#4 Netherlands vs Czech Republic: Euro 2004
In one of the most exciting encounters of the UEFA European Championship history, the Czech Republic came back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 with less than two minutes remaining. The football on show between the Dutch and the Czechs was free flowing and unrelenting end-to-end football. The Dutch were on a roll in the first half, as only they can do when the mood suits them.
Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Wilfried Bouma put them two goals up, and Arjen Robben was relentlessly torturing the Czech defence with attack after attack during the first half. The Bayern Munich winger was instrumental, providing the final passes for both the opening goals.
(Video Courtesy: Roberto Justo YouTube Channel)
But the Czechs have never been considered light weights and some even considered them to be the dark horses of that tournament, as they quickly halved the deficit and brought some hope back.
But they caught a break after manager Dutch manager Dick Advocaat brought off the dangerous Robben in the second half and that was all it took. Netherlands crumbled in the space of fifteen minutes and Milan Baros tied the score, Heitinga was sent off and Smicer completed the most unlikely comeback and the golden generation of the Czech Republic survived to fight another day!
