Euro 2012: 1st quarter-final between Portugal vs Czech Republic today
Warsaw:
The Portuguese with Cristiano Ronaldo peaking just at the right time
would go into the quarterfinals against Czech Republic here on Thursday.
After two goalless games against Germany
and Denmark, Ronaldo started to feel the heat but a brace in the last
group game against the Dutch gave the Portuguese the bragging rights.
However, the Czechs will look to reach
the semifinals of the tournament for the first time since 2004. To stop
Cristiano Ronaldo will be job one for the Czechs if they were to proceed
to the semis. They looked set for an early exit from the tournament
when they lost 4-1 to Russia in their first match. However, victories
over Greece and co-host Poland took them to the quarterfinals. Both
Portugal and Czech Republic have met twice since the split of
Czechoslovakia in 1993. Both encounters took place at European
Championships. In 1996, the Czechs stunned Portugal’s supposed golden
generation which included Luis Figo and Rui Costa in the quarterfinal
before progressing to the final.
However, in 2008 European Championships,
Cristiano Ronaldo scored one goal and set up another one to lead
Portugal to a 3-1 victory at the group stage.
Meanwhile, Chelsea and Portugal
midfielder Raul Meireles insists that Paulo Bento`s team can go all the
way at Euro 2012, as long as Cristiano Ronaldo can replicate the
blistering form that he showed against NetherlandsCLICK TO PLAY
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