Looking back at this match quarter-final match, you could see why the Czech Republic players were thumped 1-4 in their opening fixture.
They were very lucky not to concede quickly against Portugal, here.
Portugal was always pressing harder, and the Czech response was very weak by comparison.
Before scoring (in the 80th minute), Ronaldo hit the post twice. (I'm sure he's the player who hit the woodwork the most times at this tournament.) First, he did it in first-half injury time, when he made a couple of Czech defenders look like amateurs with his turn and then fired past Cech, and the second time was with a free-kick shot, early in the second half.
The goal was somehow unexpected, though, because the defender who was initially in front of Ronaldo, at the start of the cross by Moutinho, seemed to just stop and allow the striker to re-position himself in front, to be able to head the ball towards goal. It was truly that difference of class that separates winners from losers.
And, just like in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich, Petr Cech again allows a goal from a headed effort that bounces in off the turf. But this one was a much more powerful header, and one can't really blame Cech.
But, unfortunately for him, it seemed impossible to even imagine the Czechs coming back from a deficit, because they always played for the draw. And, indeed, they could not do anything to tie the score after falling behind.
Even Jiracek was incapable of coming up with something worthy of praise, before or after.
Not even one shot on goal by the Czech Republic. There's no way you can expect to advance with that kind of low attack productivity.
Portugal is the deserving first semifinalist.
Highlights:
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