Welcome to the Estádio do Dragão for euro2004.com's live, minute-by-minute coverage of the UEFA EURO 2004™ semi-final tie between Greece and the Czech Republic. The last meeting between these two sides was a goalless draw in a friendly game in April 2002, but with a place in the final at stake, we must have a winner tonight.

No-one expected Greece to make it to this stage of the tournament, but Otto Rehhagel's men have proved to be dangerous opponents. Tonight, they will be playing in a 4-3-3 formation, with Konstantinos Katsouranis being named ahead of the more experience Stylianos Giannakopoulos in the centre of midfield.

Czech coach Karel Brückner has named the team most expected with René Bolf returning to the heart of defence alongside Tomáš Ujfaluši. Along with Pavel Nedved and Marek Jankulovski, Ujfaluši will have to be careful during tonight's game. All three players could be suspended for the final should they receive a further yellow card tonight.

The match is under way.
Greece get the game under way. The Czechs are the only side at the finals to have won all of their games so far, but as they proved in winning their opening game of the finals against Portugal, Greece relish in overturning the odds.
The Czechs have made a bright start, always looking to probe upfield, but Greece's power and willingness to hound their opponents has already been in evidence too.
1' Vryzas (Greece) handles the ball.
3' Katsouranis (Greece) commits a foul after challenging Nedved (Czech Republic).
3' Rosický (Czech Republic) hits the crossbar.
So close for the Czech Republic. From fully 20 metres out Tomáš Rosický thumps the ball towards goal only to see it rattle the crossbar. Greece goalkeeper Antonios Nikopolidis barely saw his shot. It is an early warning for Rehhagel's men.
4' Koller (Czech Republic) gives away a free-kick following a challenge on Kapsis (Greece).
4' Greece are continuing to harry the Czechs for every ball but Pavel Nedved and his team-mates are looking very lively indeed at the moment. Their movement is good and they are keeping the ball well.
5' Charisteas (Greece) is flagged for offside.
5' Nedved (Czech Republic) misses the target.
5' Nedved (Czech Republic) takes the corner.
A deflected Nedved shot gives the Czechs the first corner of the game.
6' Jankulovski (Czech Republic) has an effort on goal.
The Czechs win a second corner in quick succession as Marek Jankulovski exploits some sleepy defending to lash the ball at goal. Nikopolidis does well to block his fierce shot and put it into touch. The Czechs make no progress from the set piece.
6' Nikopolidis (Greece) makes a save.
6' Nedved (Czech Republic) delivers the corner.
7' Finally the Greeks have a brief spell of pressure at the other end, but while the breathing space is useful, they cannot trouble their opponents' defence.
9' After a nervous start from their opponents, the Czech crowd are in good song. They continue to look extremely comfortable on the ball, but for the time being, Greece are holding firm.
9' Seitaridis (Greece) fouls.
10' A nice passing move leads to Georgios Karagounis trying his luck with a shot from the best part of 30 metres. However, it takes an unkind deflection and loops up into the air giving Czech goalkeeper Petr Cech an easy catch.
12' The pace of the game has dipped a little after a combative opening few minutes. Rehhagel's men are gradually recovering their composure and starting to make some headway in midfield, but they are still having to defend.
13' Rosický (Czech Republic) commits a foul after challenging Basinas (Greece).
14' Koller (Czech Republic) gives away a free-kick following a challenge on Kapsis (Greece).
14' Vryzas (Greece) is adjudged to be in an offside position.
14' Bolf (Czech Republic) fouls.
A badly-timed challenge gievs Greece a free-kick within shooting range.
15' Karagounis (Greece) takes a direct free-kick.
Karagounis tries his luck from long range but his effort flicks the Czech wall and bobbles up kindly for Cech. Nonetheless, it is a sign that the Greeks are finding their feet.
15' Karagounis (Greece) has an effort on goal.
15' Cech (Czech Republic) makes a save.
16' Poborský (Czech Republic) takes the corner.
A Rosický run wins the Czechs a corner and they have a good spell of pressure. However, as they defend deep, Greece are offering their opponents precious little space. Discipline is holding sway in the Greek defence.
18' Baroš (Czech Republic) commits a foul after challenging Seitaridis (Greece).
18' René Bolf does well to cut out a Konstantinos Katsouranis ball from the right but Greece are continuing to press forward.
19' Poborský (Czech Republic) delivers the corner.
19' Koller (Czech Republic) hits the crossbar.
Zdenek Grygera finds Jan Koller's head with a long ball from the right, but the giant striker cannot get any power in his header. The ball bounces on to the tiop of the crossbar befor Nikopolidis collects it comfortably.
21' Koller (Czech Republic) gives away a free-kick following a challenge on Kapsis (Greece).
21' While he cannot hope to match his height, Mihalis Kapsis is doing an excellent job of man-marking Koller. He is denying him room to move and battling him for every ball.
23' Seitaridis (Greece) fouls.
23' Seitaridis (Greece) is cautioned by the referee.
The Czechs come forward again. Milan Baroš wins a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area. Giourkas Seitaridis is shown a yellow card for the challenge.
24' Poborský drives the ball in low from the free-kick but his effort seems to get trapped under a team-mate's foot before Theodoros Zagorakis gratefully blasts the ball clear.
26' As the game goes on, Greece are starting to look increasingly comfortable. They seem to have accepted that they will spend much of the game defending, but as yet the Czechs have found no way through.
26' Poborský (Czech Republic) takes the corner.
The Czechs' fifth corner of the game comes to nothing. Despite his height, they have still not found the head of Koller from corner kicks.
28' A nice passage of passing play for Greece ends as Karagounis darts a ball into the box. Tomáš Ujfaluši makes a confident clearance.
28' The Czechs do tehir best to attack on the break after Greece's move breaks down but they have not found their opponents' rearguard napping yet.
29' Zisis Vryzas' cross from the left forces Cech to make a flap at the ball to push it to safety. Greece are doing well at the moment.
30' Koller (Czech Republic) is flagged for offside.
Koller is trapped offside as the Greek defence step up to counter Nedved's through-ball. Good defensive organisation from Rehhagel's men.
31' Karagounis (Greece) misses the target.
Karagounis is well off target with a speculative, low shot.
31' Galásek (Czech Republic) commits a foul after challenging Basinas (Greece).
32' All of a sudden it is the Czechs who are struggling to keep possession. The Greeks pass the ball well but they lack an attacking outlet at the moment. At the other end, Nedved makes a marauding run upfield to remind Greece of his presence.
33' Jankulovski (Czech Republic) has an effort on goal.
The ball falls to Jankulovski in space after Nedved cannot connect with a cross from the right, but Nikopolidis does brilliantly to push his fierce effort wide for a corner.
33' Nikopolidis (Greece) makes a save.
33' Poborský (Czech Republic) delivers the corner.
34' Worry for the Czechs. Nedved has left the pitch to receive treatment.
35' Grygera (Czech Republic) misses the target.
Koller gets his head to the ball from the corner. It drops for Grygera but his acrobatic effort does not trouble the goalkeeper.
36' Karagounis robs Rosický of possession in midfield as the Greeks push forward again. The good news for the Czech Republic is that Nedved is back on the pitch.
37' Baroš (Czech Republic) gives away a free-kick following a challenge on Katsouranis (Greece).
Greece have a free-kick in a great position on the right. Angelos Basinas floats the ball across the box, but there is no head to divert it towards goal. The Czechs are preparing to make a substitution.
38' Kapsis (Greece) fouls.
38' Nedved is clearly struggling. He looks to have injured his knee and is not moving comfortably. At the other end, Bolf does well to force Angelos Charisteas to concede a goal kick.
40' Šmicer (in) - Nedved (out) (Czech Republic)
Unhappy news for the Czech Republic. Vladimír Šmicer has come on for the stricken Nedved who is visbly distressed as he leaves the field.
41' Poborský has taken up the captain's armband in Nedved's absence.
41' Zagorakis (Greece) commits a foul after challenging Grygera (Czech Republic).
Zagorakis concedes a free-kick on the right but is in the right place to clear Poborský's ball into the box.
43' Karagounis darts a ball into the box at head height but Cech is quickly off his line to claim it. Greece have been playing some great football but they have yet to provide any cutting edge going forward.
43' Grygera (Czech Republic) gives away a free-kick following a challenge on Karagounis (Greece).
44' Jankulovski (Czech Republic) misses the target.
A great effort. With the goalkeeper off his line, Jankulovski tries his luck with a dipping chip from the flank which only just clears Nikopolidis' crossbar.
45' Karagounis (Greece) takes the corner.
Greece's first corner caps some incisive attacking play. Cech gets up well to force Karagounis' effort away before it can reach a Greek head.
45'+1' A good challenge from Basinas stops Rosický in his tracks. Greece press forward quickly but are stopped in their tracks by a foul.
45'+1' Galásek (Czech Republic) fouls.
The referee blows for half-time.
Half-time in Porto and it is still goalless between the Czech Republic and Greece. After a bright start, the Czechs have been increasingly shackled by Rehhagel's side and with their inspirational captain Nedved now off the pitch through injury, they will have to regroup at the interval. Greece, meanwhile, can be happy with their work, even though their opponents have had by far the better efforts on goal.
The second half begins.
The Czech Republic start the second half here in Porto and they have it all to do. Their creative players have been marked out of the game by Greece in the first half and they need to find new inspiration. Greece, meanwhile, need to start creating some chances of their own.
46' Baroš (Czech Republic) handles the ball.
Immediately Baroš and Koller try to rampage upfield but the Liverpool FC striker is penalised for handball as he darts through on goal.
46' Vryzas (Greece) commits a foul after challenging Šmicer (Czech Republic).
47' The Czechs are trying to pick their way through the Greek midfield but they constantly found themselves beset by markers.
48' Jankulovski loses the ball and Greece burst forward.
48' Galásek (Czech Republic) gives away a free-kick following a challenge on Charisteas (Greece).
48' Galásek (Czech Republic) is shown a yellow card.
Tomáš Galásek is shown the yellow card after he fells Charisteas as the Greek player heads forward.
49' Karagounis (Greece) misses the target.
49' Koller is called upon to clear the Czech lines with a defensive header as Karagounis delivers the ball into the box from a free-kick. Greece are looking lively again.
50' The Czechs try to push the ball up the right flank but, much to the striker's annoyance, Seitaridis manages to force Baroš to put the ball out for a goal kick.
51' Grygera (Czech Republic) fouls.
52' Karagounis tries to open up the Czech defence with a reverse ball through a crowd of legs but Cech is quick off his line to clear the danger.
52' At the other end, Basinas is on hand to clear the ball after a Koller knock-down. There is still no space for the Czech forwards anywhere near the Greece area.
53' Karagounis (Greece) commits a foul after challenging Grygera (Czech Republic).
54' A free-kick is flighted into the area and Koller is furious not to see Traianos Dellas penalised for impeding his run into the area. Referee Pierluigi Collina is not impressed and play continues.
55' Šmicer (Czech Republic) gives away a free-kick following a challenge on Seitaridis (Greece).
55' Šmicer (Czech Republic) is booked.
Šmicer is penalised for a trip on Seitaridis as the Greek player heads toward the danger zone.
56' Basinas (Greece) fouls.
Basinas' free-kick is charged down and teh Czechs dart free. However, as they head forward, Basinas checks Baroš to stop the move. The Czechs have a free-kick in a good position.
56' Poborský (Czech Republic) takes a direct free-kick.
57' Poborský (Czech Republic) misses the target.
Poborský tries his luck from distance from the free-kick. His effort clears the defensive wall that bends harmlessly away from Nikopolidis' right-hand post.
57' Kapsis (Greece) commits a foul after challenging Koller (Czech Republic).
57' Jankulovski (Czech Republic) takes a direct free-kick.
58' Another free-kick from distance is this time taken by Jankulovski. His low effort ricochets into the area but the ball is smuggled clear before the Czechs concede possession for Šmicer's challenge on Karagounis.
58' Jankulovski (Czech Republic) has a shot blocked.
58' Šmicer (Czech Republic) gives away a free-kick following a challenge on Karagounis (Greece).
59' Poborský (Czech Republic) delivers the corner.
59' A great run from Šmicer wins the Czechs a corner.
59' Koller (Czech Republic) misses the target.
The ball is beautifully flighted across the face of goal from the corner, but while Nikopolidis misses it, neither Baroš nor Koller at the far post can turn the ball toward goal.
60' Rosický (Czech Republic) misses the target.
A quick break sees the ball fall to Rosický, but his shot from just outside the area curls wide of Nikopolidis' left-hand post.
61' Bolf (Czech Republic) fouls.
62' Greece have the ball in midfield but they are finding the Czechs to be increasingly combative since half-time. While they are still holding firm in defence, Rehhagel's side are finding their opponents a little more troublesome than they were at the end of the first half.
63' Ujfaluši (Czech Republic) commits a foul after challenging Vryzas (Greece).
Greece have the ball on the right. Vryzas wins a free-kick on the corner of the Czech penalty area.
64' Fyssas (Greece) misses the target.
Very close for Greece. The ball is swept across goal from the free-kick and when Cech fails to collect it falls for Panagiotis Fyssas but he cannot turn it toward goal.
66' A loose ball sees the Czechs lose possession as they head forward. Greece have the ball in midfield again. They are chasing every loose ball, contesting every possible challenge and have won another free-kick in the Czech half.
66' Galásek (Czech Republic) gives away a free-kick following a challenge on Vryzas (Greece).
67' Vryzas (Greece) has an effort on goal.
Basinas steps upto take the free-kick. His ball finds Vryzas in a crowded penalty area but Cech is alive to the danger and makes a comfortable save from the Greek player's header.
67' Cech (Czech Republic) makes a save.
69' Poborský (Czech Republic) misses the target.
The Czechs press again. The ball is darted through for Koller but deflected clear into the path of the on-rushing Poborský who chips the ball just wide of the Greek goal. It was a marvellous effort from just inside the penalty area.
70' Charisteas (Greece) fouls.
70' Charisteas (Greece) is cautioned by the referee.
Charisteas is booked for an overenthusiastic challenge on Ujfaluši.
71' There are only 20 minutes to go and still the scores are level. Greece are continuing to hold their opponents in place, but with the creative skills at their command, no-one would bet against the Czechs producing something wonderful.
72' Giannakopoulos (in) - Basinas (out) (Greece)
Giannakopoulos has come on for Basinas in the centre of the Greek midfield. Rehhagel will be hoping he can bring more pace and passion into his side, who have run tirelessly all game.
73' Zagorakis (Greece) commits a foul after challenging Baroš (Czech Republic).
Zagorakis is penalised for blocking Baroš on the edge of the penalty area. This is a dangerous position for Greece. The Czechs have a great chance.
74' Jankulovski (Czech Republic) takes a direct free-kick.
74' Jankulovski (Czech Republic) has a shot blocked.
74' Poborský (Czech Republic) has an effort on goal.
Jankulovski tries to bend the ball around the wall from an improbable angle from the free-kick but it is deflected clear. Poborský tries his luck from the loose ball but his effort is well claimed by Nikopolidis.
74' Nikopolidis (Greece) makes a save.
75' Greece are sallying forth again. Chairsteas and Karagounis combine well on the right, forcing Šmicer to concede a corner.
76' Giannakopoulos (Greece) takes the corner.
76' Vryzas (Greece) misses the target.
Giannakopoulos' corner finds the head of Vryzas but while his effort on goal has plenty of power, it speeds wide of Cech's right-hand post.
77' Play has been held up while Katsouranis receives treatment deep inside his own half. The Greek players look to be taking a well-earned rest.
78' Baroš (Czech Republic) gives away a free-kick following a challenge on Seitaridis (Greece).
79' Katsouranis is back on his feet and Greece are back on the move.
79' Seitaridis does well to cut out Šmicer's flighted cross for Baroš. The Czechs continue to attack.
80' Vryzas (Greece) is adjudged to be in an offside position.
80' Koller (Czech Republic) misses the target.
A bad miss for the Czechs. Rosický plays a fabulous one-two with Koller on the run, and the ball falls to the big striker twelve metres from goal. But with the goal gaping, he drives the ball across the face of Nikopolidis' goal and wide of his right-hand post.
82' Katsouranis (Greece) fouls.
Another free-kick on the right wing for the Czechs.
82' Jankulovski curls the ball in toward the back post but Nikopolidis is quick of his line to clear it.
83' A great, deep ball from the left is flicked back across the face of goal by Poborský but Koller cannot get on to the end of it.
83' Baroš (Czech Republic) misses the target.
Now it is Baroš' turn to miss the target. Picking up the ball on the edge of the area, he tiptoes through the Greek defence and into the penalty area but pulls his shot across the face of the goal and wide.
85' The Czechs are finding more and more space as the game reaches its final stages. For the first time, Greece are beginning to show the strain of pursuing their opponents so remorselessly throughout the match.
85' Baroš (Czech Republic) is flagged for offside.
86' Less than five minutes of normal time to go and still no goals in Porto. The Czechs are looking to make a final assault on the Greek goal in the closing minutes.
87' Karagounis (Greece) commits a foul after challenging Šmicer (Czech Republic).
87' Karagounis (Greece) is shown a yellow card.
Šmicer wins a free-kick 25 metres from goal after a challenge by Karagounis, who is shown the yellow card. That will mean that the Greek player will miss the final should Greece get there.
88' Vyrzas does well to clear the initial danger from the free kick but the Czechs still have the ball.
89' Time is running out. Any goal in the next few minutes would surely be the winner.
90' Karagounis (Greece) gives away a free-kick following a challenge on Koller (Czech Republic).
90' Jankulovski delivers a fine inswinging cross from the left but Kapsis does brilliantly to head it away from the lurking Koller. The Greeks survive once more.
90'+1' Koller (Czech Republic) fouls.
90'+1' Suddenly at the other end Giannakopoulos gets the chance to cross from the right. There are a few nervous seconds before Bolf heads the ball to safety.
The final whistle is blown.
The second half is over. We will have extra time in Porto.
The first period of extra time begins.
The Czechs start the first period of extra time. Remember that under the silver goal rule, a team would be declared the winner of the game if they went into the half-time interval in extra time with a lead.
1' Ex Tsiartas (in) - Vryzas (out) (Greece)
Vassilios Tsiartas has come on for Vryzas. Charisteas will now spearhead the Greek attack.
1' Ex Poborský (Czech Republic) handles the ball.
1' Ex Baroš (Czech Republic) commits a foul after challenging Seitaridis (Greece).
Baroš tests Nikopolidis with a fierce shot but play has already been stopped for a foul.
2' Ex Rosický (Czech Republic) gives away a free-kick following a challenge on Karagounis (Greece).
3' Ex Zagorakis' ball into the box keeps the ball in Czech territory. However, after Greece win a thow, Cech comfortably collects Karagounis' ball from the right-hand corner flag.
4' Ex Koller (Czech Republic) fouls.
4' Ex Giannakopoulos (Greece) has an effort on goal.
Charisteas heads the ball on to Giannakopoulos who heads the ball at goal from fully 12 metres only for Cech to fly of his line and push it off target. Giannakopoulos is starting to look dangerous for Greece.
4' Ex Cech (Czech Republic) makes a save.
4' Ex Tsiartas (Greece) delivers the corner.
6' Ex Charisteas (Greece) is adjudged to be in an offside position.
Katsouranis plays a magnificent ball through for Charisteas who has already been flagged offside before he powers a shot at Cech.
7' Ex Poborský (Czech Republic) takes the corner.
Baroš plays a great ball to the back post for Koller but once more Kapsis takes the ball away from him. The Czechs win a corner which Katsouranis eventually clears.
8' Ex Seitaridis (Greece) commits a foul after challenging Baroš (Czech Republic).
Baroš wins a free-kick on the left after a challenge by Seitaridis. Poborský bends the ball in but it is a comfortable claim for Nikopolidis.
9' Ex Greece are pressing forward now with Giannakopoulos seemingly leading the line.
10' Ex The players on both sides are beginning to look tired - no surprise after such an exhausting game. However, both sides have shown plenty of attacking verve in the first half of extra time.
11' Ex Baroš (Czech Republic) gives away a free-kick following a challenge on Tsiartas (Greece).
12' Ex Baroš (Czech Republic) fouls.
12' Ex Baroš (Czech Republic) is booked.
Baroš is booked for a foul on Fyssas in midfield. Tempers are beginning to fray.
13' Ex Dellas (Greece) has an effort on goal.
So close for Greece. Tsiartis bends the ball into the area from distance, Dellas makes firm contact but Cech makes a point-blank save.
13' Ex Cech (Czech Republic) makes a save.
14' Ex Šmicer (Czech Republic) handles the ball.
Šmicer is penalised for handball in midfield giving the ball back to Greece. Rehhagel's men are beginning to look like the more likely scorers.
15' Ex Tsiartas (Greece) delivers the corner.
Ujfaluši concedes a corner in the final seconds of the first half of extra time.
15'+1' Ex ( 1 - 0 ) Dellas (Greece) scores!
15'+1' Ex 1-0 to Greece. A goal from Traianos Dellas and surely the winning goal. Tsiartas plays a brilliant corner from the left which is picked up at the near post by Dellas and headed past Cech.
The referee brings the first period of extra time to an end.


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