czechs and dutch share spoils published: saturday 4 october 2003, 11.10cet
opening defeats by west germany meant both teams were staring down the barrel in group a – a draw was not enough for either.
west germany's opening two victories left the netherlands and holders czechoslovakia, two powerhouses of the european game, scratching around for an unlikely route through to the final.
as it turned out, neither side was able to conjure the victory that was needed. the dutch started in robust fashion, denying their opponents possession, but found themselves behind in the 16th minute. it was the magnificent skill of ladislav vízek that made the difference, the instrumental forward receiving the ball from marián masný, beating three men inside the penalty area and drawing the keeper before laying in zdeněk nehoda.
jaroslav netolička denied cornelius kist a swift equaliser but the dutch still had plenty to offer, with the arrival of arend haan proving a particular boost. they duly earned a share of the spoils when a free-kick reached kist, who slipped as he tried to control the ball but was still able to finish low into the corner.
