The Netherlands rode their luck to beat the Czech Republic 1-0 with an 89th minute penalty in their opening Euro 2000 group D match on Sunday. The Netherlands, co-hosts and tournament favourites, were under huge pressure in the second half as Pavel Nedved and Jan Koller rattled the frame of the Dutch goal, and Karel Poborsky sliced wide at the far post with the goal at his mercy.
Just as it looked as if the Czechs would earn a point for their spirited resistance, Ronald de Boer fell in the area going for a high cross under pressure from Jiri Nemec and Italian referee Pierluigi Collina pointed to the spot. De Boer's twin brother Frank, the Dutch captain, scored from the spot to send the Dutch crowd, almost silent throughout the second period, into raptures. In a frenzied finish Czech anger at the penalty decision led to a incident on the touchline and Radoslav Latal, substituted in the 69th minute, was shown the red card by Collina.
The Dutch, playing their first competitive fixture since the World Cup in France two years ago, dominated the first half with their classy passing moves. They began the match as if they were playing yet another friendly in their long build-up to the competition but although Czech keeper Pavel Srnicek twice made important double saves, the Dutch never seemed capable of raising their game. The first double-save came after 14 minutes when first Patrick Kluivert and then Dennis Bergkamp tested him. Three minutes later Kluivert and Boudewijn Zenden forced him to react swiftly to prevent a Dutch goal.
Bergkamp also went desperately close to marking his 75th appearance for the Netherlands with a goal but his 19th minute angled shot went inches wide of the far post. The Czechs, fielding five men who played in the final of Euo'96 -- Karel Rada, Karel Poborsky, Vladimir Smicer, Nedved and Nemec played the far more direct football, especially after the break when Nedved really took control of the midfield. He was unlucky not to score after 58 minutes when he headed against a post and saw the bounce along the goalline before Van der Sar safely gathered. Koller, who had scored 13 goals in his first 14 internationals, also came agonisingly close six minutes later when he powered a looping header over a stranded Van der Sar, only to see the ball bounce off the bar.
Reuters
