Old guard fuels Czechs

When a football crowd starts the Mexican wave it is usually time to worry. It is a way of saying, "Let's make our own entertainment" when not much is happening down on the pitch. But when the ripple of raised arms spread across the stands at the Estádio do Dragão 38 minutes into this quarter-final match, it is unlikely to have worried Czech Republic coach Karel Brückner one jot.

Perfect platform
The Czechs had conceded possession to their opponents for most of the opening period - the percentage count at half-time was 62-38 in Denmark's favour - yet they had not been breached and, moreover, had seldom looked troubled. And after having had to come from behind to win all three of their Group D games, this solid, if unspectacular, start was the perfect platform for a second period where they seized control of the match.

Leading scorer
After Jan Koller had headed Karel Poborský's corner past Thomas Sørensen for the opening goal on 49 minutes, the victory was secured by two strikes by Milan Baroš, which made the Liverpool FC striker the tournament's five-goal leading scorer.

Under-21 graduates
If Everton FC's Wayne Rooney was the young striker stealing the attention in the group stage, now it is turn of a player from the city's red half. The 22-year-old had an unspectacular season at Liverpool, five months of it lost to a broken ankle. Yet here he is fresh and full of running, and - moreover - goals too. One of seven graduates in this Czech squad of the side who won the UEFA European Under-21 Championship in 2002, his goals were supplied by two of the old guard.

Cunning Poborský
Poborský was one of the stars of the Czechs' run to the final of EURO '96™ when his long hair gave him the look of a heavy-metal roadie. Now 32, the curls have gone but he remains a player full of cunning. After 63 minutes, his cute, angled pass sent Baroš clear and he chipped the ball confidently over Sørensen. The third goal, two minutes later, was supplied by Pavel Nedved - another survivor of '96 - and this time Baroš went for power, lashing the ball high into the net.

Shades of 2002
Denmark's defeat recalled their exit from the 2002 FIFA World Cup when they delighted in the group stage but disappointed in the 3-0 defeat by England that followed. Despite dominating possession in the first period, they had just one shot on goal in the whole match.

Little product
They were missing striker Ebbe Sand, whose absence meant Jon Dahl Tomasson moved into the central striking role, with Claus Jensen filling in behind, yet their much-lauded wing play brought little end product. Martin Jørgensen and Jesper Gronkjær may have helped create half-chances for Christian Poulsen and Thomas Gravesen, but too often the Danish crosses failed to beat the first defender or simply landed straight in the arms of goalkeeper Petr Cech.

Ambitious chip
Indeed it was the Czechs who came closest to scoring before the break when Poborský's cross swung out and landed on the crossbar. It was a sign of things to come. Such was the Czechs' confidence by the end that Poborský was trying an ambitious chip from the edge of the box - shades of his cheeky finish against Portugal at EURO '96™.

Realistic assessment
Qualifying matches included, Brückner's side have now won eleven matches of 12 in this UEFA European Championship and the banner in the Czech end carrying the word "Campeones" looks a realistic assessment of their abilities rather than mere wishful thinking.