体坛英语新闻：Czech Republic stun hosts Poland 1-0, top Group A

WROCLAW, Poland, June 16 (Xinhua) -- The Czech Republic stunned hosts Poland 1-0 here on Saturday, roaring into the Euro 2012 quarterfinals as the Group A winners.

Czech midfielder Petr Jiracek scored the winner in the 71st minute when he beat Poland's keeper Przemyslav Tyton after a brilliant hold-up work from forward Milan Baros.

Jiracek was named the Man of the Match. He said after the game that all Czech players were very happy to go through to the quarterfinals.

Czech coach Michal Bilek told the press conference, "We expected to get the second place but in the end we topped the group. It is unbelievable and fantastic. Today we knew a draw was not enough."

Poland, who tied 1-1 with Greece and Russia respectively, could have made history to win a match in the European championships and topped the group if they beat the Czechs.

The Czech skipper and playmaker Tomas Rosicky was not in the starting 11 due to injury, which raised high hope of Poland's win.

Bilek said,"Rosicky is a key player. But we can play without him and it is not the first time we play without him."

Poland dominated the first half and created many scoring chances. But all their shots were saved by Czech keeper Petr Cech or went wide.

In the 15th minute, Poland's No. 1 striker Robert Lewandowski won the ball off Czech defender Tomas Sivok, passing to Jakub Blaszczykowski who laid off right to Euqen Polanski. The midfielder hammered a shot wide. It was the best chance for Poland in the first half.

Bilek said,"My players seemed not to get into the game in the first 25 minutes. But we were improving in the first half end, especially on ball possession."

"At the interval, I told them to keep patient," said Bilek.

The second half saw the revival of the Czechs. They launched waves of attacks from the left. Three Poland's players booked yellow, which weakened their defense.

Poland coach Franciszek Smuda said, "The Czechs were set in defense. They curb our counterattacks. They played well in the second half."

After conceding a goal, the Poles started to lay siege to the Czechs' goal. But they missed two great chances to level in the last minutes.

In the 82nd minute, Dortmund's defender Lukasz Piszczek launched a lovely cross into the box as four players waited at the far-post. However, Czech defender Sivok rose highest to head clear.

In the 89th minute, Poland broke quickly. Blaszczykowski crossed from the right towards Lewandowski, but Sivok rose highest once more.

Bilek said, "In the second half, the Poles kept on attacking. But they opened their defense and one break created a goal."

In Warsaw, Greece beat Russia 1-0 and advanced in second-place from Group A. Russia stood third and Poland bottom, both were packed.

Bilek said," I feel surprised that Russia lost and must go home. They beat us 4-1 in the first game and became the favorite to be the group winners."