MATCH 24 REPORT : BAROS ENDS GERMAN HOPES

Double blow
Michael Ballack had opened the scoring on 21 minutes to steady the nerves of a German side needing victory to be sure of a place in the last eight, but Heinz equalised with a superb free-kick and when Baroš added a second after sustained second-half pressure from Germany, the hopes of Rudi Völler's side had ended.

Nine changes
Having already secured top spot in Group D, the Czech Republic rested several players with Sunday's quarter-final against Denmark in mind. In total there were nine changes from the team that beat the Netherlands, with Marek Heinz and Vratislav Lokvenc paired in attack, and midfield trio Stepán Vachoušek, Jaroslav Plašil and Roman Týce all handed the chance to shine.

Lone striker
Germany made just two changes, with Bastian Schweinsteiger coming in, while Jens Nowotny returned as a sweeper behind defenders Christian Wörns and Arne Friedrich. Despite needing to win to be sure of a place in the last eight, Germany started with Kevin Kuranyi as a lone striker.

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