Netherlands 0-2 Czech Republic: Tomas Holes and Patrik Schick goals shock Dutch
Dutch #Dutch
The Czech Republic pulled off the shock of the European Championship so far by defeating the Netherlands and booking their place in the last eight after defender Matthijs de Ligt was sent off.
Tomas Holes nodded in the opener 13 minutes after De Ligt saw red for handball following a VAR review, denying Patrik Schick a clear goalscoring opportunity.
Holes then turned provider for Schick as the Czechs doubled their lead on 80 minutes.
The Netherlands, down to 10 men for over half an hour, had a huge chance earlier on as Donyell Malen raced through one-on-one with goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik.
But the Czech Republic, ranked 40th in the world, 24 places behind the Dutch, went on to silence those in orange at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, setting up a quarter-final with Denmark on Saturday, 3 July.
Red card proves costly for vulnerable Dutch
The Netherlands have shown attacking intent throughout the tournament and that did not change in Budapest as wing-backs Denzel Dumfries and Patrick van Aanholt caused problems early on.
Dumfries was their main threat, getting in behind at one point on the left and flicking it over the keeper but unable to beat the last defender.
Memphis Depay was heavily involved too, while Malen got into some dangerous positions.
But while the Netherlands caused problems out wide, so did the Czech Republic, as Vladimir Coufal exploited space in behind left by the roaming Van Aanholt.
Both teams looked susceptible in defence but when De Ligt tripped and pulled the ball back with his hand in the second half, it left referee Sergey Karasev with no choice but to overturn his original decision to show just a yellow card.
And then the Netherlands were on the back foot.
Dumfries made a goal-saving block to deny Pavel Kaderabek but Holes punished the Dutch minutes later, finishing off a knock-back from Tomas Kalas on a corner.
Schick’s fourth goal of the tournament finished it off after the Netherlands had pushed for an equaliser – only Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo has more goals than the Czech forward so far.
They travel to Azerbaijan to take on Denmark next, who they beat 3-0 in the quarter-finals of Euro 2004.
Player of the match
SoucekTomas Soucek
Line-ups Netherlands
Formation 3-4-1-2
1Stekelenburg
6de Vrij3de Ligt17Blind
22Dumfries15de Roon21de Jong12van Aanholt
8Wijnaldum
10Depay18Malen
Substitutes
Czech Rep
Formation 4-2-3-1
1Vaclik
5Coufal3Celustka6Kalas2Kaderábek
9Holes15Soucek
12Masopust7Barak13Sevcik
10Schick
Substitutes
Live Text
Match ends, Netherlands 0, Czech Republic 2.
90’+7′
Second Half ends, Netherlands 0, Czech Republic 2.
90’+3′
Offside, Czech Republic. Alex Kral tries a through ball, but Michael Krmencik is caught offside.
90’+3′
Foul by Quincy Promes (Netherlands).
90’+3′
Vladimir Coufal (Czech Republic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90’+2′
Substitution, Czech Republic. Michal Sadilek replaces Antonin Barak.
90’+2′
Substitution, Czech Republic. Michael Krmencik replaces Patrik Schick.
90′
Corner, Czech Republic. Conceded by Georginio Wijnaldum.
90′
Attempt blocked. Quincy Promes (Netherlands) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Steven Berghuis.
88′
Wout Weghorst (Netherlands) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
88′
Foul by Tomas Kalas (Czech Republic).
88′
Jurriën Timber (Netherlands) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
88′
Foul by Jakub Jankto (Czech Republic).
86′
Substitution, Czech Republic. Alex Kral replaces Tomás Holes.
85′
Substitution, Czech Republic. Adam Hlozek replaces Petr Sevcik.
84′
Frenkie de Jong (Netherlands) is shown the yellow card.
84′
Offside, Netherlands. Wout Weghorst tries a through ball, but Denzel Dumfries is caught offside.
81′
Substitution, Netherlands. Jurriën Timber replaces Daley Blind.
81′
Substitution, Netherlands. Steven Berghuis replaces Patrick van Aanholt.
80′
Goal! Netherlands 0, Czech Republic 2. Patrik Schick (Czech Republic) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Tomás Holes.