Czechs, without Nedved, held in first half

Greece 0 Czech Republic 0

Surprise packages Greece were holding the Czech Republic to a stalemate at the interval as the duo fought for the right to play Euro 2004 hosts Portugal in Sunday’s final.

The Czechs created the more dangerous openings at the Estadio do Dragao - Tomas Rosicky struck the bar and Marek Jankulovski forced two fine saves from Antonios Nikopolidis.

However, Greece defender Georgios Seitaridis was keeping a close eye on the tournament’s top scorer Milan Baros while the Czechs were hit with another blow when European footballer of the year Pavel Nedved had to be substituted because of an injury shortly before half-time.

With just two minutes on the clock the Czechs nearly took the lead when they won a free-kick after Nedved was clattered by Konstantinos Katsouranis - who escaped with only a lecture from Italian referee Pierluigi Collina.

Jankulovski’s free-kick was headed back by Jan Koller into the path of Tomas Rosicky, who crashed a tremendous dipping volley from outside the box against the crossbar.

Another fine move by the Czechs saw Rosicky find Nedved, whose shot was deflected behind for a corner.

Nedved’s corner was headed out to Jankulovski who forced a fine save from Antonios Nikopolidis at the expense of another corner.

Then the Greeks launched their first offensive and a nice move involving Angelis Basinas and Charisteas almost let in Vryzas – but the Czechs managed to clear.

Karagounis was next to try his luck but his shot looped up off the knee of Ujfalusi into the arms of Petr Cech.

Georgios Seitaridis was keeping a close watch on Milan Baros, whose five goals have made him the competition’s leading scorer.

Then Bolf gave away a dangerous free-kick with a foul on Karagounis but the midfielder’s free-kick took a deflection off the wall straight into Cech’s arms.

Another sweeping Czech move saw Rosicky win a corner but the Greeks dealt with the situation well.

Baros got the better of Seitaridis, who brought him down just outside the penalty area to earn a booking from Collina.

Less than a minute later Jankulovski almost joined him for a foul on Katsouranis but Collina decided not to issue a card which would have ruled the Udinese player out of a potential final appearance.

Greece came close to a goal when Panagiotis Fyssas fired in a dangerous cross which just eluded Vryzas and Charisteas – Cech could not hold the ball but the danger was cleared.

Karagounis then did well to dispossess Karel Poborsky but his shot was wide of the near post.

Nedved launched a daring surge down the middle but just overran the ball as Nikopolidis came out to gather from the feet of the European footballer of the year.

The Czechs almost took the lead when Rosicky crossed from the right and Nedved failed to connect with the ball falling to Jankulovski – but his shot was superbly saved by Nikopolidis at the expense of a corner. Nedved needed treatment after the incident.

From Poborsky’s corner Koller’s header found Grygera, who failed to make a good connection and to the relief of the Czechs Nedved returned to the fray.

But after 39 minutes Nedved could no longer continue and was replaced by Vladimir Smicer in midfield.

A minute before the break Jankulovski launched a clever run and his well-flighted lob beat Nikopolidis but also the bar.