The "Portuguese" Euro seems to have given the Czech team a real chance to add another set of awards to its assets, since it has no fewer titles and experience than any of the three other semifinalists of the tournament. Suffice it to recall its achievements on the fields of the Old World: "gold" in '76, "silver" in '96, and "bronze" in '60 and '80... However, there are also some "buts." \n \nFor example, the Greeks, who are "blocking" the Czechs' path to the final, have managed to make quite a lot of noise at this championship. And if in the first match against the Portuguese (2:1) the Hellenes achieved success not least thanks to their great desire, team unity, and their opponent's underestimation of them, then already in the meeting with the Spaniards (1:1) and the same French in the quarterfinals (1:0) they demonstrated truly modern football and amazing self-sacrifice. In addition, the Greek national team has nothing to lose – at home, myths are probably already being made about its feat, but appetite, as is known, comes with eating... So in the Greek camp there is not even a hint of uncertainty or panic, especially since the German coach Otto Rehhagel managed to "overcome" in his "pupils" the feeling of oppression before their titled counterparts... \n \nInstead, the Czechs can, in contrast, "put up" as their stake a selection of experienced veterans and young talents, as well as their "exclusive" unbeaten run of four matches at Euro 2004. Moreover, three of them were won only at the cost of willpower, and the meeting against the Germans, which they did not need at all, was credited to a reserve squad... \n \nBut we need to dwell in more detail on the quarterfinal, in which the Czechs tested the Danish team. The Scandinavians' lineup was properly "leveled" by injuries before the match. Due to injuries, both Jensens, Sand, and Jorgensen received a "taboo" on entering the green pitch. As a result, only Jorgensen appeared in the starting lineup. \n \n \nThe start of the meeting remained entirely with the Czechs: Nedved from a free kick, Baros, whose accurate shot was stopped only by a defender, and Galasek with a long-range attempt instantly made it clear to the opponent that "time for reflection" would not be given to him. The Scandinavians quickly realized this, but their task was carried out only by Jorgensen and Gronkjaer, who tried to break into the opponents' "camp" through the flanks. Credit should also be given to the defense of the Danish players – in the first half, the pressing and activity of the defenders did not allow the Czechs to create serious problems for Sorensen. \n\r\nThe second half of the game again turned into a demonstration of the "calling card" of Karel Bruckner's collective. According to a certain tradition, in Portugal he brings success in every duel precisely after the break. The Czechs did not show originality here either. Before the minute hand of the clock had made four revolutions in the second half of the match, a corner delivered by Poborsky was successfully used by Jan Koller. The forward of Dortmund's "Borussia," whose height is 202 cm, again applied his advantage and sent the ball into the goal with his head. \n \nThis episode finally had an effect on both teams, and they rushed with renewed strength into the whirlpool of the battle for a semifinal ticket. True, in the 65th minute its fate was decided, and by the feet of the young talent of the English "Liverpool," Milan Baros. \n \nFirst, the 22-year-old forward, outpacing the defense, beat Sorensen by slipping the ball into the near corner of the goal. And two minutes later, Baros, having received a pass from Nedved, rapidly approached the Danish goalkeeper and sent him and the ball into different corners...3:0! \n \nOlsen's team, despite such a barrage of scoring from the opponent, still tried at the end of the match to break the spell on Petr Cech's goal, but in vain. \n \nSo, on July 1, it is the Czechs who will take the next exam, the task of which is to find a counter to the "mythical" collectors of favorites' scalps...the Greeks. The goals in this semifinal are ready to be received by the goal of the "Dragao" stadium in the city of Porto. \n \nCzech Republic – Denmark – 3:0 \nGoals: Koller 49, Baros 63, 65 \n\r\nCzech Republic national team: Cech, Bolf (Rozehnal, 64), Jiranek (Grygera, 39), Ujfalusi, Galasek, Jankulovski, Poborsky, Rosicky, Nedved, Baros (Heinz, 68), Koller \n\r\nDenmark: Sorensen, Bogelund, Henriksen, Laursen, Helveg, Gravesen, Gronkjaer (Rommedahl, 78), K. Jensen (Madsen, 69), Poulsen, Jorgensen (Lovenkrands, 85), Tomasson \n\r\nReferee: Ivanov (Russia) \nPorto. "Dragao." 41,092 spectators. \n