Czech Republic v Netherlands background

The Czech Republic are seeking a third competitive home win against the Netherlands as the sides meet in their opening UEFA EURO 2016 Group A game.

Match background
• In their 18 previous meetings with the Netherlands, Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic's record is W9 D4 L5 (W4 D0 L2 in Prague – W2 D3 L3 in the Netherlands, including a fixture against the co-hosts at UEFA EURO 2000).

• As an independent nation, the Czechs' record against the Oranje is W3 D3 L3 (W2 D0 L1 in Prague – W0 D3 L2 in the Netherlands).

• This will be the sides' ninth UEFA European Championship encounter, with the Czechs' record in the previous eight – four in qualifying, four at final tournaments – reading W4 D3 L1 (W2 D0 L0 in Prague – W0 D2 L1 in the Netherlands). In qualifying meetings, the Czechs' record is W2 D2 L0; in finals it is W2 D1 L1).

• Czechoslovakia eliminated the Netherlands with a 3-1 win after extra time in Zagreb in the semi-finals of the 1976 UEFA European Championship, going on to beat West Germany in the final. They then drew 1-1 in Milan in a group stage game at the 1980 finals, and Frank Rijkaard's Netherlands opened their campaign as co-hosts of UEFA EURO 2000 with a 1-0 win against Josef Chovanec's Czech Republic, Frank de Boer (89) securing victory from the penalty spot.

• In their most recent EURO encounter, Karel Brückner's Czechs came back from 2-0 down to beat Dick Advocaat's Netherlands 3-2 in Aveiro in the group stage of UEFA EURO 2004. Wilfred Bouma (4) and Ruud van Nistelrooy (19) scored early, but Jan Koller (23) and Milan Baroš (71) responded, Vladimír Šmicer scoring the 88th-minute winner after the Netherlands' John Heitinga was sent off for a second bookable offence on 75 minutes.

• The sides last met in 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying. Under Marco van Basten, the Dutch avenged that finals defeat in Amsterdam on 8 September 2004, Pierre van Hooijdonk (34, 84) scoring both goals. The Netherlands scored two more without reply in Prague on 8 October 2005, Rafael van der Vaart and Barry Opdam confirming the Oranje's place in the final tournament in Germany.

• The nations have met 17 times in UEFA age-group tournaments, with six wins for each and five draws.

• In 28 UEFA club meetings between the countries, Czech clubs have the record W14 D13 L11, though Dutch teams have lost only one of the 11 most recent encounters.