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Czech footballers have never had negative relationships with the Dutch. The Dutch national team was leading 2-0 against the Czechs in the D group match, but suffered a setback with a 2-3 loss. This was the Czechs' second victory at the European Championship.
Netherlands - Czech Republic 2 - 3
4' [1 - 0]
19' [2 - 0]
23' [2 - 1]
71' [2 - 2]
88' [2 - 3]
The Czechs launched their first dangerous attack in the second minute, when Rosický passed the ball to Koller, but he shot over the goal from 10 meters away.
Soon after, goalkeeper Van der Sar was tested by Jankulovski, but the first goal was scored on the other side of the pitch. After Robben's penalty kick, defender Bouma sent the ball into the net without any problem.
A few minutes later, near the second goal, Seedorf had his chance, but his shot went wide of the goal.
In the 19th minute, the Dutch doubled their lead - Davids found Robben on the left, who passed the ball to van Nistelrooy, who easily scored into the empty net.
However, just four minutes later, the Czechs responded with their first successful attack. Baroš received the ball after an inaccurate pass from Cocu, dribbled into the penalty area, passed it to an unmarked Koller, and the tall striker scored accurately from six meters away.
The Dutch had the initiative, and shortly after Nistelrooy fell in the penalty area requesting a penalty kick, Heitinga's shot was saved by goalkeeper Čech, and Seedorf's long-range attempt missed the target completely.
In the 43rd minute, the Dutch team was unlucky - Davids' shot from outside the penalty area hit the crossbar. So, the first half ended with the Dutch leading 2-1.
The second half started lively, with Čech saving Van der Meyde's shot, and on the other side of the pitch, Van der Sar stopped Poborský's attempt.
After playing for five minutes, Robben tripped Rosický from behind, but the referee did not give a yellow card.
In the 56th minute, after a pass from Robben, Van Nistelrooy had a good opportunity, but Čech saved his attempt. Eight minutes later, Heinze, who came on as a substitute, broke through on the left, passed the ball to Šmicer, whose shot was blocked by the Dutch goalkeeper.
The Czech Republic equalized in the 71st minute - Koller received a pass from Nedvěd, chested the ball to Baroš, and the 22-year-old striker scored with one touch, beating Van der Sar.
However, the Dutch did not give up, and in the next attack, Čech had to save his goal from a shot by Van der Meyde.
However, the Netherlands' situation complicated in the 75th minute, as Heitinga had to leave the field after receiving a second yellow card.
With five minutes left, Czech captain Nedvěd attacked the goal from 30 meters, but the ball hit the crossbar, and Poborský's follow-up attempt with his head was inaccurate.
The Czechs slowly began to try to take advantage of their numerical superiority, and they succeeded at the end of the match. In the 88th minute, after a pass from Baroš, Heinz shot from fifteen meters, but his shot was saved by the Dutch goalkeeper.
However, the Dutch defenders made a mistake, failing to clear the goalkeeper's rebound and knock the ball away from the goal. The ball bounced to Poborský, who took a step and passed it to the unmarked Šmicer near the goal, who only had to score the winning goal.
At the start of extra time, the Dutch could have equalized through Van der Vaart, but he did not reach his teammate's pass.
The Czechs celebrated a dramatic victory and secured their place in the quarter-finals.
