Netherlands vs Czech Republic Euro LIVE Football Score 27 June 2021

A Netherlands outfit arguably exceeding expectations under Frank de Boer prepare for battle in the last-16 stage of Euro 2020 as they take on the Czech Republic at the Puskas Arena on Sunday evening. Oranje eased through Group C as winners to advance to the knockout stages, while the Czech Republic booked their spot in the elite 16 as one of the four best third-placed outfits

There would be no fitting send off for North Macedonia talisman Goran Pandev – although he was given a guard of honour by his own teammates upon being substituted in the 67th minute – by which time the Netherlands had already struck three goals to cruise to a simple success.

There would be no fitting send off for North Macedonia talisman Goran Pandev – although he was given a guard of honour by his own teammates upon being substituted in the 67th minute – by which time the Netherlands had already struck three goals to cruise to a simple success.

Memphis Depay was unsurprisingly the one to break the deadlock on the day, and the soon-to-be Barcelona attacker turned provider for Georginio Wijnaldum to double the lead before the ex-Liverpool man added the cherry on the icing on the cake with his second and Oranje’s third in the 58th minute.

The ruthless nature of the Netherlands has shone through at these Championships, with no other team in the group stage topping the eight goals that Oranje scored in their three group matches, and De Boer has witnessed his side score at least two goals in each of their last 10 matches in all competitions.

Having seemingly found the optimal formula for success with a new-look 3-4-1-2 setup, De Boer is slowly winning over his critics after some pre-tournament pessimism with regard to their chances, and another welcome fixture with Wales or Denmark awaits should the Netherlands progress as expected.

Not since Euro 2000 – when De Boer was an integral cog in the Oranje machine – have the Netherlands opened a European Championships campaign with four straight victories, but having dazzled and delighted so far, a first quarter-final appearance since 2008 is no less than their ardent supporters will accept.

Following in the footsteps of Scotland and Croatia, Czech Republic became the third team to be thwarted by England’s staunch defence at Wembley, as a first-half header from Raheem Sterling was all that separated the two sides during a low-key affair in the English capital.

Despite falling to their first and only defeat of the group stage at Wembley, the Czechs’ victory over Scotland and dogged draw with Croatia was enough for them to advance as one of the best third-placed outfits, and they have been rewarded with a fixture of daunting proportions.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• This will be the first meeting between the Netherlands and the Czech Republic since October 2015, when the Dutch were beaten 3-2 in a Euro 2016 qualifier.
• The Czech Republic and the Netherlands will face each other at the European Championship for the third time (excluding Czechoslovakia meetings), with both sides winning one game apiece previously.
• The last meeting between the two sides in this competition was a thriller at Euro 2004, in which the Czechs came from two goals down to win 3-2, following an 88th minute winner from Vladimir Smicer.

Netherlands

• Since winning the tournament in 1988, the Netherlands have progressed from just two of their seven knockout stage games in the European Championship.
• The Netherlands are looking to win their opening four games of a European Championship for only the second time, having last done so at Euro 2000.
• Memphis Depay has been directly involved in 13 goals in his past 10 appearances for the Netherlands in all competitions (9 goals, 4 assists), while only Robert Lewandowski (12) attempted more shots than Depay (11) in the group stage at Euro 2020.
• Georginio Wijnaldum has scored 15 goals in 25 appearances for the Netherlands since the start of 2019, with no player scoring more for the country in that time.

Czech Republic

• The Czech Republic have been eliminated in three of their past four games in the knockout stages of the European Championship.
• They have only won one of their past seven games at major tournaments.
• Patrik Schick recorded six of the Czech Republic’s nine shots on target in the group stage at Euro 2020, the highest percentage of any player for his team in the tournament (67%).