Afghanistan v Czech Rep
Afghanistan (6) v Czech Rep (9)
Afghanistan play to a simple game plan. Ping the ball from the centre to the flanks and back again until an opening arises, pull the trigger, score a goal. Add in vociferous support, probably the best in the tournament after the hosts, and you have a lethal winning formula.
Until you meet the Czech Republic. Robust, skillful and willing to match the Afghans at the waiting game. Their shooting is no less effective and here on Pitch One they ruthlessly exposed deficiencies in their youthful opponents. That Afghanistan got within three at the end is testimony to their willingness to fight to the end.
Fifteen goals. Nearly all of them the most lethal and clinical of strikes. This was not a game for the faint-hearted as the Czechs opened up a 5-2 lead showing pace and good sense to pull their opponents all over the pitch before going in for the kill. At one stage they led 8-4. The Afghanistan supporters never dropped their tempo, but their players couldn't raise theirs when it counted.Frank Prenesti