Euro 2012: 1st quarter-final between Portugal vs Czech Republic today
Warsaw: The Portuguese with Cristiano Ronaldo peaking just at the right time would go into the quarterfinals against Czech Republic here on Thursday.
After two goalless games against Germany and Denmark, Ronaldo started to feel the heat but a brace in the last group game against the Dutch gave the Portuguese the bragging rights.
However, the Czechs will look to reach the semifinals of the tournament for the first time since 2004. To stop Cristiano Ronaldo will be job one for the Czechs if they were to proceed to the semis. They looked set for an early exit from the tournament when they lost 4-1 to Russia in their first match. However, victories over Greece and co-host Poland took them to the quarterfinals. Both Portugal and Czech Republic have met twice since the split of Czechoslovakia in 1993. Both encounters took place at European Championships. In 1996, the Czechs stunned Portugal’s supposed golden generation which included Luis Figo and Rui Costa in the quarterfinal before progressing to the final.
However, in 2008 European Championships, Cristiano Ronaldo scored one goal and set up another one to lead Portugal to a 3-1 victory at the group stage.
Meanwhile, Chelsea and Portugal midfielder Raul Meireles insists that Paulo Bento`s team can go all the way at Euro 2012, as long as Cristiano Ronaldo can replicate the blistering form that he showed against NetherlandsCLICK TO PLAY
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