The Round of 16’s first match saw the Czech Republic battling against Poland Friday morning.
The Czech Republic opened the scoring in the 9th minute, and they doubled the lead a minute before the half-time break. By the 23rd minute, the Czech Republic eased into what appeared to be a very comfortable 4:0 lead.
Poland claimed two consolation goals in the last 5 minutes, before Jan Koudelka’s goal put an end to the game. With the 5:2 victory the Czech Republic secured their place in the quarter finals.
The reigning champions played against England in the next game. England were put in front after 8 minutes when Samuel Murphy capitalised a mix-up in the box for the opening goal. Romania were quick to restore parity, Toma Vincene found the leveller. England took the lead for a second time two minutes before the break.
Romania pressed for a leveller in the final minutes, with several players going close with fierce strikes. At the end it was Toma Vincene who found the equaliser again. But England surprised the arena with a 40th-minute goal, and made the quarter-finals by beating the six-time champions Romania to 3:2.
Up next were Slovenia against Wales. Wales took the lead twice in the first half only for Slovenia to peg back both times. In the 18th minute Josef Hopkins’s goal handed the lead back to Wales once again, making it 3:2 as the teams headed for the break.
Slovenia’s long-overdue equaliser arrived in the 29th minute. The 3:3 tie was barely 6-minute old, when Wales scored their fourth goal that was followed by their fifth in stoppage time. The 5:3 win guaranteed a place for Wales in the quarter final.
Croatia and Moldova took the field next. Matija Ezgeta and Antun Hercigonja scored as Croatia stunned Moldova in the first half. Bruno Piskac’s strike made it three early in the second half.
Branimir Ceboci’s late goal secured a 4:0 win for his team. Croatia will face Wales in the quarter-finals, at 8 p.m. this evening.