Czech Republic vs. Portugal Euro 2012: As It Happened

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FULL TIME: CZECH REPUBLIC 0, PORTUGAL 1

That's all from Warsaw. It wasn't all that pretty from Portugal, but Ronaldo's goal was top, top class.

And Ronaldo himself is world class. Even though he missed a few chances today, he was clearly the best player on the pitch. Are we seeing a special run from Ronaldo and Portugal?

In truth, the Czechs were outmanned. They have nothing to be ashamed of. They just didn't have enough.

FULL TIME

There's the final whistle! Portugal will advance!

90+4

The corner is way too long for everyone, especially Cech. Poor corner, really.

Portugal try to break quickly with Cech out of his net, but the counter is broken up.

90+3

Petr Cech lumps a free kick into the box. It's headed out for a corner.

Cech then runs into the box to try for the corner…

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90+1

Four minutes of stoppage time. The Czechs try to attack, but they can't keep the ball.

90'—CZE 0, POR 1

We're into stoppage time now. Portugal's players are trying to use up as much time as possible, wherever possible.

Here's another good stat, via Twitter:

18 - Cristiano Ronaldo has netted EURO 2012's 18th headed goal, more than any previous tournament. Aerial.

— Opta (@OptaJean) June 21, 2012

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Stat time:

With 6 goals, Ronaldo joins Ibrahimovic, Henry, VNistelrooy, Kluivert and Nuno Gomes. Only Platini (9) and Shearer (7) have more ECh goals.

— Infostrada Sports (@InfostradaLive) June 21, 2012

89'—PORTUGAL SHOT!

Now Miguel Veloso blasts a shot way over the bar. Can any Portugal player shoot?

I mean, besides Ronaldo.

87'—SUB

Rolando replaces Raul Meireles for Portugal.

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87'—CZE 0, POR 1

Raul Meireles blasts a shot way, way over the bar again. How many shots has he put into the jetstream today?

Five? Six?

86'—SUB

Tomas Pekhart replaces Tomas Hubschmann for the Czech Republic.

They've got to go all out for a goal now.

84'—SUB

Custodio replaces Nani for Portugal. That's a defensive move.

83'—PORTUGAL CHANCE!

Joao Pereira comes close, but Cech saves. The ball goes out for a corner, which comes to nothing.

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Instant reaction to Ronaldo's goal:

Ronaldo is bringing his Real Madrid form to this tournament now, and that's very bad news for everyone else.

— Tom Adams (@tomEurosport) June 21, 2012

And:

Serious ball watching by the Czech back 4 (Gebre Selassie specifically). Portugal & Ronaldo deserved that. JUSTICE.

— Max Bretos (@mbretosESPN) June 21, 2012

Finally:

An absolute masterclass run and header from Ronaldo. He doesn't have the flu and this isn't the 'Finals but he's playing like it.

— The Shin Guardian (@shinguardian) June 21, 2012

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MORE ON THE GOAL

Great movement by Portugal. Moutinho bursts into the right channel and crosses back to Ronaldo, who angles his header off the ground and into the net.

That's textbook heading. Always head the ball down, kids. Makes it harder to save.

79'—GOAL! RONALDO!

Finally! The breakthrough!

It's a header.

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Twitter is buzzing about the potential penalty shootout.

Don't want to tempt fate but Czech Rep have the best penalty shootout record in EC history - 20 out of 20

— Gavin Hamilton (@WorldSoccerEd) June 21, 2012

And…

We're in grave danger of getting the first goalless draw of the tournament. Deliberate attempt to tempt fate

— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) June 21, 2012

Finally, a stat:

#CZE have completed just 72% of their passes in this match, only two other sides have recorded a worse rate in a game at Euro 2012.

— CastrolEDGEfootball (@castrolfootball) June 21, 2012

74'—PORTUGAL CHANCE!

Nani fires just wide of the far post!

Kadlec may have saved the Czechs there with his sliding challenge.

72'—PORTUGAL CHANCE!

Pepe plays the ball through to Ronaldo in the box. Ronaldo turns back and tees up Raul Meireles.

Meireles shoots wildly over the bar.

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71'—CZE 0, POR 0

Less than 20 minutes left now. Portugal's rally early in the second half seems to have faded.

Is it too early to start thinking about penalties?

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A rather succinct summary of the action so far.

Pass, pass, pass, pass, cross into box, Almeida header over, goal kick, pass, pass, pass, pass, cross into box, Cech save, goal kick....

— Graham Ruthven (@grahamruthven) June 21, 2012

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Re: Kadlec's injury:

Magic Spray! #euro12

— Dan Levy (@DanLevyThinks) June 21, 2012

66'—INJURY

Ronaldo and Michal Kadlec challenge for a ball at the edge of the Czech box. Petr Cech comes out and punches the ball—and takes Kadlec out in the process.

Kadlec looks dazed. Not hard to see why. Cech is a big dude.

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Too soon to be thinking about this?

Peter Cech making some great saves, and would have a marked advantage over Rui Patricio in a shootout. Portugal need a goal.

— Max Bretos (@mbretosESPN) June 21, 2012

64'—PORTUGAL SHOT!

Joao Moutinho hits a piledriver from outside the box. The ball dips at just the right time, but Petr Cech gets a hand to the ball and tips it over for a corner.