Germans dominate stalemate
Germany 0-0 Czech Republic
May 5 2006
By Andrew Haigh, Stade Alphonse Theis, Hesperange.
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Marko Marin was the only shining light of a misfiring
German attack but his influence wasn't enough to finish off a stubborn Czech Republic side.
The stalemate leaves both teams needing just one point to qualify from Group B.
Germany dominated the first half an hour of the match with their attacking strength proving difficult for the Czechs
to handle.
However, the Czechs fought back towards the end of the half and could have gone ahead when Tomas Pekhart broke
the German's defensive line.
His deflected shot was awkward for Manchester United's Ron Robert Zieler and curled just wide from 20 yards.
But the Germans would have been the happier of the two sides at half time and their early dominance would have
given them a huge confidence boost.
The Czechs are now notorious for their slow starts and their coach Jakub Davalil would have been hoping his side
could repeat the second half efforts.
The second period began with Marko Marin was causing the Czech right back allsorts of trouble and his cross could
have provided decisive had Manuel Fischer converted and emphatic scissor kick.
His 53rd minute effort was the best chance of the match so far but the Stuttgart striker would have been disappointed
to see it rebounded back off the cross bar.
The Czechs hit back and although they had substituted Pekhart and converted to playing just Tomas Necid up front,
they could have taken the lead.
Martin Zeman's left footed free kick from 25 yards curled over by just a couple of feet.
Shortly after being booked for diving, substitute Mario Vrancic could have given the Germans the lead. Again, it
was Marin on the left of midfield that was the provider, his break down the wing was followed by a cut back to
Vrancic whose shot was smartly saved by Marek Stech.
Marin was once more the catalyst when the Germans eventually had the ball in the back of the net but Manuel Fischer's
66th minute strike was ruled out for offside.
77th minutes substitute Sebastian Huke could have scored with his first touch but his header was wide and weak
from yet another Marin delivery.
But the game ended with the scores level with the Germans the most disappointed of the two teams.
Attendance: 1425
Teams:
Germany: Ron Robert Zieler, Bjorn Kopplin, David Vrzogic, Christopher Schorch, Florian Jungwirth, Sven Bender,
Marko Marin, Lars Bender, Manuel Fisher, Toni Kroos (Sebastian Huke, 77), Timo Gebhart (Mario Vrancic, 55).
Subs: Sascha Burchert, Danny Latza, Raphael Lorenz, Stefan Reinartz, Mattias Wittek,
Czech Republic: Marek Stech, Ondrej Mazuch, Jan Polak, Martin Zeman, Jan Hable, Lukas Vacha, Tomas Necid (Jan Vosalik,
80), Tomas Pekhart (Radim Reznik, 60), Jakub Heidenriech, Petr Wojnar (Ivan Lacko, 40), Jakub Susser.
Subs: Ondrej Volsik, Martin Holek, Mirolsav Stepanek, Petr Reinberk |
