Greece – Czech Republic, Euro 2004 Semifinal

2004-07-01 20.45 CET

Pick:       Czech Republic (Asian hcp -0,75)

Stake:     3%

Odds:      2,10

Final reasons

The festival of Euro 2004 is soon over. Fortunately we still have two big games left. Tonight in the second semi final Czech Republic will take on Greece. As you probably have noticed this will be our first recommendation in this tournament. As you all know big tournaments very often contains many surprises so we decided to take it easy. However, tonight we can not hold ourselves. Czech Republic is the only team that has impressed in every game they have played. They are also the only team that has won every game. They are very fast in their play. They perform with style, creativity and technique and they have also so far shown a very clinical finishing. This is a bet recommendation solely on the Czech’s strength and ability. We do not underestimate Greece. They have also shown good football skills and a great organisation and do not forget that they have not lost to any of the bigger favourites they have faced so far. However, tonight they will face a much better opponent than the Portugal team that lined up in the first game. They will face an opponent that will not get stuck in slow and predictable play such as Spain and France did. Greece played good in all of these games but we do not believe that they can disturb the Czech Republic. We suggest an Asian handicap -0,75 on the Czechs. We believe that the Czech Republic will score the first goal and then Greece must attack and that will suite the Czechs fast style of play perfectly. The Czechs have also scored many goals so we hope that they will do that once again. We still get a good profit if the match ends with one goal up for the Czechs. 3% stake.

General comments about the game

In the first match in the group stages for Czech Republic they outplayed Latvia for most of the game. However, during that game they found it very hard too score until the end of the second half when they scored two beautiful goals. In the second game they beat Holland with 3-2 in one of the best games of the tournament. Also in that game they came from behind to finally win. These two victories made them group winners before the final round was played so when they faced a highly motivated Germany in the last game they lined up with their reserves. After 1-1 in halftime, the tournaments top scorer Milan Baros came on and he scored to make the final result 2-1 to the Czechs. In the quarterfinals they faced another team that had impressed a lot; Denmark. In first half the Danish had the most of the ball without creating any real danger. The Czechs started the game very slow (as scheduled) but came out as a new team in second half. After just 20 minutes they had scored three fantastic goals and the game was over. As it turned out it was the most uneven quarterfinal in the tournament and also meant a bitter sweat taste for the Danish. Tonight Czech Republic face the tournaments biggest surprise; Greece. Greece has also impressed in many games. They have not lost to any of the big favourites; Portugal, Spain or France. They were a bit lucky to go through to the quarterfinal since they made a very weak performance against Russia in the final game in the group which nearly cost them dear. Do not forget that Russia had one golden opportunity to score a third goal in the dying minutes. A goal there would have made Spain go through instead of Greece. However, considering their first two matches Greece were worthy to go through. In the quarterfinal they surprised once again. A slow and stubborn France could not find holes in the Greece defence. Greece was quick on the counterattack and had also most of the good goal scoring opportunities throughout the game. Greece made one beautiful goal and that was enough to kick France out of the tournament.      

Recent games for home team

2004-06-25	France-Greece	0-1
2004-06-20	Russia-Greece	2-1
2004-06-16	Greece-Spain	1-1
2004-06-12	Portugal-Greece	1-2

Recent games for away team

2004-06-27	Czech Rep-Denmark	3-0
2004-06-23	Germany-Czech Rep	1-2
2004-06-19	Holland-Czech Rep	2-3
2004-06-15	Czech Rep-Latvia	2-1

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