The football on show between the Dutch and Czech Republic at Euro 2004 was free-flowing and unrelenting. The Netherlands purred as only they can, when the mood takes them: Wilfred Bouma and Ruud van Nistelrooy put Holland two goals up within 20 minutes. But the Czechs were hardly lightweights (indeed, many experts called them dark horses to win the tournament); Jan Koller quickly halved the deficit. As halftime neared, Holland almost scored a third goal (Seedorf, Heitinga and Davids all could have made it 3-1). But the Czechs caught a break when the dangerous Arjen Robben was substituted in the second half. In the space of 15 minutes, Holland’s world fell apart: Milan Baros tied the score, Heitinga was sent off and Šmicer completed the most unlikely of comebacks.
The Top 10 European Championship Football Games
Counting down the greatest games in the history of the tournament.
4. Holland 2-3 Czech Republic, Euro 2004
Full List
Euro Visions
- 10. England 4-1 Holland, Euro 1996
- 9. Germany 3-2 Turkey, Euro 2008
- 8. England 1-1 Germany (Germany Won 6-5 on Penalties), Euro 1996
- 7. France 2-1 Italy, Euro 2000
- 6. Czechoslavakia 2-2 Germany (Czechoslavakia Won 5-3 on Penalties), Euro 1976
- 5. USSR 0-2 Holland, Euro 1988
- 4. Holland 2-3 Czech Republic, Euro 2004
- 3. Yugoslavia 5-4 France, Euro 1960
- 2. Spain 4-3 Yugoslavia, Euro 2000
- 1. France 3-2 Portugal, Euro 1984
