Euro 2012: Russia 4-1 Czech Republic - Ruthless Russia rout Czechs
Scorers: Russia - Dzagoev (15), Shirokov (24) Dzagoev (79), Pavlyuchenko (82); Czech Republic - Pilar (52)
Referee: H Webb (England)
Attendance: 37,348
Vaclav Pilar gave the Czechs hope by pulling one back shortly after the break but Dzagoev and substitute Roman Pavlyuchenko, on for the profligate Aleksandr Kerzhakov, sealed the win.
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Hide AdDespite Russia being favourites to top the group, it was the Czechs who settled the better of the two sides. It took Russia almost a quarter of an hour to muster a meaningful attack, and when they did they came close to taking the lead. The imperious Andrey Arshavin brilliantly played in Yuri Zhirkov near the left-hand byline but striker Kerzhakov could only steer his effort wide.
But it was a brief reprieve for the Czechs as Dzagoev drove at the heart of their defence to tee Konstantin Zyryanov up for a cross that was headed against the post by Kerzhakov, Dzagoev followed up to slam home the loose ball.
An error from Jaroslav Plasil allowed Russia to make it 2-0 in the 24th minute. The midfielder gave away possession and Arshavin seized on it, the Arsenal player’s pass was meant for Kerzhakov but the striker’s miscontrol saw the ball reach Shirokov, who lofted over the advancing Petr Cech.
Plasil was fortunate to get away with a clumsy push on Arshavin in the penalty area, as English World Cup final referee Howard Webb waved away the appeals.
Having been second best for much of the opening stanza the Czechs were again on the back foot after the restart with Kerzhakov again going close.
But Russia’s momentum was halted in the 52nd minute as they were pegged back by by Pilar. Bordeaux midfielder Plasil produced a superb pass to cut the Russian defence, allowing diminutive winger Pilar to round Malafeev and find the net.
Arshavin’s artistry meant Russia remained a threat at the other end, but once again Kerzhakov failed to hit the target from a lovely through ball.
Theodor Gebre Selassie almost produced a stunning effort as his first-time volley from a Tomas Rosicky cross flashed narrowly wide of the near post, before the Arsenal midfielder’s awkward angled shot was gathered at the second attempt by Malafeev. But Dzagoev effectively killed the game off when Pavlyuchenko seized on a loose ball 12 minutes from time to set up the midfielder to plant a firm shot beyond Cech. Pavlyuchenko then put a gloss on the win as he tricked his way into the box before firing into the roof of the net.
TEAMS
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Hide AdRussia: Malafeev, Aniukov, Berezutsky, Ignashevich, Zhirkov, Shirokov, Denisov, Zyryanov, Dzagoev (Kokorin 84), Kerzhakov (Pavlyuchenko 73), Arshavin.
Czech Republic: Cech, Gebre Selassie, Hubnik, Sivok, Kadlec, Plasil, Jiracek (Petrzela 75), Pilar, Rosicky, Rezek (Hubschman 46), Baros (Lafata 85).