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Czechs still alive, Poles set for Russian clash
June 13, 2012, Wednesday
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THE Czech Republic on Tuesday kept alive their hopes of reaching the Euro 2012 quarter-finals by beating Greece 2-1, as Poland faced Russia in a high-octane clash steeped in history and bad blood.
Michal Bilek's side made a dream start, finding the net twice in the opening six minutes through Petr Jiracek and Vaclav Pilar.
Greece threatened to get back into the match seven minutes into the second-half when the Czechs' Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech spilled the ball straight to Fanis Gekas and he tucked the ball away.
Victory sees the Czechs -- beaten 4-1 by Russia in their first game -- move on to three points, with the 2004 European champions Greece struggling on just one point.
Russia coach Dick Advocaat has downplayed suggestions that his team are favourites against Poland in Warsaw.
"It was just one game," the Dutch veteran told reporters. "Poland are a very strong team and they're playing at home, which is an advantage.
"But we showed in the first game that we're a very good team and we can make it very difficult for our opponents."
The Group A match is being played amid tight security and a fiercely political backdrop, with both countries' recent and past history intertwined and lingering resentment among the Poles creating an intense sporting rivalry.
To cap it all, Tuesday was Russia's national day and some 10,000 Russian fans with tickets for the encounter marched to the stadium in what is thought to be the biggest number on Warsaw's streets since World War II ended.
Police used water cannon and tear gas on unruly Polish fans near the stadium before the match, while AFP photographers saw several fans in the area detained, as riot squad officers and vans formed a buffer to keep apart rival supporters.
Coach Franciszek Smuda, though, said his Poland team, which drew their opener with Greece 1-1, were shutting themselves off from the debate to concentrate on the fixture.
"We want to win. We don't want to lose. We're aware we have one point and thanks to this point we still have chances," Smuda said.
Court officials in Poznan, meanwhile, said that 10 Poland and Croatia football fans have been fined for violence and public order offences and one Irish fan for drink-driving after the Croatia-Republic of Ireland Group C match on Sunday.
Among those fined was a Croatian fan, who ran onto the pitch and kissed coach Slaven Bilic, as his side ran out 3-1 winners against the Irish.
UEFA said separately that its Control and Disciplinary Committee would discuss any penalties for the Croatian football federation on Friday, after fans let off flares and smoke bombs during the match.
European football's governing body also said they were investigating claims that Italy's Mario Balotelli was racially abused by Spain fans, during the two side's match in Gdansk, northern Poland, on Sunday.
Italy coach Cesare Prandelli had categorically denied claims in the British media that the 21-year-old Manchester City striker was taunted with monkey chants during the game.
Balotelli, who is of Ghanaian descent, has previously said that he would walk off the pitch if he were racially abused.
UEFA is already investigating claims of racial abuse from Russian fans aimed at Czech player Theodor Gebre Selassie, who is of Ethiopian origin.
Racism is a key issue at the tournament being hosted by Poland and Ukraine amid claims that far-right extremist gangs are rife at the countries' football grounds.
Poland, Ukraine and UEFA have insisted that racism is not exclusively a football problem or unique to eastern Europe.
Michal Bilek's side made a dream start, finding the net twice in the opening six minutes through Petr Jiracek and Vaclav Pilar.
Greece threatened to get back into the match seven minutes into the second-half when the Czechs' Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech spilled the ball straight to Fanis Gekas and he tucked the ball away.
Victory sees the Czechs -- beaten 4-1 by Russia in their first game -- move on to three points, with the 2004 European champions Greece struggling on just one point.
Russia coach Dick Advocaat has downplayed suggestions that his team are favourites against Poland in Warsaw.
"It was just one game," the Dutch veteran told reporters. "Poland are a very strong team and they're playing at home, which is an advantage.
"But we showed in the first game that we're a very good team and we can make it very difficult for our opponents."
The Group A match is being played amid tight security and a fiercely political backdrop, with both countries' recent and past history intertwined and lingering resentment among the Poles creating an intense sporting rivalry.
To cap it all, Tuesday was Russia's national day and some 10,000 Russian fans with tickets for the encounter marched to the stadium in what is thought to be the biggest number on Warsaw's streets since World War II ended.
Police used water cannon and tear gas on unruly Polish fans near the stadium before the match, while AFP photographers saw several fans in the area detained, as riot squad officers and vans formed a buffer to keep apart rival supporters.
Coach Franciszek Smuda, though, said his Poland team, which drew their opener with Greece 1-1, were shutting themselves off from the debate to concentrate on the fixture.
"We want to win. We don't want to lose. We're aware we have one point and thanks to this point we still have chances," Smuda said.
Court officials in Poznan, meanwhile, said that 10 Poland and Croatia football fans have been fined for violence and public order offences and one Irish fan for drink-driving after the Croatia-Republic of Ireland Group C match on Sunday.
Among those fined was a Croatian fan, who ran onto the pitch and kissed coach Slaven Bilic, as his side ran out 3-1 winners against the Irish.
UEFA said separately that its Control and Disciplinary Committee would discuss any penalties for the Croatian football federation on Friday, after fans let off flares and smoke bombs during the match.
European football's governing body also said they were investigating claims that Italy's Mario Balotelli was racially abused by Spain fans, during the two side's match in Gdansk, northern Poland, on Sunday.
Italy coach Cesare Prandelli had categorically denied claims in the British media that the 21-year-old Manchester City striker was taunted with monkey chants during the game.
Balotelli, who is of Ghanaian descent, has previously said that he would walk off the pitch if he were racially abused.
UEFA is already investigating claims of racial abuse from Russian fans aimed at Czech player Theodor Gebre Selassie, who is of Ethiopian origin.
Racism is a key issue at the tournament being hosted by Poland and Ukraine amid claims that far-right extremist gangs are rife at the countries' football grounds.
Poland, Ukraine and UEFA have insisted that racism is not exclusively a football problem or unique to eastern Europe.
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