- Date:16 Jun 2012
- Kick-off:19:45
- Venue:Wroclaw Municipal Stadium - Wroclaw
Live Commentary
- 95mins
It's all over! The co-hosts' dream comes to a premature end as the Czech Republic secure a 1-0 victory that sees them top the group. They'll face the runners-up in Group B for a spot in the last four. Greece, meanwhile, are also through to the quarter-finals...Russia are out!
- 94mins
They have to hold on here first though as there's late, late drama as Poland go close to snatching an equaliser. Rezek heads Blaszczykowski's goalbound effort off the line.
- 93mins
One minute of stoppage time remains. Barring a miracle in Warsaw, the Czech Republic will finish as winners of Group A.
- 91mins
Into four minutes of added-on time now in Wroclaw. Tomas Pekhart is introduced in place of Baros.
- 90mins
A late spate of yellow cards as Plasil, Blaszczykowski and Perquis go into the referee's book.
- 88mins
A second change for the Czechs as they seek to slow the game down in the final stages. Jan Rezek comes on for Pilar.
- 86mins
Wasilewski heads over! A set-piece from Dudka is flicked onto towards the far post but Wasilewski sends a header just over the crossbar.
- 85mins
A short backpass looks like it might give Lewandowski a sniff of goal, but an alert Cech is off his line quickly and clears into touch.
- 84mins
The Czechs make their first change of the evening with goalscorer Jiracek trotting off to be replaced by Frantisek Rajtoral.
- 80mins
Into the final ten minutes and it's not looking good at all for Poland. After a bright start - much like in the tournament opener against Greece - they've struggled mightily to engineer much in the way of chances.
- 79mins
Jiracek is down and looked rather dazed after getting his head in the way of Piszczek's fizzing volley from the edge of the box.
- 78mins
Plasil whips in another dangerous free-kick but Dudka makes a vital intervention to send the ball behind.
- 76mins
The game's starting to get a bit stretched as Poland now have around 15 minutes to save their Euro 2012 campaign.
- 73mins
A double change for Poland with Murawski and Obraniak hauled off and Adrian Mierzejewski and Pawel Brozek on in their place.
- 72mins
Czech Republic hit the co-hosts on the counterattack as Baros feeds Jiracek on the left. The long-haired wideman cuts inside Wasilewski and steers a low effort with his right foot into the far corner past the outstretched hand of Tyton. As it stands, the Czechs top the group.
- 72mins
GOAL! Jiracek puts the Czechs ahead.
- 67mins
Tyton is once again called into action as Baros cuts inside and lets fly from 25 yards. It's low and to the 'keeper's right but a comfortable save in all honesty.
- 63mins
Pilar is hauled down by Piszczek down the channel. Plasil's bends in a free-kick to the far post where Tomas Sivok rises highest to head it goalwards. Tyton makes an initial block before flinging himself through the air to claw the ball away from the danger zone. Good reactions from the PSV custodian there.
- 60mins
Wasilewski trips Limbersky about a yard outside the box down the left wing. It's a yellow for the defender but there's no damage from the ensuing set-piece.
- 56mins
Polanski goes off and is replaced by Kamil Grosicki. It's the Sivasspor midfielder's first appearance in the competition.
- 53mins
Limbersky collects a loose ball on the left flank just outside the penalty area and hones in on goal but his prodded effort rolls harmlessly wide of the near post.
- 52mins
Baros is looking much livelier after the restart and evades Perquis before Wasilewski sends him crashing to the deck. The Anderlecht man is lucky to escape a booking.
- 50mins
Baros manufactures a bit of a space in the edge of the Polish box but Wasilewski slides in to block behind for a corner. The corner's poor and fails to beat the first man.
- 47mins
Polanski scythes down Pilar and Scottish referee Craig Thomson immediately brandishes the yellow card. That's Polanski second booking of the tournament, meaning he'll miss Poland's next match should they advance.
- 46mins
The players emerge from the tunnel for the second half as Poland get proceedings underway.
As things stand both sides are heading out of the competition. A goal from Giorgos Karagounis on the stroke of half-time has given the Greeks a 1-0 lead over Russia in Warsaw.
- 45mins
Half-time in Wroclaw and it's goalless at the Municipal Stadium. Poland bossed the early stages but the Czechs responded well towards the end of the half, leaving it finely poised after the opening 45 minutes.
- 42mins
Pilar is the main attacking outlet for Michal Bilek's side as he cuts inside and wins another corner. Poland clear easily though.
- 40mins
Pilar has two bites at the cherry. His first effort is blocked but the second is on target. Tyton initially spills the low effort but claims at the second attempt with Baros closing in.
- 37mins
Tyton again called into action as Plasil's tame shot from outside the box deflects off the leg of Damien Perquis and straight down the 'keeper's throat.
- 35mins
Milan Baros times his run to perfection to beat the offside trap, but the striker can't quite reach Jaroslav Plasil's lofted through ball, allowing Przemyslaw Tyton to collect.
- 33mins
The Czechs have offered virtually nothing going forward so far as Theodor Gebre Selassie's low cross is easily cut out.
- 30mins
Blaszczykowski looking very sharp for the co-hosts through the opening half an hour as he wins another free-kick in the middle of the park.
- 27mins
Torrential rain in Wroclaw with thunder and lightning in the air surrounding the Municipal Stadium. Nothing like yesterday's events in Donetsk just yet, fortunately.
- 25mins
Lovely combination of passes between Blaszczykowski and Lukasz Piszczek down the right flank but Blaszczykowski is muscled off the ball and it trickles harmlessly into the grateful hands of Cech.
- 22mins
Rafal Murawski follows Limbersky into the referee's book after a cynical tug on Milan Baros.
- 20mins
Sebastien Boenisch hits a dipping volley from all of about 35 yards that forces Cech to palm behind. Marcin Wasilewski then heads straight at the Czech 'keeper.
- 16mins
A bit of sustained possession for the Czech Republic before a long ball from the back intended for Petr Jiracek sails over his head and into touch. Tomas Rosicky's absence clearly being felt so far.
- 14mins
Poland dominating in the early stages thus far. This time it's Eugen Polanski with a strike at goal. It goes high and wide though.
- 12mins
Yellow card for Limbersky
- 11mins
First yellow card of the evening goes to the Czech Republic's David Limbersky for a foul on Blaszczykowski. Polish free-kick swung in from the right and not properly cleared but the follow-up effort bounces wide.
- 9mins
Great chance for Poland's star striker Robert Lewandowski! He receives the ball on the edge of the box and drives towards goal but slices his strike wide. A let-off for the Czechs.
- 7mins
Blaszczykowski is put through down the left side at a tight angle but Cech is quick off his line to smother the ball behind for a corner. Nothing comes from the ensuing set-piece however.
- 4mins
Dangerous free-kick for Poland. Skipper Jakub Blaszczykowski is caught right on the edge of the box but Ludovic Obraniak drags the set-piece just wide of the near post.
- 3mins
Vaclav Pilar fluffs his lines as a cross comes in from the right and the chance is gone for the Czech Republic.
- 1mins
Early chance for Poland as Dariusz Dudka attempts an audacious overhead kick. His effort bounces just wide of Petr Cech's near post though.
Poland, playing in white, get the game underway. The Czechs are in red.
Poland (4-2-3-1): Premyslaw Tyton; Sebastian Boenisch, Damien Perquis, Marcin Wasilewski, Lukasz Piszczek; Eugen Polanski, Dariusz Dudka; Ludovic Obraniak, Rafal Murawski, Kuba Blaszczykowski (capt); Robert Lewandowski
Czech Republic 4-2-3-1): Petr Cech (capt); Theodor Gebre Selassie, Tomas Sivok, Michal Kadlec, David Limbersky: Jaroslav Plasil, Tomas Hubschman; Petr Jiracek, Daniel Kolar, Vaclav Pilar; Milan Baros
Players lined up side by side as the traditional pre-match national anthems are played.
Poland are unchanged from their 1-1 draw with Russia meaning PSV Eindhoven goalkeeper Przemyslaw Tyton keeps his place despite Wojciech Szczesny's return from suspension.
Czech captain Tomas Rosicky failed to recover from a calf injury to take his place in the starting line-up and will be replaced by Viktoria Plzen's Daniel Kolar. That is their only change from their last match.
If Greece beat Russia by more than five goals in tonight's other Group A clash, then a draw for the Czechs would also be enough to see them advance to the quarter-finals. An unlikely scenario, mind.
Welcome to our coverage of co-hosts Poland's Group A clash with the Czech Republic at the Municipal Stadium in Wroclaw. Victory for either side would see them through to the last eight, but anything other than three points for Poland will see them bow out at the first hurdle.
Czech Republic
- Michal Bilek Coach
- Petr Cech Goal
- Theodor Gebre Selassie Defender
- Tomas Sivok Defender
- Michal Kadlec Defender
- David Limbersky Defender
- Petr Jiracek Midfielder
- Tomas Hubschman Midfielder
- Daniel Kolar Midfielder
- Jaroslav Plasil Midfielder
- Vaclav Pilar Midfielder
- Milan Baros Forward
- Jan Lastuvka Substitute
- Jaroslav Drobny Substitute
- Marek Suchy Substitute
- Roman HubnÃk Substitute
- Tomas Necid Substitute
- Tomas Rosicky Substitute
- Milan Petrzela Substitute
- David Lafata Substitute
- VladimÃr Darida Substitute
- Frantisek Rajtoral
- Jan Rezek
- Tomas Pekhart
Poland
- Franciszek Smuda Coach
- Przemyslaw Tyton Goal
- Lukasz Piszczek Defender
- Marcin Wasilewski Defender
- Damien Perquis Defender
- Sebastian Boenisch Defender
- Jakub Blaszczykowski Midfielder
- Dariusz Dudka Midfielder
- Rafal Murawski Midfielder
- Eugen Polanski Midfielder
- Ludovic Obraniak Midfielder
- Robert Lewandowski Forward
- Wojciech Szczesny Substitute
- Grzegorz Sandomierski Substitute
- Grzegorz Wojtkowiak Substitute
- Marcin Kaminski Substitute
- Adam Matuschyk Substitute
- Maciej Rybus Substitute
- Jakub Wawrzyniak Substitute
- Artur Sobiech Substitute
- Rafal Wolski Substitute
- Kamil Grosicki Substitute who played
- Pawel Brozek Substitute who played
- Adrian Mierzejewski Substitute who played
Match Report
Czechs through as they shatter Poland's dreams
Co-hosts Poland crashed out of the European Championship as they lost 1-0 to the Czech Republic at the Municipal Stadium on Saturday with their opponents winning Group A.
Petr Jiracek scored the only goal of the game 18 minutes from time as the Czechs joined Greece - the 2004 champions - in the quarter-finals.
Few would have predicted such an outcome before the group games began and even fewer who saw the first halves.
Poland were totally dominant in the opening period but seemed to have left it all on the pitch in that first 45 minutes and they were second best after the restart.
But it was a mistake that cost them as Rafal Murawski tried to drive forward from midfield and lost the ball with little cover behind him.
It means Poland have never reached the knock-out stages of the Euros while the Czech Republic did so for the third time in five editions.
Twice in the opening minutes the home fans let out a brief cheer but Dariusz Dudka's overhead bicycle kick and Ludovic Obraniak's free-kick both hit the side-netting rather than the back one.
A horribly misplaced pass from Jaroslav Plasil was intercepted by Polish captain Jakub Blaszczykowski and he slipped in Borussia Dortmund team-mate Robert Lewandowski, but he sliced his shot well wide.
Such was Poland's dominance that even their defence started getting in on the act and Sebastian Boenisch shot wide when well placed before sending Czech goalkeeper Petr Cech scurrying across his goal to scramble the ball behind from a long-range volley.
Marcin Wasilewski threw himself at a cross from deep but his header was gathered easily by Cech.
Towards the end of the half Poland's electric pace -- which seemed to have provoked a couple of flashes of lightning and an enormous crack of thunder -- slowed markedly and the Czechs came back into it.
But a deflected Jiracek shot and Pilar's low effort did not overly tax goalkeeper Przemyslaw Tyton, who kept his place despite the return from suspension of Wojciech Szczesny.
The second half was the reverse of the first with Poland melting away and the Czech Republic piling forwards.
David Limbersky skipped into the box but prodded wide before Tomas Sivok won a header from Plasil's free-kick inside the six yard box only for his downward effort to bounce up into Tyton's chest.
The big breakthrough came 18 minutes from time as Murawski surged forwards from midfield but was dispossessed by Jiracek.
The Czechs countered three on three and Jiracek exchanged passes with Milan Baros before turning inside Wasilewski and slipping the ball under Tyton.
Wasilewski got up well to win a header in the box but it landed on the roof of the net as the hosts finally came alive.
With virtually the last kick of the match Michal Kadlec secured qualification for the Czechs as he headed Blaszczykowski's chip off the line.
Had that gone in, the Czechs would have been out.