third-place consolation for czechoslovakia published: wednesday 1 october 2003, 8.55cet
vlastimil bubník and ladislav pavlovič scored the goals as czechoslovakia sweetened the blow of missing the inaugural final by finishing third.
czechoslovakia beat france 2-0 to wrap up third place at the inaugural uefa european football championship.
defeated 3-0 by the soviet union in the last four, the czechs mounted an impressive response against the hosts, who themselves had surrendered a 4-2 lead to be eliminated by yugoslavia in the semi-finals. superior for large periods, czechoslovakia ultimately prevailed thanks to goals from vlastimil bubník and ladislav pavlovič.
it proved a defining fixture in marseille, with seven players from either side – including france's elegant centre-half robert jonquet – never capped again. robert siatka and goalkeeper jean taillandier were handed french debuts in the third-place play-off, but both were helpless to deny the czechoslovakian opener, bubník driving in ladislav novák's long cross from the edge of the penalty area.
pavlovic added a second when he robbed michel stievenard and ran in from the halfway line. there was no way back for a france team which was further blunted when an injury to jean-jacques marcel forced him out on to the right wing.
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