. De Ligt (Netherlands)
Netherlands: Stekelenburg – De Vrij, De Ligt, Blind (81. Timber) – Dumfries, De Roon (73. Weghorst), Wijnaldum, F. de Jong, Van Aanholt (81. Berghuis) – Depay, Malen (57. Promes)
Czechia: Vaclík – Coufal, Čelůstka, Kalas, Kadeřábek – Holeš (85. Král), Souček – Masopust (79. Jankto), Barák (90. + 2 Sadílek), Ševčík (85. Hložek) – Schick (90. + 2 Krmenčík )
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