Czech midfielder Tomas Holes, scorer of the first goal and assistant of the second, said today after the victory against the Netherlands (0-2) in Budapest that the move to the quarterfinals is due to “teamwork”.
“It was a team effort. Being able to score a goal is a 'bonus', but it was a collective effort,” the Czech player, named best player of the match, said after the match.
“I have defensive tasks, but sometimes I take advantage of the fact that the rival does not mark me,” he said about the second goal, preceded by a steal of his ball in the midfield and that ended with a precise cross to Patrick Schick, who was able to finish out of reach from the Dutch goalkeeper Stekelenburg.
“With this team game we have not given them space,” added Holes, who will now play the quarterfinals against Denmark in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan.
Pavel Kaderavek, a Czech left-back who had not played a single match at this European Championship, said his team has made it to the quarterfinals with merit. “I have no words. We are very united, we work hard and we have passed with merit. I am proud of the team,” said the Czech, who plays in the ranks of German Hoffenheim.
The midfielder Antonin Barak, a Verona player, believes that he could have decided the fate of the match earlier, after missing a clear chance in the middle of the match.
“I could have solved a play better, but I was a bit tired and lacked concentration, but we have done everything possible not to fit in,” said Barak. “We wanted to be active, put them under pressure. That was perhaps what decided this game, avoid the second touch,” added the Czech midfielder.