After the longest 24 hours ever without a game, Euro 2012 got back underway with the first of 4 quarter finals.
Tonight saw Portugal take on Czech Republic. Portugal were starting to look good in this tournament and played the same team as the last group game against Holland who they beat 2-1.
Czech Republic made just one change from the team that beat Poland in their last group game with Valdimir Darida coming into the team for Daniel Kolar.
I’m not going to lie, the first half of this game was probably, alongside the first half of Sweden V Ukraine in the group stages, the worst of the tournament so far.
Chances were hard to come by, obviously with a straight knockout format some teams will employ more defensive tactics and Czech Republic had obviously decided to try and take Ronaldo out of the game, even so, Ronaldo still had the best chance of the first half.
Just before half time he recieved a high ball inside the 18 yard box, he superbly took the ball down with one touch, turned a defender who was marking him tight with a second touch, then shot with the third touch. I was expecting the net to bulge, but as it was the post was hit, not for the first time by Ronaldo in this tournament.
The second half had to be better than the first.
Portugal had the first chance of the second half when Raul Meireles burst down the right and put a peach of a cross in for Hugo Almeida who was 8 yards out with a free header and the goal gaping but he could only head it into Petr Cech’s hands.
Ronaldo hit the post again on 49 minutes, this time from a free-kick from 35 yards out, he hit’s it in that special way he does and Petr Cech was beaten but the ball hit the outside of the post and went out for a goal kick.
58 minutes in and Portugal were dominating, they had the ball in the next when Nani crossed from the right and this time Hugo Almeida did get a proper connection on his header and he put the ball past Petr Cech, unfortunately for Portugal, he was offside.
FINALLY in the 80th minute Portugal get the breakthrough, Joao Moutinho crosses from the right and Cristiano Ronaldo got in front of his marker and headed the ball down into the net from 6 yards, to be fair he had deserved it. Czech Republic had been poor and had 10 minutes to get themselves back into this game and the tournament.
The Czech comeback never happened, Portugal are into the semi-finals and it seems that Ronaldo fancies it and has turned on the good performances at the right time.
mtcefc 