CZECH REPUBLIC BEAT GREECE 2-1 TO SAY IT'S NOT OVER YET.

Czech Republic beat Greece 2-1 this evening, to send a warning signal to their opponents. The Czechs who were beaten 4-1 by Russia in their opening group A match revived their hopes of staying in the tournament with a spectacular display against Greece.

The Czechs who took control of the game right from the blast of the whistle in the first half, maintained their consistency and superiority over their opponents which earned them two precious goals to make a strong case in their group.

The fire power of the Czechs made them look like super humans in the first half, as if the great god of Greece Zeus has deserted them. The 2004 European champions Greece did all they could in the first half but to no avail. Petr Jiracek netted the first goal for the Czechs in the 3rd minute which gave them the positive start they wanted.

The second goal came three minutes after, with Theodor Gebre Selassie's cut back went under the goal keeper's hand and was smuggled into the back of the net by Vaclav Pilar. These goals became the fastest two goals in the European championship.

The two early goals by the Czechs broke the spirit of the Greeks, but came into the second half with a positive approach that earned them a goal but could not save them from defeat.

The Greece goal came in the 53rd minute with Gekas punishing Petr Cech by slotting the ball gently into the back of the net, for the horrible blunder he committed. The Czechs had not beaten the Greeks since 1982, so today's 2-1 victory must be a special one for them.

EMMANUEL PENZIE.