Latvia produced one of the biggest surprises in history Saturday by playing to a 0-0 tie against three-time champion Germany.
The draw leaves the Germans with just two points from two matches and in danger of being eliminated in the first round for the second straight time.
In Saturday's other Group D match, substitute Vladimir Smicer scored in the 88th minute to rally the Czech Republic to a 3-2 victory over the Netherlands, making the Czechs the first team to advance to the quarterfinals.
PHOTO: EPA
Germany plays its next match Wednesday against the Czech Republic. Latvia, a 500-1 long shot entering Euro 2004, thought it had a scoring chance when striker Maris Verpakovskis was brought down by Frank Baumann. But English referee Mike Riley did not call a penalty on the play. Just before halftime, Latvia almost scored but German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn stopped a low shot from Verpakovskis.
Miroslav Klose nearly won the game for the Germans in penalty time, but his header from about 15 feet went wide of the goal.
"We had our chances but we couldn't convert them, that was our problem," German midfielder Philipp Lahm said. "The group is still wide open, there's still a chance to advance."
PHOTO: REUTERS
The Dutch took a 2-0 lead after only 19 minutes on goals by Wilfred Bouma and Ruud Van Nistelrooy, but the Czechs narrowed to 2-1 in the 23rd on a goal by 6-foot-9 striker Jan Koller. Milan Baros scored in the 71st minute to make it 2-2, setting the stage for Smicer's winner.
"It was a fantastic match," Baros said. "Our first goal came after their mistake and that boosted our self-confidence. We knew that if we beat the Dutch we qualify and we went for it."
On the winning goal, Baros' shot was deflected by Dutch goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar. Karel Poborsky collected the deflection and passed to Smicer, who tapped the ball in from close range. The Dutch finished with 10 men after Johnny Heitinga was sent off on his second yellow card with 15 minutes to play. The victory means the Czechs have six points in the group, followed by Germany (2), the Netherlands (1) and Latvia (1).
PHOTO: AFP
Czech Republic 3, Netherlands 3-2
The Czech Republic became the first team to book a place in the quarterfinals of Euro 2004 after they stormed back from two goals down to beat the Netherlands 3-2 in a gripping Group D clash.
Second-half substitute Vladimir Smicer completed one of the most dramatic recoveries in the history of the European championships, netting a dramatic close-range winner two minutes from time after Jan Koller and Milan Baros had wiped out the excellent Dutch start. Man of the match Pavel Nedved saluted his team's sparkling comeback.
"It was a fantastic evening and a fantastic match for us. The way we came back after going two goals behind was extraordinary."
Czech coach Karel Bruckner said: "I can sum up the match very quickly by saying that was good work out there.
"I'm not worried about our next opponents, only about my own team who, I hope, are going to gain in strength."
Dutch coach Dick Advocaat could not hide his dismay.
"Naturally I am very disappointed. We had several goal-scoring chances and could have won this match 3-1 or 4-1. Three or four times in the second half we were in scoring positions but we couldn't find the net."
"The team played well tonight but now we have to beat Latvia and hope that the Czechs play a proper game against Germany."
The Netherlands were looking to take advantage of Germany's surprise 0-0 draw with Latvia and goals from Wilfred Bouma and Ruud van Nistelrooy gave them a flying start. After Baros had restored parity, Dutch defender Johnny Heitinga was sent off and the 10-man Dutch were caught with a sucker punch in the 88th minute when Smicer tucked home Karel Poborsky's cut-back.
"Heitinga's sending-off was stupid," said Advocaat. "A young player must know never to tackle like that when he already has one yellow card."
The Netherlands are third in the group with a single point, one behind Germany.
The Dutch made two changes to the team that drew 1-1 with Germany. AC Milan midfielder Clarence Seedorf and Chelsea winger Arjen Robben both returned after recovering from injury to replace Rafael van der Vaart and Boudewijn Zouden.
The Czechs made one change with central defender Martin Jiranek coming in for the fever-stricken Rene Bolf.
Beaten finalists at Euro 96, the Czech Republic almost had the perfect start in the second minute, Tomas Rosicky's chip over the Dutch defence finding Koller unmarked but the towering striker volleyed over the bar.
The Czechs were made to pay for Koller's miss two minutes later.
Robben's free-kick from wide on the right found the unmarked Bouma who headed low past goalkeeper Petr Cech. Seedorf shot narrowly wide after receiving a yellow card before the Dutch extended their advantage.
The lively Robben peeled off to find space on the left and delivered a low cross to the edge of the six-yard box for van Nistelrooy to slide home with ease.
A terrible mistake by Phillip Cocu allowed the Czechs back into the match four minutes later.
The Barcelona midfielder, making his 81st international appearance, gifted possession to Baros and the Liverpool striker ran at the Dutch defence, evaded two challenges and set up Koller for an easy tap-in.
The Netherlands' early confidence quickly evaporated but they recovered their composure and almost snatched a third before half-time when Edgar Davids' fierce angled drive hit the post.
Poborsky was denied an equalizer two minutes after the break when Edwin van der Sar blocked his shot with his leg. Smicer almost brought the Czechs level, a superb fingertip save from van der Sar keeping his team's lead intact.
The Czech always looked threatening on the break and a raid upfield saw them level in the 71st minute. The outstanding Nedved's left-wing cross was chested down by Koller for Baros whose rising half-volley gave Van der Sar no chance.
Heitinga's dismissal hindered Dutch chances of a recovery.
The Dutch must beat Latvia on Wednesday to have any chance of qualifying.
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