Euro 2012: Russia vs. Czech Republic Men of the Match

This is the second installment of a tournament-long series determining six players—three from each side—that made cases for themselves for Man of the Match for each game. The players will be ranked third, runner-up, and Man of the Match for each respective side, and a Man of the Match of the whole game will be picked. 

Russia started off its campaign to improve upon their 2008 success against the Czech Republic. 

The Czechs came into the game as slight underdogs, but it was Tomáš Rosický and the Czechs who started off the brighter. They took the game to the Russians, who were trying to shake off their label as perennial slow-starters.

Shake it they did.

The Russians, very much against the run of play, went ahead through wunderkind Alan Dzagoev in the 15th minute. Konstantin Zyryanov crossed from the right side to the head of Aleksandr Kerzhakov, who headed the ball across Petr Cech's goal and off the post right into Dzagoev's path. 

The ball rocketed into the back of the net.

The Czechs didn't seem to be fazed and kept pressing on but were punished again by a Russian counter-attack in the 24th minute. Captain Andrei Arshavin carried the ball up the middle of the field and slotted it through the middle of the box. Cech looked to be privy to the cross, and it looked to be too long for Roman Shirokov, but Shirokov deftly chipped the ball over Cech's outstretched hand. 

It was 2-0 Russia and it would stay that way until halftime with the Czech Republic left scratching their heads.

The second half looked to be a different story, as the Czechs started brightly again. In the 51st minute, Václav Pilař beat the Russian offside trap as he took a pass from midfield, rounded keeper Vyacheslav Malafeev, and cooly slotted the ball home. The deficit was halved, and suddenly the Czech Republic's mountain was a little easier to climb. 

Alas, a Czech revival was not to be. In the 79th minute, substitute Roman Pavlyuchenko slotted the ball through the Czech defense to the waiting Dzagoev who promptly smashed past the helpless Cech. Three minutes later, Pavyluchenko got himself on the scoresheet after displayed some fancy footwork.

As he ran out of room in the box, Pavlyuchenko must have said, "I'll just put it in the net."

4-1.

Russia ran away with this one. Here are my picks for the Russia vs. Czech Republic Men of the Match.

Third Place, Russia: Roman Pavlyuchenko

Roman Pavlyuchenko, the Tottenham Hotspur outcast, came on in the 73rd minute to relieve the misfiring Aleksandr Kerzhakov. 

Nine minutes later, Pavlyuchenko had a goal and an assist and a really big case to be made for his inclusion in the starting XI next match.

Not many players can come off the bench and have that kind of output.  

Runner-Up, Russia: Andrei Arshavin

Andrei Arshavin attacked and shredded the Czech defense at will, constantly slotting passes through the back four and coming up with an assist on Russia's second goal. 

The front trio of Arshavin, Aleksandr Kerzhakov and Alan Dzagoev just ripped the Czechs apart, and had Kerzhakov converted his myriad of opportunities, the Czech Republic would be sitting in a five- or six-goal hole.

Arshavin was the architect of the Russian attack, but it is a testament to how well Russia played as a whole that he's only runner-up. 

Man of the Match, Russia: Alan Dzagoev

Alan Dzagoev came into this tournament with a lot of expectations and boy did he deliver. 

In his international tournament debut, Dzagoev hammered in two goals—with authority. 

His first goal was a sitter; as the ball came to his feet after Kerzhakov hit the post, all the youngster had to do was tap it in. He smashed it in. 

His second goal came off a through-ball from substitute Roman Pavlyuchenko. All the youngster had to do was slot the ball around Petr Cech. He smashed it around Petr Cech. 

On top of his goalscoring, Dzagoev was constantly finding space behind the Czech defense, creating numerous chances and making it easy for Arshavin and other to find him behind enemy lines. 

If Dzagoev plays like this for the remainder of a tournament, Russia will have a crazy dangerous attack in their possession. 

Third Place, Czech Republic: Tomáš Rosický

TomአRosický was instrumental in commanding the midfield for the Czech Republic, especially in the first 15-20 minutes of the game. He was finding his teammates in space, and created numerous dangerous runs.

As the match went on, and Russia began to dominate, Rosický faded from the game—as did the rest of the team—until every name the commentators were calling were Russian.

Now that the Czechs sit in a three-goal hole, the captain will need to rally his team in order to get the result they want. 

Runner-Up, Czech Republic: Václav Pilař

Václav Pilař was the scorer of the Czech Republic's lone goal in this 4-1 drubbing. 

That should get him into the man of the match spot for the Czechs, except for the fact that for some of the game, he was absent. 

Granted, Pilař was one of the better players on a disappointing Czech side, but he was inconsistent in his contributions to both the offensive and defensive sides of the game.

Good for him for scoring though. 

Man of the Match, Czech Republic: Petr Jiráček

For me, Petr Jiráček was the best player on this Czech side, and it was unfathomable that he was subbed out with 15 minutes left. He represented the best possible opportunity to pull back within at least another goal.

Jiráček was the constant catalyst of the Czech attack, willing the ball forward through him on the left side of the pitch. He was receiving and dishing the ball out about as efficiently as was asked of him, and he kept the ball and made darting runs up the flank when the situation called for it. 

If Jiráček had stayed on the pitch the whole game, the Czechs stood a better chance of decreasing the deficit. 

Man of the Match: Alan Dzagoev

You don't score two goals on your Euro debut and not be Man of the Match. The young Russian impressed from beginning to end. Hopefully he can keep his form up; it will make Russia all the more exciting to watch. 

Your Thoughts

So Alan Dzagoev is my Man of the Match for Russia vs. the Czech Republic.

Of course, this is my honest and humble opinion.

Who was your Man of the Match? Let me know in the comments section!

Happy Euros, and cheers!