Euro 2008 – Group A second round
The team from Portugal has almost certainly ensured its entry into the second round of Euro 2008 after beating a decidedly determined Czech Republic. The teams seemed fairly evenly matched with scores tied at half time. In the second half, Portugal lifted their game by a notch and scored two more goals than their opponents. The Czech Republic has won one game and lost this one. They will be watching the second game with interest to determine the strength of their next oppoinent. Portugal is clearly leading this group.
Czech Republic 1 :
Portugal 3
For both Switzerland and Turkey, the outcome of their meeting in the second game of the night was important. A loss for either team would seriously dent any probability of reaching the next round. Playing in the pouring rain was not easy. The game was entertaining, made more so by the erratic behaviour of the leather orb in deep puddles. Those were also in part to blame for the goal scored by Switzerland. A close call some minutes later could have meant a second goal for the Swiss. Instead, Turkey was able to equalize in the second half. And then, in the last minutes of extra time, a second goal by Turkey put one of the host nations out of the tournament. Switzerland played well, but will enter the last game without any hope of advancing.
Switzerland 1 :
Turkey 2