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Czechs confident, Latvians lifted

euro2004.com rounds up the press reaction after Group D began with a bang last night and finds plenty of positives being drawn.

Czech Republic 2-1 Latvia

Resurrection! It was a thriller for strong hearts only. Instead of the expected easy win, only 17 minutes divided the Czech players from defeat. For a long time, the star team did not know how to cope with a stubborn defence, however they showed the great desire worthy of a big team. Playing a risky card they came from behind to win. (Sport)

In spite of the Czechs' huge advantage, our team deserve the kindest words for their courageous perfomance. For a long time, they kept alive the possibility of a sensation. Now we have to try to forget this agonising defeat as soon as possible - the next challenge awaits Latvia on Saturday when we will play the three-time [FIFA] World Cup and EURO champions Germany. Let's hope our boys will be able to find a weakness in the German lineup too. (nra.lv)

Germany 1-1 Netherlands

Just like in the friendly campaign, the Dutch players were hardly able to find each other. Again there was no structure to the team's play. The wings were poor and Dick Advocaat's men played the ball to each other without taking the initiative towards the German goal, where everyone looked but no one did anything. In the end it still worked out pretty well for Holland as, ten minutes from time, Andy van der Meyde served Ruud van Nistelrooij who scored a trademark goal by beating his man and scorching the back of the net. That gave the result a different look. (De Telegraaf)

Nobody had believed in Rudi Völler's side, but [Michael] Ballack and company played out of their skins against arch-rivals Holland. The orange-clad artists came face to face with the battlers in black and white, and the result was a draw, but the Germans put in a really strong performance. Let's have more of the same lads! That way, we can go a long way at the European championships. (Bild)

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