Cristiano Ronaldo was a greater goalscoring threat than the Czech side put together, as Portugal narrowly won a game that should have been safe much earlier.
Paulo Bento named an unchanged side again – he’s played this XI in Portugal’s last six competitive games, four at the Euros, two in the play-offs against Bosnia.
Michael Bilek...
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This is a battle between two reasonably similar teams. They may play different formations, but they have the same problems – and, most interestingly, will look to play down the same flank.
9 and 10?
The first similarity the lack of a prolific number nine. Milan Baros and Helder Postiga have both started all three games,...
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The Czech Republic had a very good first ten minutes, and that was enough to put themselves in a commanding position.
Both coaches made changes to their starting line-ups, moving their XI closer to the side that finished their opening matches. Michal Bilek started holding midfielder Tomas Hubschman, with Petr Jiracek on the left of...
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Russia made a terrific start to their Euro 2012 campaign with a high quality counter-attacking performance.
Dick Advocaat named his expected side – a 4-3-3 system, with Vyacheslav Malafeev in goal.
Michel Bilek’s side featured one alteration from the expected XI – Michal Kadlec moved to the left, where he frequently played during qualification, which meant Roman...
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Michal Bilek hasn’t been particularly popular during his time as Czech Republic coach, but he has assembled a well-organised, functional side that mixes experience with youth.
The three star names are the trio who featured prominently in the superb Czech side that might have won Euro 2004 were it not for Pavel Nedved’s cruel injury...
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