Fri, Jun 25, 2004 - Page 24 News List

Czech Republic sends Germany home

EURO 2004 Rudi Voeller's men squandered an early lead and tumbled 2-1 to the Czech Republic, as the Netherlands advanced ahead to the quarterfinals

AP , LISBON, PORTUGAL

A day later comes defending champion France against upstart Greece.

The French are nowhere near top form and take on a Greek side which beat Portugal 2-1 in the biggest opening game upset in the 44-year history of the championship and then held Spain 1-1.

Thierry Henry woke from a two-game slumber with two strikes in France's 3-1 beating of Switzerland. But France needed a free kick and a penalty in injury time from Zinedine Zidane against England to avoid losing its first game.

The Greeks lost their final Group A game 2-1 to already eliminated Russia so maybe they started fast and are now running out of gas.

The Czechs were the first team into the last eight with victories over the Latvians and Dutch and starred in easily the best game of this championship and one of the top all-time matches.

Karel Bruckner's team, which faces Denmark on Sunday, was 2-0 down to the Netherlands before hitting back to win 3-2 in Aveiro. The game had everything that was good about soccer with two attack-minded lineups.

Both goalkeepers made world class saves and, while the Dutch hit the post, the Czechs rattled the crossbar.

The Danes, surprise winners in 1992, made it to the last eight after a 2-2 tie with Sweden in their final group game.

The result put out powerhouse Italy even though the Italians won their final game 2-1 over Bulgaria and didn't lose a match. They were held to ties by both Scandinavian teams.

The semifinal matchups are France or Greece versus the Czech Republic or Denmark and Portugal or England versus Sweden or the Netherlands.

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