Czech comeback floors France

Grax opens scoring
These sides shared a goalless draw when they last met but it took France only six minutes to score here, Sylvain Idangar crossing from the left and Sébastien Grax volleying in at the far post. A goal ahead, France had chances to extend their lead, notably when Grax raced on to a long ball only to shoot straight at Petr Bolek.

Mikolanda equalises
Instead the Czechs drew level on 26 minutes. Adam Varadi crossed to the near post where Petr Mikolanda - scorer of all three of the Czechs' goals in qualifying - applied the finishing touch. Level at the break, it was France who assumed control in the second period. René Girard's side regained the lead on 63 minutes after Matula was penalised for holding Grax in the penalty area and the AS Monaco FC striker got up to score confidently to Bolek's right.

France in control
It looked all over when France struck again seven minutes later. From Jérémie Berthoud's deep cross from the left, Grax flashed a volley across goal and Idangar was there at the far post to strike a high shot past Bolek.

Almighty scramble
Procházka gave the Czechs hope of a comeback three minutes from time when he turned the ball into an empty net after Florent Chaigneau had failed to gather a Michal Blažej cross. Then, deep into injury time, a free-kick into the France box prompted an almighty scramble and Matula got the decisive touch.