Aveiro (Portugal): The Czech Republic became the first team to book a place in the quarter-finals of Euro 2004 after they stormed back from two goals down to beat the Netherlands 3-2 in a gripping Group D clash.

Second-half substitute Vladimir Smicer completed one of the most dramatic recoveries in the history of the European championships yesterday (June 20, 2004) a dramatic close-range winner two minutes from time after Jan Koller and Milan Baros had wiped out the excellent Dutch start.

The Netherlands were looking to take advantage of Germany's surprise 0-0 draw with Latvia earlier in the day and couldn't have wished for a better start, goals from Wilfred Bouma and Ruud van Nistelrooy putting them 2-0 up in the first 19 minutes.

After Baros had restored parity, Dutch defender Johnny Heitinga was sent off and the 10-man Dutch were caught with a sucker punch in the 88th minute when Smicer tucked home Karel Poborsky's cut-back.

The Netherlands, who needed a play-off victory over Scotland to get to Portugal having finished second to the Czechs in their qualifying group, are third in the group with one point, one behind Germany.

The Dutch made two changes to the team that drew 1-1 with Germany on Tuesday.

AC Milan midfielder Clarence Seedorf and Chelsea winger Arjen Robben both returned after recovering from injury to replace Rafael van der Vaart and Boudewijn Zouden.