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Live Commentary: Euro 2012: Czech Republic 1-0 Poland - as it happened

Live commentary from the Euro 2012 Group A decider between the Czech Republic and Poland.

Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live commentary of tonight's Euro 2012 Group A decider between the Czech Republic and Poland in Wroclaw.

The Czechs occupy second place in the group with three points from two games, while co-hosts Poland are breathing down their necks with two points.

A win for either side will likely be enough to see them through to the last eight, as Russia need only a draw against Greece in tonight's other game to book their place in the quarter-finals.

Poland have a good record against their opponents, having won three of the five matches the teams have played since the formation of the Czech Republic.

>Read our preview of the game here

Note that kickoff is at 7.45pm.


21:40That's all from us here. Thank you for reading.

21:40Absolutely extraordinary! The Czechs top the group and Greece go through with them after an unlikely win over Russia in tonight's other game!

21:36Czech Republic win Group A

Full timeCzech Republic 1-0 Poland

94 minAmazing stuff! Poland almost put the Czechs out in the dying seconds. Heroics from Michal Kadlec, who heads off the line!

93 minPekhart is booked for time wasting. Needless, really.

91 minThe Poles are as good as out here, but the big surprise of the night is that Russia could be joining them.

90 minThere will be four minutes of stoppage time.

90 minCzech substitution: Baros is replaced by Tomas Pekhart.

89 minDamien Perquis becomes the latest Pole to be booked.

87 minCzech substitution: Jan Rezik replaces Pilar.

86 minTensions are boiling over now. Hard to say which players were responsible for this mass tussle, but the referee is reaching for his card. Plasil and Blaszczykowski are both booked.

85 minFive minutes to go here and there could be another twist in this one. Dudka drives a Polish free kick into the wall.

83 minAnd his replacement is Frantisek Rajtoral.

83 minCzech hero Jiracek is coming off after taking a slight knock.

81 minIt's great to see plenty of noise from the home supporters even though their country could be on their way out of the competition. Maybe this will fire them up?

79 minLukasz Piszczek unleashes a stinging strike from outside the box following a Poland corner, but it's blocked by the Czechs' resilient defence.

76 minBaros, latching onto Cech's long kick, could have doubled their lead their if had had an extra half a yard in him. Tyton beats him to the loose ball.

75 minThe Czechs certainly deserve this lead based on their second-half performance. They have been nothing short of dominant.

73 minSensational stuff! The Czechs are in the driving seat now. Not only do they stand to go through, they will win the group if things remain as they are.

71 minPetr Jiracek slots the ball home after good work from Baros, and the Czechs might not be going home after all!

71 minGOAL! Czech Republic 1-0 Poland (Jiracek)

70 minA rare attack for the Pole now with Wasilewski powering forward, but he loses the ball and it goes out for a goal kick.

67 minTyton is called into action again as Baros directs an effort goalwards. If the striker had gotten more power on it, the Czechs might have been a goal to the good.

67 minOnly one team look like winning this at the moment. The Poles look fresh out of ideas.

64 minThe ball hits Sivok inside the opposition's box and spins towards goal. Tyton reacts in time to keep the scores level and palms it away. Neither player knew too much about that, but the deadlock was almost broken!

63 minIt's all Czech at the moment. Shocking defending by the Poles. Pilar wins another free kick for the Czechs.

60 minYellow card for Wasilewski. The defender throws in a wreckless challenge against Limbersky and gives away a free kick on the edge of the box.

58 minGrosicki makes his mark in the game by giving away a needless free kick. bravo.

57 minGood build-up play from the Czechs, but Gebre Selassie ruins the move by straying offside.

56 minPoland substitution: Kamil Grosicki replaces Polanski.

52 minAwful challenge by Marcin Wasilewski on Milan Baros. The veteran striker is lucky to come away unharmed.

50 minThe weather conditions have much improved now. Hopefully that will pave the way for some better football to come during this second-half. It really is win or bust for both teams here!

49 minThe Poles win a free kick for a foul on Rafal Murawski. The ball comes swinging in but Cech lets it go harmlessly behind. He looked unsure for a second there.

47 minEugen Polanski is booked for a mistimed tackle on Pilar. He will miss the quarter-final should Poland get there.

46 minCorner to the Czechs. Jaroslav Plasil whips it in, but it's headed clear.

45 minWe're back under way.

20:46The teams are heading back onto the pitch now. We think there will be some goals in this. There hasn't been a 0-0 draw in the tournament so far, and Poland have never drawn with the Czechs since the formation of the Czech Republic.

20:45That Greece goal has changed everything. If things stay as they are, the Greeks will go through with the Russians.

20:38To bring you up to speed on the other game. That Greece goal came from Giorgos Karagounis against the run of play. The Greeks scored with just their second attack of the game.

20:36It would be a shame if Poland did fall at the first hurdle. Tournaments can go flat when the host nation drops out early on.

20:35That will no doubt have a bearing on both managers' half-time team talks. Expect some attacking football in the second-half.

20:34News Just in, Greece have taken the lead against the Russians in the other match. This blows the group wide open!

20:32Poland need to find a goal from somewhere if they want to stay in the competition. Russia will win the group as things stand, and the Czechs will finish runners-up.

Half TimeCzech Republic 0-0 Poland

45 minNo more than a few seconds of added time here despite several stoppages. No score at the break.

44 minThe Czechs are settling down after a shaky start. They're seeing more possession and look like a threat up front.

42 minStill no goals here, nor are there any in tonight's other game between Greece and Russia. You can follow that match here.

39 minThe Czechs have their fist shot on target through Jaroslav Plasil's deflected 25-yarder. Tyton makes short work of it, though.

36 minGreat run by Milan Baros there. Could have opened the scoring if he'd gotten more than a toe to the ball. Przemyslaw Tyton gathers it up.

35 minLudovic Obraniak looks like he's taken a knock to the head. Nothing too serious mind.

31 minBlaszczykowski wins a free kick for Poland after being clattered into.

30 minThe rain is really coming down now, and we've seen some thunder and lightning over the stadium.

28 minIt's an in-swinging corner that finds the head of Daniel Kolar, who can't find the target.

28 minCorner to the Czechs at the other end.

27 minIt's obvious which team is playing for their future in the competition here. Poland have had the better of the possession, but can't find that finishing touch.

22 minRafal Murawski is booked for holding back Milan Baros.

21 minLong range shot from Poland's Sebastian Boenisch almost catches out Cech in the slippery conditions. That would have been a spectacular goal!

19 minGreat determination from Blaszczykowski. He takes on three Czech defenders and keeps hold of the ball, but the move comes to nothing.

18 minBoth sides are struggling to find momentum in the slippery conditions. Expect the game to continue is this scrappy vein.

17 minThe Czechs are playing with more conviction now, and seeing more of the ball.

14 minMarcin Wasilewski blazes a shot over the bar. No threat to Cech whatsoever.

12 minLimbersky is the first player to go into the book for clipping heels of Blaszczykowski.

12 minYet another Polish free kick is swung into the box, but it comes to nothing.

10 minGreat opportunity for Poland to break the deadlock wasted by Robert Lewandowski. Blaszczykowski capitalised on sloppy defending from the opposition to line up the striker, but he couldn't find the target.

7 minPoland's Jakub Blaszczykowski is clean through on goal. Smothered by Petr Cech.

5 minAnother dangerous free kick for the Poles. Could the Czech's indiscipline be their undoing tonight?

3 minA real let off for the hosts there. Pilar has scored in both previous games, but couldn't find the same level of precision here.

3 minVaclav Pilar has a golden opportunity to put the Czechs in front at the other end, but completely miss kicks from inside the penalty area.

1 minEarly free kick to the Poles in a good position.

1 minWe're under way. Poland are playing from right to left. The Czechs are in possession deep within their own half.

19:45Let's play some football!

19:43Our referee is Craig Thompson, who oversaw the Scottish Cup final between Hearts and Hibs last month.

19:42Thunderous applause follows the Polish antheme. We're in for a fiery contest thanks to this sell-out crowd.

19:41It's the Poles' turn now.

19:40And the Czech's national anthem is under way.

19:39Rainy conditions here tonight, but no sign of any electrical storms thankfully.

19:38The two teams are about to step onto the pitch now. The atmosphere in Wroclaw is electric.

19:36If you've just joined us, you can get yourself up to speed on the team news here.

19:34There has never been a draw between these two sides since he formation of the Czech Republic. Poland have the edge over their opponents, having won three out of five games between the two countries.

19:33Match odds: Czech Republic 9/4, Poland 5/4, Draw 12/5.

19:31That last comment doesn't bode particularly well for the Czechs given that Tomas Rosicky is missing from the starting 11 through injury!

19:29And his opposite number Michal Bilek: "Tomas is our key player. The team is more confident with him in it, because he is able to manage and lead the team. We want to go to the quarter-final. Right now, it's one or the other and we will do our utmost to achieve this goal. Of course, we respect our opponent but we are not scared. We don't want to say goodbye to the Euros and we want to go through."

19:28Poland's Franciszek Smuda: "We do not need to [be more attacking]. The Italians only defend and they seem to able to win as well. Why shouldn't we? Our main aim is to stay focused and not commit any mistakes. This is the most important game of my life, I know this. We are not facing the same pressure that we were prior to our first match against Greece. But we know that it is hard to beat anyone here."

19:27Some pre-match comments from both managers coming up.

19:25The other match also kicks off at 7.45. You can follow Sports Mole's commentary here.

19:23So to recap, it's win or bust for co-hosts Poland, who drew their first two games. The Czechs can reach the last eight with a draw depending on the outcome of this evening's other Group A game between Greece and Russia.

19:21Team News: Poland: Tyton; Piszczek, Wasilewski, Perquis, Boenisch; Blaszczykowski, Dudka, Polanski, Obraniak; Murawski; Lewandowski

19:21Team News: Czech Republic: Cech; Selassie, Kadlec, Sivok, Limbersky; Jiracek, Hubschman, Plasil, Pilar; Kolar; Baros

19:20We've got some team news for you coming up.

19:18Tonight's Group A clash promises to be a blinder. A win for either side should be enough to see them through to the quarter-finals, so there's everything to play for.
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