Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.CZECH REPUBLIC
PETR CECH: Handling not all it might be from the man who is supposedly the tournament's outstanding keeper. Fine save from Giannakopoulos. Mark 5/10
ZDENEK GRYGERA: Failed to push up enough in support of Poborsky. 5
TOMAS UJFALUSI: Showed excellent positional sense at the back, smothered any Greek threat in the air. 8
RENE BOLF: Very solid, showed fine timing in the tackle from one of the few home-based Czechs. May have earned a move. 5
MAREK JANKULOVSKI: Very dangerous when marauding forward. He might have scored twice before half-time to justify Juventus's interest. 7
KAREL POBORSKY: Never allowed the space he had enjoyed in previous rounds to get in telling crosses. Improved markedly in the second half. 6
TOMAS GALASEK: No player suffered more than the Czechs' holding player from the tight grip Rehhagel's team held in midfield. 4
TOMAS ROSICKY: Had the highly rated midfielder shot in the opening few moments struck the net rather than the bar, it might have triggered a rout. 6
PAVEL NEDVED: No sight was more poignant than that of the Czech captain hobbling off with a knee injury that would have cost him a place in the final. 5
MILAN BAROS: Kept thoroughly in check by Seitaridis and failed to show the glitter that made a mockery of Gérard Houllier's policy of keeping him on Liverpool's bench. 5
JAN KOLLER: Surprisingly delicate knock-downs that might have been better followed up. One great chance to settle matters in normal time. 6
Substitutes:
VLADIMIR SMICER (for Nedved, 40): Steady. 5
GREECE
ANTONIOS NIKOPOLIDIS: Looked vulnerable throughout to anything sent across his area. Mark 4/10
GIOURKAS SEITARIDIS: An early yellow card failed to deter some muscular defending. 7
MIHALIS KAPSIS: Showed fine anticipation in support of Dellas and made some finely judged interceptions. 7
TRAIANOS DELLAS: Kept Koller wonderfully in check and scored the winner. What did Sheffield United let go? 9
TAKIS FYSSAS: The Greek left back made some deep and vital penetrations and one cross might have resulted in a goal. 6
ANGELOS BASINAS: Threw himself into the semi-final with huge energy until weariness forced him off. 6
COSTAS KATSOURANIS: Brought in to break up the Czech midfield and succeeded unromantically in his limited aims. 6
THEO ZAGORAKIS: Wonderfully committed performance which typified Greek displays in the whole competition. 8
ZISIS VRYSAS: Allowed to show very little apart from the odd tame header. Bought off at full time. 3
ANGELOS CHARISTEAS: The Greek midfield was designed to protect their back-four rather than support their centre-forward. 4
GIORGOS KARAGOUNIS: Continued his run of being booked in every round, which will prevent him from playing in the final. 4
Substitutes:
STELIOS GIANNAKOPOULOS (for Basinas, 72): One great chance in extra time. 5
VASSILIS TSIARTAS (for Vrysas, f-t): No real time to make an impact.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments