European: Euro 2004 Group D

Group D

Czech Rep
Latvia
Germany
Holland

Turkey fell at the hands of Latvia, but there will be no shock qualifying from this group for them. Old enemies Holland and Germany collide, not as the superpowers they were, but still among the favourites.

Holland showed their two faces in the play-off against Scotland, dispirited in defeat at Hampden Park but devastating in a 6-0 win in Amsterdam.

But those searching for dark horses are looking in the direction of the seeded Czech Republic, who flew through the qualifiers and sent Holland into the play-offs. Alway's spoken of as dark horses of the tournament maybe this year it may come true.

Pavel Nedved takes his place in the elite of Europe, while Borussia Dortmund duo Tomas Rosicky and Jan Koller, plus Liverpool's Milan Baros, provide the cutting edge.

VERDICT: Holland and either Germany or the Czech Rep.

Holland have been boosted ahead of Euro 2004 with the news that Clarence Seedorf's hamstring injury sustained against Republic of Ireland is not serious.

It had been feared the experienced Milan midfielder could be ruled out of the entire championship in Portugal this summer.

A scan following the 1-0 defeat showed the injury to be less serious than first suspected, although a second exam is scheduled for Monday.

Thank goodness, else I would have less reason to cheer for Holland... Other than having a Dutch passport. I really want to see my cousin Clarence excel in this tournament.

Bandit good to see you back.

Well your cuz has been playing some good football and it would have been a shame if he couldn't take part.

You like my prediction? Holland to win the group!

I think if they can be more consitant in the Euro's they could be a real danger team.

Holland coach Dick Advocaat has ruled Clarence Seedorf out of their opening match of Euro 2004 against Germany.

A follow-up examination of his hamstring injury has revealed that Seedorf has not cracked the muscle but the tendon is strained.

"I am sure that I can not use him for at least a week," Advocaat told De Volksrant newspaper.

Seedorf should be available to take part in Holland's final two Group D games against Latvia and the Czech Republic.

The AC Milan midfielder picked up the injury in the 1-0 friendly defeat against the Republic of Ireland.

The experienced Seedorf is a vital member of the squad, having won European Cups at Ajax, Real Madrid and AC Milan.

Germany coach Rudi Voller has dismissed his side's recent friendly defeats as "just a blip" as he tried to look ahead to the European Championship with optimism.

The Germans prevailed over Malta and Switzerland during their preparations but were thrashed 5-1 by Romania and then lost 2-0 to the Lothar Matthaus-coached Hungarians last weekend.

Their Euro 2004 opener is in Porto against bitter rivals Holland on June 15, and Voller insisted: "I'm happy with the preparations and we have a few extra days in Portugal. For us, only the game against Holland counts.

"Obviously, I was disappointed with one or two players in Bucharest, but it was just a blip and against Hungary, several players already had their mind on Portugal."

Voller has a difficult task of getting Germany into the quarter-finals from a group including the Dutch and the Czech Republic.

Holland goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar looks to make a speedy recovery from a finger injury.

Van der Sar did nothing more than a bit of jogging and playing outfield, but did not go in goal as Sander Westerveld and Ronald Waterreus took their places between the posts for training.

Van der Sar picked up the problem during training on Wednesday, but he is still expected to take the goalkeeping jersey for the match against Germany on June 15, after a medical examination revealed that the injury is not serious.

Another tough group. Yea Holland should go through but the Germans always seem to pull it out of the bag in the big tournaments so i wouldn't count them out. Also the Czech are the dark horses of the tournament. Alot of predictions could go out of the window and Holland might not even qualify.

Holland winger Marc Overmars has announced he will retire from international football after Euro 2004.

The 31-year-old has decided it is time for the younger generation to come through and has joined Jaap Stam and Frank de Boer in opting to step down at the end of the tournament.

The Czech Republic averted a major upset at the European Championship on Tuesday, rallying with two goals in the last 17 minutes for a 2-1 victory over Latvia. In a game played in 93-degree heat, Milan Baros and Marek Heinz capitalized on two goalkeeping blunders by Latvia, which was playing in its first major championship.

Maris Verpakovskis tapped in from close range in the final minute of the first half for the Latvians. The Czechs then went with two extra forwards and just three defenders when Baros struck with 17 minutes left after goalkeeper Aleksandrs Kolinko weakly punched the ball.

Heinz, a substitute, scored the winner in the 85th with Kolinko well off his line after failing to get to a long through-pass.

Ruud van Nistelrooy rescued a point for Holland with an 81st minute equaliser against their arch-rivals.

Germany had led through a Torsten Frings free-kick from the left which looped over Dutch keeper Edwin van der Sar and flew in off the back post.

Holland were in disappointing form but burst into life in the closing stages.

Van Nistelrooy brilliantly turned in Andy van der Meyde's cross at the near post to level, and Philip Cocu's header almost snatched a late victory.

The Czech Republic came from 2-0 down to defeat 10-man Holland 3-2 in Aveiro on Saturday night and qualify for the Euro 2004 quarter-finals.

Vladimir Smicer tapped home the winner in the 88th minute to earn the Czechs a remarkable victory and guarantee top spot in Group D.

Holland had made the perfect start when Wilfred Bouma headed them into the lead after just four minutes.

And the Dutch soon doubled their advantage on 19 minutes through a contentious Ruud van Nistelrooy strike.

The Czechs hit back almost immediately though as Jan Koller fired home four minutes later to reduce the arrears.

And Koller turned provider in the 71st minute when he chested the ball down for Milan Baros to powerfully half-volley home, before Smicer grabbed the final glory.

Latvia managed to repel everything Germany could throw at them as they earned a gritty 0-0 draw in Euro 2004 Group D at Porto's Estadio do Bessa.

The minnows more than held their own against more powerful opponents and had Maris Verkapovskis matched his impressive 50-yard run with a similar finish then they could have taken all three points.

That was the best chance of the first half, but Germany did step things up after the break.

Michael Ballack and Kevin Kuranyi set up Torsten Frings who fired just wide of the post and Ballack had a shot deflected behind.

Dietmar Hamann then fed Kuranyi whose cross just eluded Fredi Bobic's outstretched leg, but Latvia stood firm.

And they were furious when referee Mike Riley denied them a claim for a penalty as Verpakovskis fell under pressure from two German defenders.The result leaves Germany on two points in Group D, one ahead of both Holland and Latvia.

Torsten Frings has dismissed fears that Germany could miss out on a place in the quarter-finals of Euro 2004.

The Germans head into Wednesday night's Group D clash with the Czech Republic knowing that neighbours Holland could yet pip them to a last-eight berth if they do not come away with all three points against Karel Bruckner's men.

That may be easier said than done with the Czech's already assured of finishing top of the group following Wednesday night's thrilling fightback against the Dutch in Aveiro after Germany had failed to see off Latvia.

But midfielder Frings, the man who got his country's campaign off to the perfect start with a 22nd-minute strike against Holland, is convinced there will be no slip-up.

An optimistic Latvia side are ready to face their biggest challenge in Euro 2004 against Holland on Wednesday in Braga.

A victory for the Baltic side against the Dutch would see them through for the first time in their history to the last-eight of a European tournament, provided Germany don't win against the Czech Republic.

Ruud van Nistelrooy scored twice as Holland booked their place in the Euro 2004 quarter-finals with a 3-0 defeat of Latvia in Braga.

The Dutch went into the game knowing they needed to win and hope Germany failed to beat the Czech Republic and having done their job, a 2-1 win for the Czechs meant Dick Advocaat's men booked a last-eight showdown with Sweden.

Milan Baros' late strike gave the Czech Republic a 2-1 win over Germany and sent Rudi Voller's side crashing out of Euro 2004.

The Germans needed a win to reach the quarter-finals and were on the way when Michael Ballack lashed home a stunning left-footed volley in the 21st minute.

But the Czechs equalised nine minutes later with a superb free-kick from Marek Heinz.

Germany were dominant after the break and they should have led in the 65th minute when Ballack's shot hit the post and Jaromir Blazek punched away Bernd Schneider's follow-up.

Schneider missed a free header, Christian Worns' shot was cleared off the line and Blazek somehow kept out Lukas Podolski's shot as Germany turned the screw.

But they had no response in the 77th minute when Baros broke clear and beat Kahn at the second attempt.

Voller says he will now consider his position as Germany's head coach.