Russia 4 Czech Republic 1: Dzagoev double as Czechs bounced

Saturday 9 June 2012

Russia looked every inch the favourites to win Group A after a comfortable victory that could have been worse still for Czech Republic had Aleksandr Kerzhakov, the Russia centre forward, not blown a string of chances.

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Gianni Russo

Alan Dzagoev scored twice and there were goals for Roman Shirokov and Roman Pavlyuchenko, after Dick Advocaat, the Russia coach, sent the former Tottenham Hotspur striker on for the wasteful Kerzhakov. Vaclav Pilar had provided some hope for the Czechs, scoring early in a second half his side began two goals down.

Russia made the first of many chances after 15 minutes. The imperious Andrey Arshavin brilliantly played in Yuri Zhirkov down the left, but Kerzhakov could only steer his effort wide.But it was a brief reprieve for the Czechs, as Dzagoev drove at the heart of their defence to tee Konstantin Zyryanov up for a cross that was headed against the post by Kerzhakov. Dzagoev followed up to slam home the loose ball.The CSKA Moscow midfielder should have doubled the lead just a few minutes later after another incisive Russian break, but shot wide of Petr Cech's goal.An error from Jaroslav Plasil allowed Russia to make it 2-0 in the 24th minute. The midfielder gave away possession and Arshavin's pass was meant for Kerzhakov, but the striker's miscontrol saw the ball reach Shirokov, who lofted over the advancing Cech.Kerzhakov missed again 12 minutes before the break, blazing over the bar from Zyryanov's pull back and his wastefulness looked like it could hurt Russia when Pilar took a fine pass from Jaroslav Plasil round Vyacheslav Malafeev to score.Michal Bilek's side suddenly looked dangerous and began to take the game to Russia, but Advocaat's counter-punchers continued to create the best opportunities.Arshavin's artistry meant Russia remained a threat as the Arsenal player roved across the midfield, retaining possession superbly and finding space around the Czech defence with some inventive passing. Kerzhakov could not convert one such through ball, pulling an easy shot wide of Czech, and his personal nightmare got worse as he slashed a shot hopelessly wide after cutting inside Michal Kadlec. Advocaat to summon Pavlyuchenko, his rival for the striking role, from the bench.Theodor Gebre Selassie almost produced a copy of the volley from Marco van Basten that won this tournament in 1988, but his shot flashed outside the near post as the Czechs scrambled to get back in to the game.However, Dzagoev killed it off when Pavlyuchenko seized on a loose ball 12 minutes from time to set up the midfielder, who planted a firm shot beyond Cech. Pavlyuchenko then put a gloss on the win as he tricked his way in to the box before firing into the roof of the net.

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Russia 4 Czech Republic 1: Dzagoev double as Czechs bounced

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