• CZECH REPUBLIC RATINGS: Tomáš Vaclik 6 – The goalkeeper had a mixed performance. He made a number of vital saves for his side, but there is no looking past the fact he conceded two, the second of which he could have done better. Despite this, he was always sharp off his line. AFP
    CZECH REPUBLIC RATINGS: Tomáš Vaclik 6 – The goalkeeper had a mixed performance. He made a number of vital saves for his side, but there is no looking past the fact he conceded two, the second of which he could have done better. Despite this, he was always sharp off his line. AFP
  • Vladimir Coufal 7 – The right-back was one of his side’s best performers as he made several tackles that disrupted the Danish attack. He marked tightly throughout the game and even had a chance fall his way, but it was on his weaker foot. AP
    Vladimir Coufal 7 – The right-back was one of his side’s best performers as he made several tackles that disrupted the Danish attack. He marked tightly throughout the game and even had a chance fall his way, but it was on his weaker foot. AP
  • Ondrej Celustka 5 – The Sparta Prague defender had a good chance from a free-kick, but he just missed the ball. He later came off due to an injury received whilst defending against a Danish attack. AP
    Ondrej Celustka 5 – The Sparta Prague defender had a good chance from a free-kick, but he just missed the ball. He later came off due to an injury received whilst defending against a Danish attack. AP
  • Tomas Kalas 5 –Bristol City’s centre-back was responsible for losing Delaney in the box as he headed in the opening goal. Kalas didn’t make many tackles, but the few he did were needed to stop Denmark from extending their lead. AP
    Tomas Kalas 5 –Bristol City’s centre-back was responsible for losing Delaney in the box as he headed in the opening goal. Kalas didn’t make many tackles, but the few he did were needed to stop Denmark from extending their lead. AP
  • Jan Boril 5 –The left-back was partly at fault for the second goal as he wasn’t goal side of Dolberg who managed to tap the ball in at the back post. He found himself chasing the ball on occasion and didn’t win many challenges. EPA
    Jan Boril 5 –The left-back was partly at fault for the second goal as he wasn’t goal side of Dolberg who managed to tap the ball in at the back post. He found himself chasing the ball on occasion and didn’t win many challenges. EPA
  • Tomáš Holes 6 –The midfielder made his fifth European Championship appearance and nearly scored with a volley at the edge of the box, but it was saved by Schmeichel. EPA
    Tomáš Holes 6 –The midfielder made his fifth European Championship appearance and nearly scored with a volley at the edge of the box, but it was saved by Schmeichel. EPA
  • Tomas Soucek 5 -The Czech captain wasn’t at his usual standard and his side paid the price. He had a headed chance which went wide. He needed to step up and perform, but he didn’t meet his own high expectations.
    Tomas Soucek 5 -The Czech captain wasn’t at his usual standard and his side paid the price. He had a headed chance which went wide. He needed to step up and perform, but he didn’t meet his own high expectations.
  • Lukàš Masopust 6 – The 28-year-old did some good pressing early on and he made several good runs forward down the wing. He also displayed some clever footwork, which mostly worked though there was no-one to meet his deliveries. AFP
    Lukàš Masopust 6 – The 28-year-old did some good pressing early on and he made several good runs forward down the wing. He also displayed some clever footwork, which mostly worked though there was no-one to meet his deliveries. AFP
  • Antonín Barak 6 – The Udinese midfielder made some decent deliveries from free-kicks but none of his teammates could capitalise. He also put a great through ball to Schick, which came to nothing. He had a shot on the edge of the box but it didn’t test Schmeichel. EPA
    Antonín Barak 6 – The Udinese midfielder made some decent deliveries from free-kicks but none of his teammates could capitalise. He also put a great through ball to Schick, which came to nothing. He had a shot on the edge of the box but it didn’t test Schmeichel. EPA
  • Petr Ševčik 5 – The Slavia Prague man had a poor game. He wasted several chances, including a volley which finished well over. He was subsequently replaced late on. Getty Images
    Petr Ševčik 5 – The Slavia Prague man had a poor game. He wasted several chances, including a volley which finished well over. He was subsequently replaced late on. Getty Images
  • Patrick Schick 7 – One of the breakout stars of the tournament got his fifth goal, this time on on the volley, to claw one back for his side. He was very creative and made a number of good forward runs, but the Danish defence kept him at bay. The striker was taken off late on as his manager looked for an equaliser. EPA
    Patrick Schick 7 – One of the breakout stars of the tournament got his fifth goal, this time on on the volley, to claw one back for his side. He was very creative and made a number of good forward runs, but the Danish defence kept him at bay. The striker was taken off late on as his manager looked for an equaliser. EPA
  • SUB: Jakob Jankto (Holes, 46) 7 – Jankto came on at half-time and made a number of good runs along the left wing, and his energy definitely helped his side fight back in the second half. He provided several crosses into the box but there was no-one on the end to finish them off. EPA
    SUB: Jakob Jankto (Holes, 46) 7 – Jankto came on at half-time and made a number of good runs along the left wing, and his energy definitely helped his side fight back in the second half. He provided several crosses into the box but there was no-one on the end to finish them off. EPA
  • SUB: Michael Krmencik (Masopust, 46) 7 – Arguably the best substitution, as he changed his side’s fortune. He had a large number of chances, and he held up the ball to bring others into play. EPA
    SUB: Michael Krmencik (Masopust, 46) 7 – Arguably the best substitution, as he changed his side’s fortune. He had a large number of chances, and he held up the ball to bring others into play. EPA
  • SUB: Jakub Brabec (Celustka, 65) – 5 The centre-back replaced an injured Celustka late on and he was tasked with marking Poulsen. He lost him a few times but he also put in several interceptions to deny the Leipzig man. He had a shot from range but it was off target. AFP
    SUB: Jakub Brabec (Celustka, 65) – 5 The centre-back replaced an injured Celustka late on and he was tasked with marking Poulsen. He lost him a few times but he also put in several interceptions to deny the Leipzig man. He had a shot from range but it was off target. AFP
  • SUB: Matej Vydra (Schick, 79) N/A – The Burnley striker came on as his side searched for an equaliser but he was reduced to one effort, which he failed to capitalise on. AFP
    SUB: Matej Vydra (Schick, 79) N/A – The Burnley striker came on as his side searched for an equaliser but he was reduced to one effort, which he failed to capitalise on. AFP
  • SUB: Vladimir Darida (Sevcik, 80) N/A– The 30 year was introduced at the same time as Vydra and he failed to make a real impact for his side.
    SUB: Vladimir Darida (Sevcik, 80) N/A– The 30 year was introduced at the same time as Vydra and he failed to make a real impact for his side.
  • Smart save from Holes after 20 – a minute after the Dane had chipped the ball into the Czech midfielder. Hard to save Schick’s fifth goal of tournament – level with Ronaldo as top scorer. Had to be on top of his game as Czech Republic gave everything to get a late equaliser. Getty Images
    Smart save from Holes after 20 – a minute after the Dane had chipped the ball into the Czech midfielder. Hard to save Schick’s fifth goal of tournament – level with Ronaldo as top scorer. Had to be on top of his game as Czech Republic gave everything to get a late equaliser. Getty Images
  • The Southampton defender has been excellent for his country. Comfortable as they blew Czech Republic away in the first half. Under significant pressure in the second half but maximum effort means he’s now a semi-finalist. Getty Images
    The Southampton defender has been excellent for his country. Comfortable as they blew Czech Republic away in the first half. Under significant pressure in the second half but maximum effort means he’s now a semi-finalist. Getty Images
  • Captain Fantastic came back from injury. Confidently blocked a 71st minute shot from Jankto and winced in pain as he did. Screamed at his players while in agony. Should he have come off? No. Getty Images
    Captain Fantastic came back from injury. Confidently blocked a 71st minute shot from Jankto and winced in pain as he did. Screamed at his players while in agony. Should he have come off? No. Getty Images
  • Fifth successive start for the Chelsea defender. Superb in 2021. Very hard for the Czechs to get past. Getty Images
    Fifth successive start for the Chelsea defender. Superb in 2021. Very hard for the Czechs to get past. Getty Images
  • Beautifully weighted ball – and very difficult to execute – for Dolberg to volley in the second. Should have made it 3-1 after 80 when he could have shot or passed to Braithwaite. Getty Images
    Beautifully weighted ball – and very difficult to execute – for Dolberg to volley in the second. Should have made it 3-1 after 80 when he could have shot or passed to Braithwaite. Getty Images
  • Headed outswinging corner down into the corner from ten yards after five minutes for dream Danish start. Why wasn’t he marked? Devastating combinations with Larsen and should have scored a second. Tactically smart. Left field exhausted. Excellent. Getty Images
    Headed outswinging corner down into the corner from ten yards after five minutes for dream Danish start. Why wasn’t he marked? Devastating combinations with Larsen and should have scored a second. Tactically smart. Left field exhausted. Excellent. Getty Images
  • Key player as Denmark dominated in the middle and reached the semi-final of a major tournament for the first time since Euro ’92 – which they won. Struggled in the last ten minutes and looked exhausted but ran himself into the ground and still created chances. EPA
    Key player as Denmark dominated in the middle and reached the semi-final of a major tournament for the first time since Euro ’92 – which they won. Struggled in the last ten minutes and looked exhausted but ran himself into the ground and still created chances. EPA
  • Perfect corner straight off the training ground to assist first goal. Let the Czech full-backs push up as Denmark comfortable in their 3-4-3 shape. AFP
    Perfect corner straight off the training ground to assist first goal. Let the Czech full-backs push up as Denmark comfortable in their 3-4-3 shape. AFP
  • Played on the left, right and in the centre. Created clear chances but shot well wide after 27. You can doubt that he has the technical level to play for Barça, but not his quality and effort. Held ball up when needed. Team player. AFP
    Played on the left, right and in the centre. Created clear chances but shot well wide after 27. You can doubt that he has the technical level to play for Barça, but not his quality and effort. Held ball up when needed. Team player. AFP
  • Shared the chances among the forwards, made forward runs. Got the second goal after another lightning counter attack, volleying in his third in three matches to delight the 2,000 noisy travelling Danes. Getty Images
    Shared the chances among the forwards, made forward runs. Got the second goal after another lightning counter attack, volleying in his third in three matches to delight the 2,000 noisy travelling Danes. Getty Images
  • Birthday and his best first half chance saw him with only goalkeeper to beat after 37. He shot straight at him. Worked hard in difficult conditions and deserved his rest after an hour. AFP
    Birthday and his best first half chance saw him with only goalkeeper to beat after 37. He shot straight at him. Worked hard in difficult conditions and deserved his rest after an hour. AFP
  • On for Damsgaard after 59, the Brentford player went left and played some quality balls. Reuters
    On for Damsgaard after 59, the Brentford player went left and played some quality balls. Reuters
  • On for Dolberg after 60 after overcoming a thigh injury and shot within a minute of entering the field after a fast run beat the defender. Should’ve scored. Ran forward after 69 in another counter but ran out of energy and shot straight at the goalkeeper. Took a top shot after 78. Fine movement off ball. More shots than any player on pitch – despite only playing 30 mins. AFP
    On for Dolberg after 60 after overcoming a thigh injury and shot within a minute of entering the field after a fast run beat the defender. Should’ve scored. Ran forward after 69 in another counter but ran out of energy and shot straight at the goalkeeper. Took a top shot after 78. Fine movement off ball. More shots than any player on pitch – despite only playing 30 mins. AFP
  • On for Larsen after 70 and gave ball away within a minute as Czech Republic pushed for an equaliser as both teams tired. AFP
    On for Larsen after 70 and gave ball away within a minute as Czech Republic pushed for an equaliser as both teams tired. AFP
  • On for Delaney 80. AFP
    On for Delaney 80. AFP
  • On for Christensen after 80 as Denmark wisely used five subs. The only surprise was that it wasn’t the injured Kjaer. Getty Images
    On for Christensen after 80 as Denmark wisely used five subs. The only surprise was that it wasn’t the injured Kjaer. Getty Images

Euro 2020 Czech Republic v Denmark player ratings: Soucek 5; Dolberg 8, Hojbjerg 7


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Denmark's fairytale run at Euro 2020 will continue into the semi-finals after they beat the Czech Republic 2-1 in Baku on Saturday to move into a last-four meeting with England at Wembley.

First-half goals from Thomas Delaney and Kasper Dolberg were enough to see Kasper Hjulmand's men through despite a second-half rally from the Czechs inspired by Patrik Schick's fifth goal of the tournament.

The Danes have now scored 10 goals in winning their last three matches after starting the tournament with two defeats, the first amid shocking circumstances when Christian Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch.

Three weeks on, they are dreaming of a repeat of 1992 when Denmark won the European Championship despite not even qualifying.

Then Yugoslavia's expulsion due to an outbreak of war gave them a second chance and they are playing like a side inspired by the emotion of Eriksen's collapse and recovery.

Updated: July 04, 2021, 5:13 AM