Czechia against Portugal

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> <b>Limbersky</b> for a tackle of sorts on Pereira. More of a flailing leg.

Miguel Veloso hammers a shot miles over the bar after the defence head clear. Poor effort.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Rolando on for Meireles</b>

Cristiano Ronaldo wants a penalty against Gebre Selassie and probably should get one. Tripped by the full-back, who was all at sea.

Raul Meireles bursts forward from midfield to claim a bouncing ball, but his shot is wild once more.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Pekhart on for Hubschman</b> - Striker for holding midfielder

Once more Portugal look to take their time. They are happy just to see that clock ticking.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Custodio on for Nani</b>

Corner fired long towards Bruno Alves, headed well wide.

Joao Pereira makes a similar run to Moutinho for the goal and is found by Nani. Pereira bursts infield and shoots, well saved by Cech.

Portugal keeping the ball. They are ten minutes or so to keep a clean sheet and claim the win.

Ronaldo has been fantastic once again tonight. Showing every bit of his ability.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL Czech Republic 0-1 Portugal Ronaldo with the head!!!</b> Moutinho runs in behind Limbersky and picks out a fine cross to Ronaldo at the back post, with the diving header. Gebre Selassie ball watching.

Jiracek showing his worth once more. Winning the ball, breaking forward and firing across goal. Rui Patricio claims.

Coentrao fires a long diagonal to Ronaldo, well headed away by Kadlec.

Moutinho is played in behind Limbersky, but the Porto man's cross is poor. Almeida waiting, but he only finds Petr Cech.

Corner swung in and not headed away convincingly. Portugal cannot capitalise though.

<b>SO CLOSE!</b> Meireles slides in Nani and his shot is deflected just over by Kadlec.

Pepe again sends a wonderful long-ball forward, but Almeida is offside.

Pepe picks Ronaldo out with a superb long-ball. The Madrid man lays off to Meireles, who fires well over.

Portugal keeping possession well in midfield. Twenty minutes to grab a winner.

Raul Meireles is the latest injury concern. Goes down holding his ankle, but looks to be ok.

Jiracek is defending well, but having won the ball it is given away. Whipped across, but too far for Almeida.

Kadlec could be in trouble here. Looks in pain from that collision

Pepe looks long for Cristiano Ronaldo, but Petr Cech clatters Ronaldo and Kadlec. Play stopped.

Coentrao receives the corner short from Nani and picks out an unmarked Almeida near the penalty spot, but his header flies well over.

<b>GREAT SAVE</b> Petr Cech rises at full strength to save a stinging 25 yard strike from Joao Moutinho

Baros' woeful tournament continues, spanking over from 25 yards.

Hubschman is having a fine game. Nani skips past Plasil, but the Shakhtar man is across quickly to cover.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Darida replaced by Rezek</b>

Wonderful stuff from Pilar, skipping past Pereira and Pepe, but his final ball is straight at Veloso, with two waiting.

<b>OFFSIDE GOAL</b> Nani crosses in from the right and Hugo Almeida heads home, but offside is correctly given.

Cech makes another fine save. Nani gets past Limbersky and hammers a shot from 25 yards, Cech parries the ball away at full stretch.

Moutinho's corner is awful and headed clear. Meireles attempts a difficult volley, over the bar.

Ronaldo wins another corner. A shot from range deflects wide off Kadlec.

Cristiano Ronaldo with great off the ball movement again, getting ahead of Gebre Selassie. Difficult chance, fired over.

Nani gives the ball away, but Pepe has no problem dealing with Baros. Too easy for the Real Madrid man.

Portugal turning up the pressure once more. Czech Republic forming a formidable barrior.

Coentrao looks for Almeida again in the centre, Cech claims this time. Ronaldo looking the best (and at times only) outlet for Portugal.

<b>POST!</b> Ronaldo takes again, 25 yards out. This time Ronaldo hits the post! Great strike!

Ronaldo has a free-kick 35 yards out, smashed at goal. But, blocked by the wall. Darida used his hand though, so Portugal edge closer.

Jiracek putting in a shift defensively, tracking back to deal with Coentrao this time.

<b>MASSIVE CHANCE</b> Coentrao crosses for Hugo Almeida who is free in the centre, but heads over.

<b>SECOND HALF</b> underway

Czech Republic started the stronger of the two sides, but Portugal came back with their one man cannon-ball, Cristiano Ronaldo

While Miguel Delaney takes a look at the quarter-finals <a href="http://espnfc.com/en/features/1110515/miguel-delaneylast-eight-eye-euro-2012-knockout-blow.html" target="_blank">Read</a>

Why not read Paul Marshall's feature on the Czech side - <a href="http://espnfc.com/en/features/1109475/marshallczechs-show-their-bottle.html" target="_blank">here</a>

<img src="http://i.espncdn.com/i/img/1111078_310_175.jpg"> Cristiano Ronaldo attempts an overhead kick

<b>HALF TIME</b> Czech Republic 0-0 Portugal

<b>POST!</b> Magnificence from Ronaldo. Chests down a long ball from Pepe, flicks it round the corner, spins his defender and fires against the post.

The Czechs are forming a wall around their box. Incredible defence to deny Portugal opportunities.

Nani appeals for a penalty after a 'foul' from Limbersky. Nothing given and rightfully so.

Joao Pereira clatters Limbersky. No free-kick given.

Nani ignores the overlapping run of Cristiano Ronaldo to cross towards Almeida. Sivok calmly heads back to Cech.

Free-kick opportunity for Portugal to cross into the area. Hubschman fouls Coentrao. Poor delivery, headed away.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Hugo Almeida replaces Hugo Postiga</b>

Postiga is carried off on a stretcher...

Helder Postiga goes down off the ball, holding his hamstring. Ouch.

Scrappy once more. Gebre Selassie is not having his best game today, several errors.

Better last five or ten minutes for Portugal. They are well on top now.

Free-kick to Portugal 30 yards out as Limbersky fouls Nani. Cristiano Ronaldo steps up and fires not far wide of the left-hand upright.

<b>Audacious!</b> Gebre Selassie loses the ball and Pepe chips the ball back across goal, where Cristiano Ronaldo fires just wide with an overhead.

Corner to Portugal, aimed at Pepe at the near-post. Hubschman clears well.

Limbersky is really doing a job on Nani so far. Once more he halts the Man Utd winger in his tracks.

Frustration for Portugal. Helder Postiga looks to play in Nani, but Limbersky covers well. Excellent defence.

Jiracek wastes a half chance to play in Baros by cutting inside. His progress infield is halted.

Gebre Selassie is sent away down the right by Darida. Wonderful low cross into the area, but Pepe clears the danger magnificently.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> <b>Miguel Veloso</b> is booked for a late tackle on Darida.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> <b>Nani</b> barges Limbersky.

<b>FOUL!</b> Cristiano Ronaldo looks to have got in behind Kadlec and fires a shot at goal, wonderfully saved by Cech. Ronaldo penalised for a foul. 50/50 decision.

Ronaldo and Coentrao link-up well to see the full-back get down the left. His cross, though, is deflected and almost flies over Petr Cech. Held by the keeper.

Czech Republic have Portugal pinned back in their own box. Pilar fouls Joao Pereira to relieve the pressure.

Veloso takes from the right, but the corner is wildly overhit. Wasted.

Ronaldo looks to get behind the defence down the right channel again. Limbersky catches up with the flyer and wins himself a corner.

Coentrao looks long for Ronaldo, but Kadlec calmly heads back to Petr Cech. Fine defending.

Darida does excellently on the right for Czech Republic and his teasing ball is inches ahead of the desperate Milan Baros. Jiracek wins a corner from the follow-up.

Crossed in by Plasil from the left and Ronaldo rises high ahead of Rui Patricio to head away for another corner. Almost looked like it would fly in his own net there.

Czech Republic counter and the centre-back Michal Kadlec is central. Worked out to Jiracek on the left, cross blocked by the Portuguese defence.

Gebre Selassie cuts infield, but takes a horrible touch to lose the ball. Raul Meireles' touch is poor and the brief opportunity is squandered

Dogged stuff in midfield. This is not going to be easy for Portugal, if that's what they expected.

Second corner headed clear, but only as far as Moutinho. The Porto man shoots low, but straight as Cech.

Corner cleared, but Nani's searching cross wins another opportunity straight away.

Corner to Portugal, Raul Meireles hassles Tomas Sivok and wins the set-piece opportunity.

Nani is penalised for a foul on Limbersky in the corner. Again, looking to capitalise on a long diagonal ball.

Portugal create time and space on the right flank where Joao Pereira crosses low towards Ronaldo. Cleared by Kadlec.

Jiracek does well, feignting left to buy space and shoot at goal. Well hit, but deflected for a corner from which Portugal clear.

Portugal looking for long-diagonal balls towards their wingers. This time the ball is aimed at Postiga, but he cannot keep the ball in play.

The Czech fans are in the majority tonight, making a racket.

Better from Czech Republic, with Jiracek central. But, no real threat to the Portugal defence.

Scrappy play at the moment. Ball exchanging back and forth in midfield.

Darida makes his first competitive impact for Czech Republic, winning a corner of Miguel Veloso. Taken short and wasted.

Confident start from Portugal. Keeping the ball well and pressing high up.

<b>KICK OFF</b> in Warsaw. Czech Republic get us underway...

Howard Webb is the referee tonight. Familiar with so many of the players involved.

Anthem time. Portugal are up first, to be followed by the Czechs.

The players are in the tunnel then, Petr Cech and Cristiano Ronaldo ready to lead out their sides.

Czech Republic's 21-year-old midfielder Vlademir Darida will make his competitive debut tonight. Plays for Viktoria Plzen.

For Portugal: Fabio Coentrao, Helder Postiga, Cristiano Ronaldo, Joao Pereira and Raul Meireles are in the same situation.

For Czech Republic - David Limbersky, Jaroslav Plasil, Tomas Pekhart, Tomas Rosicky, Petr Jiracek and Daniel Kolar are all a booking away from a suspension.

<img src="http://i.espncdn.com/i/img/1110942_310_175.jpg"> Portugal fan pondering tonight's game

Premier League ref Howard Webb will be in charge tonight. He's a policeman, so he won't be taking any nonsense from the players.

Darida replaces Kolar for Czech Republic, while Portugal are unchanged from their final group-stage fixtures. Czech Republic beat Poland 1-0, while Portugal beat Netherlands 2-1.

<b>Czech Republic:</b> Cech; Gebre Selassie, Kadlec, Sivok, Limbersky; Hubschman, Plasil, Darida; Pilar, Jiracek; Baros.

<b>PORTUGAL</b>: Rui Patricio; Pereira, Pepe, Alves, Coentrao; Veloso, Moutinho, Meireles; Nani, Ronaldo, Postiga

<img src="http://i.espncdn.com/i/img/1110763_310_175.jpg"> Czech fans warm-up by kicking a ball themselves in the fan park.

While Chris Boothroyd is reminded of Euro 2004 as a meeting between Czech Rep and Portugal looms: <a href="http://bit.ly/N868gv" target="_blank">Read</a>

Why not read: Tom Kundert explaining how Portugal's answer to La Masia is powering the Seleccao: <a href="http://espnfc.com/en/blogs/portugal/31/brilliant-lisbon-academy-gives-portugal-a-sporting-chance" target="_blank">Read</a>

Tonight sees Portugal take on Czech Republic in the National Stadium, Warsaw. The big news is in - the roof is closed!

Jiracek showing his worth once more. Winning the ball, breaking forward and firing across goal. Rui Patricio claims.

Coentrao fires a long diagonal to Ronaldo, well headed away by Kadlec.

Moutinho is played in behind Limbersky, but the Porto man's cross is poor. Almeida waiting, but he only finds Petr Cech.

Corner swung in and not headed away convincingly. Portugal cannot capitalise though.

<b>SO CLOSE!</b> Meireles slides in Nani and his shot is deflected just over by Kadlec.

Pepe again sends a wonderful long-ball forward, but Almeida is offside.

Pepe picks Ronaldo out with a superb long-ball. The Madrid man lays off to Meireles, who fires well over.

Portugal keeping possession well in midfield. Twenty minutes to grab a winner.

Raul Meireles is the latest injury concern. Goes down holding his ankle, but looks to be ok.

Jiracek is defending well, but having won the ball it is given away. Whipped across, but too far for Almeida.

Kadlec could be in trouble here. Looks in pain from that collision

Pepe looks long for Cristiano Ronaldo, but Petr Cech clatters Ronaldo and Kadlec. Play stopped.

Coentrao receives the corner short from Nani and picks out an unmarked Almeida near the penalty spot, but his header flies well over.

<b>GREAT SAVE</b> Petr Cech rises at full strength to save a stinging 25 yard strike from Joao Moutinho

Baros' woeful tournament continues, spanking over from 25 yards.

Hubschman is having a fine game. Nani skips past Plasil, but the Shakhtar man is across quickly to cover.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Darida replaced by Rezek</b>

Wonderful stuff from Pilar, skipping past Pereira and Pepe, but his final ball is straight at Veloso, with two waiting.

<b>OFFSIDE GOAL</b> Nani crosses in from the right and Hugo Almeida heads home, but offside is correctly given.

Cech makes another fine save. Nani gets past Limbersky and hammers a shot from 25 yards, Cech parries the ball away at full stretch.

Moutinho's corner is awful and headed clear. Meireles attempts a difficult volley, over the bar.

Ronaldo wins another corner. A shot from range deflects wide off Kadlec.

Cristiano Ronaldo with great off the ball movement again, getting ahead of Gebre Selassie. Difficult chance, fired over.

Nani gives the ball away, but Pepe has no problem dealing with Baros. Too easy for the Real Madrid man.

Portugal turning up the pressure once more. Czech Republic forming a formidable barrior.

Coentrao looks for Almeida again in the centre, Cech claims this time. Ronaldo looking the best (and at times only) outlet for Portugal.

<b>POST!</b> Ronaldo takes again, 25 yards out. This time Ronaldo hits the post! Great strike!

Ronaldo has a free-kick 35 yards out, smashed at goal. But, blocked by the wall. Darida used his hand though, so Portugal edge closer.

Jiracek putting in a shift defensively, tracking back to deal with Coentrao this time.

<b>MASSIVE CHANCE</b> Coentrao crosses for Hugo Almeida who is free in the centre, but heads over.

<b>SECOND HALF</b> underway

Czech Republic started the stronger of the two sides, but Portugal came back with their one man cannon-ball, Cristiano Ronaldo

While Miguel Delaney takes a look at the quarter-finals <a href="http://espnfc.com/en/features/1110515/miguel-delaneylast-eight-eye-euro-2012-knockout-blow.html" target="_blank">Read</a>

Why not read Paul Marshall's feature on the Czech side - <a href="http://espnfc.com/en/features/1109475/marshallczechs-show-their-bottle.html" target="_blank">here</a>

<img src="http://i.espncdn.com/i/img/1111078_310_175.jpg"> Cristiano Ronaldo attempts an overhead kick

<b>HALF TIME</b> Czech Republic 0-0 Portugal

<b>POST!</b> Magnificence from Ronaldo. Chests down a long ball from Pepe, flicks it round the corner, spins his defender and fires against the post.

The Czechs are forming a wall around their box. Incredible defence to deny Portugal opportunities.

Nani appeals for a penalty after a 'foul' from Limbersky. Nothing given and rightfully so.

Joao Pereira clatters Limbersky. No free-kick given.

Nani ignores the overlapping run of Cristiano Ronaldo to cross towards Almeida. Sivok calmly heads back to Cech.

Free-kick opportunity for Portugal to cross into the area. Hubschman fouls Coentrao. Poor delivery, headed away.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Hugo Almeida replaces Hugo Postiga</b>

Postiga is carried off on a stretcher...

Helder Postiga goes down off the ball, holding his hamstring. Ouch.

Scrappy once more. Gebre Selassie is not having his best game today, several errors.

Better last five or ten minutes for Portugal. They are well on top now.

Free-kick to Portugal 30 yards out as Limbersky fouls Nani. Cristiano Ronaldo steps up and fires not far wide of the left-hand upright.

<b>Audacious!</b> Gebre Selassie loses the ball and Pepe chips the ball back across goal, where Cristiano Ronaldo fires just wide with an overhead.

Corner to Portugal, aimed at Pepe at the near-post. Hubschman clears well.

Limbersky is really doing a job on Nani so far. Once more he halts the Man Utd winger in his tracks.

Frustration for Portugal. Helder Postiga looks to play in Nani, but Limbersky covers well. Excellent defence.

Jiracek wastes a half chance to play in Baros by cutting inside. His progress infield is halted.

Gebre Selassie is sent away down the right by Darida. Wonderful low cross into the area, but Pepe clears the danger magnificently.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> <b>Miguel Veloso</b> is booked for a late tackle on Darida.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> <b>Nani</b> barges Limbersky.

<b>FOUL!</b> Cristiano Ronaldo looks to have got in behind Kadlec and fires a shot at goal, wonderfully saved by Cech. Ronaldo penalised for a foul. 50/50 decision.

Ronaldo and Coentrao link-up well to see the full-back get down the left. His cross, though, is deflected and almost flies over Petr Cech. Held by the keeper.

Czech Republic have Portugal pinned back in their own box. Pilar fouls Joao Pereira to relieve the pressure.

Veloso takes from the right, but the corner is wildly overhit. Wasted.

Ronaldo looks to get behind the defence down the right channel again. Limbersky catches up with the flyer and wins himself a corner.

Coentrao looks long for Ronaldo, but Kadlec calmly heads back to Petr Cech. Fine defending.

Darida does excellently on the right for Czech Republic and his teasing ball is inches ahead of the desperate Milan Baros. Jiracek wins a corner from the follow-up.

Crossed in by Plasil from the left and Ronaldo rises high ahead of Rui Patricio to head away for another corner. Almost looked like it would fly in his own net there.

Czech Republic counter and the centre-back Michal Kadlec is central. Worked out to Jiracek on the left, cross blocked by the Portuguese defence.

Gebre Selassie cuts infield, but takes a horrible touch to lose the ball. Raul Meireles' touch is poor and the brief opportunity is squandered

Dogged stuff in midfield. This is not going to be easy for Portugal, if that's what they expected.

Second corner headed clear, but only as far as Moutinho. The Porto man shoots low, but straight as Cech.

Corner cleared, but Nani's searching cross wins another opportunity straight away.

Corner to Portugal, Raul Meireles hassles Tomas Sivok and wins the set-piece opportunity.

Nani is penalised for a foul on Limbersky in the corner. Again, looking to capitalise on a long diagonal ball.

Portugal create time and space on the right flank where Joao Pereira crosses low towards Ronaldo. Cleared by Kadlec.

Jiracek does well, feignting left to buy space and shoot at goal. Well hit, but deflected for a corner from which Portugal clear.

Portugal looking for long-diagonal balls towards their wingers. This time the ball is aimed at Postiga, but he cannot keep the ball in play.

The Czech fans are in the majority tonight, making a racket.

Better from Czech Republic, with Jiracek central. But, no real threat to the Portugal defence.

Scrappy play at the moment. Ball exchanging back and forth in midfield.

Darida makes his first competitive impact for Czech Republic, winning a corner of Miguel Veloso. Taken short and wasted.

Confident start from Portugal. Keeping the ball well and pressing high up.

<b>KICK OFF</b> in Warsaw. Czech Republic get us underway...

Howard Webb is the referee tonight. Familiar with so many of the players involved.

Anthem time. Portugal are up first, to be followed by the Czechs.

The players are in the tunnel then, Petr Cech and Cristiano Ronaldo ready to lead out their sides.

Czech Republic's 21-year-old midfielder Vlademir Darida will make his competitive debut tonight. Plays for Viktoria Plzen.

For Portugal: Fabio Coentrao, Helder Postiga, Cristiano Ronaldo, Joao Pereira and Raul Meireles are in the same situation.

For Czech Republic - David Limbersky, Jaroslav Plasil, Tomas Pekhart, Tomas Rosicky, Petr Jiracek and Daniel Kolar are all a booking away from a suspension.

<img src="http://i.espncdn.com/i/img/1110942_310_175.jpg"> Portugal fan pondering tonight's game

Premier League ref Howard Webb will be in charge tonight. He's a policeman, so he won't be taking any nonsense from the players.

Darida replaces Kolar for Czech Republic, while Portugal are unchanged from their final group-stage fixtures. Czech Republic beat Poland 1-0, while Portugal beat Netherlands 2-1.

<b>Czech Republic:</b> Cech; Gebre Selassie, Kadlec, Sivok, Limbersky; Hubschman, Plasil, Darida; Pilar, Jiracek; Baros.

<b>PORTUGAL</b>: Rui Patricio; Pereira, Pepe, Alves, Coentrao; Veloso, Moutinho, Meireles; Nani, Ronaldo, Postiga

<img src="http://i.espncdn.com/i/img/1110763_310_175.jpg"> Czech fans warm-up by kicking a ball themselves in the fan park.

While Chris Boothroyd is reminded of Euro 2004 as a meeting between Czech Rep and Portugal looms: <a href="http://bit.ly/N868gv" target="_blank">Read</a>

Why not read: Tom Kundert explaining how Portugal's answer to La Masia is powering the Seleccao: <a href="http://espnfc.com/en/blogs/portugal/31/brilliant-lisbon-academy-gives-portugal-a-sporting-chance" target="_blank">Read</a>

Tonight sees Portugal take on Czech Republic in the National Stadium, Warsaw. The big news is in - the roof is closed!