Date: 26-06-1996
Stage: semi-final
Place: MANCHESTER
Running time: 140 min.
Colour: PAL
Quality: HD 1080 50fps (10)
Commentary: MULTI : english/italian
My rating: **
Notes: Nedved,Poborsky,Smicer, Zidane,Thuram,Loko
MATCH SUMMARY
Wednesday, 26 June 1996, 20:00
Old Trafford, Manchester
Attendance: 43,877
Meteo: Warm, clear, 18°C
CZECH REP.
Petr Kouba
Karel Rada
Miroslav Kadlec
Michal Horňák
Pavel Novotný
Pavel Nedvěd
Jiří Němec
Václav Němecek
Karel Poborský
Vladimír Smicer
Radek Drulák
Coach: Dusan Uhrin (CZE)
77′ Pavel Nedvěd
83′ Václav Němecek
97′ Lubos Kubík
46′ ↓Vladimír Smicer ↑Patrik Berger
70′ ↓Radek Drulák ↑Martin Kotůlek
84′ ↓Jiří Němec ↑Lubos Kubík
FRANCE
Bernard Lama
Bixente Lizarazu
Alain Roche
Laurent Blanc
Lilian Thuram
Vincent Guérin
Marcel Desailly
Sabri Lamouchi
Zinedine Zidane
Youri Djorkaeff
Patrice Loko
Coach: Aimé Jacquet (FRA)
43′ Lilian Thuram
50′ Alain Roche
64′ Bixente Lizarazu
62′ ↓Sabri Lamouchi ↑Reynald Pedros
83′ ↓Lilian Thuram ↑Jocelyn Angloma
Referee: Les Mottram (SCO)
Goals:
none
Match overview
The Czech Republic reached their first major final as an independent nation after defeating France on penalties following a goalless encounter at Old Trafford. Both teams struggled to break down well-organised defences in regular and extra time. Goalkeeper Petr Kouba proved the hero for the Czechs, saving the decisive penalty from Reynald Pedros in sudden death to secure a 6-5 victory on spot-kicks.
Trivia
This match marked the first penalty shootout victory for the Czech Republic as an independent nation in a major tournament. The game was played exactly twenty years after Czechoslovakia had beaten West Germany in the 1976 European Championship final, also on penalties. Petr Kouba became only the second goalkeeper to save a penalty in a major tournament semi-final shootout.
