Holes and Schick help Czech Republic stun ten-man Netherlands
The Netherlands became the first heavyweight casualty of Euro 2020 as they were stunned by Czech Republic in Budapest.
The Dutch had cruised out of the group stage with three wins on the bounce but came unstuck after Matthijs de Ligt’s red card as goals from Tomas Holes and Patrick Schick earned a 2-0 win to send the Czechs into the quarter-finals.
Former Arsenal youngster Donyell Malen had missed the Netherlands’ best chance, denied by goalkeeper Tomáš Vaclík went running clean through on goal early in the second half.
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Soon after, the Dutch were reduced to ten men as De Ligt’s yellow card for a deliberate handball was upgraded to red after a VAR review determined he had denied Schick a clear goalscoring opportunity.
Holes made Frank de Boer’s side pay with a backpost header before Schick swept home his fourth goal of the tournament to set up a quarter-final meeting with Denmark.