A quickfire second-half double from Milan Baros sent the Czech Republic into a Euro 2004 semi-final against Greece as they crushed Denmark 3-0 in the European soccer championship Sunday in Porto, Portugal.

Baros sends Czech to semifinals in Euro 2004

After a toneless first-half the Czech Republic came out strong to score three times in just 15 minutes as Jan Koller headed the opener before Baros became the tournament's top scorer with two goals on 63 and 65 minutes.

Baros now has five goals and stays alone at the head of the top scorers chart as the Czechs at least have one more game in semi-finals.

The Czech eleven became a completely different team after the interval as just four minutes into the second half Koller rose unmarked in the Denmark area to head home through a curling corner from Karel Poborsky.

The Czech Republic then stepped up a gear of their own when Baros netted his first goal with a deft chip over Sorensen in the 62 minute after Poborsky stormed down the right and picked out him with an exquisite through-ball.

Just two minutes later, the prolific Czech forward added the second with his powerful left foot as he smashed captain Pavel Nedved's defence-splitting pass.

Baros said the turning point was the first goal from Koller. "The most important thing here was the first goal. It was a great game for the Czechs. We are in the semi-final so I am happy with that"

"We knew before the game it was going to be difficult. We saw Denmark's game against Sweden and they played well," he added.

But Denmark failed to repeat their feat in the last game and offered little in response after seeing their hopes of progression dashed within the space of minutes.

"I think we were the clearly better team in the first half but we just couldn't score from the chances we had," said Denmark coach Morten Olsen.

"We should not have allowed them to score the 1-0 goal. They had four goal chances in the whole match.

"Overall, they were able to score much too easily on the chances they got," added Olsen.

Now the Czech Republic are to play giant-killer Greece in Thursday's semi-finals at the Dragao Stadium here.

Baros said the Czechs would not be under-estimating the Greeks. "Greece beat France and played very well," he said. "They have a good defense and they are strong and it will be a different game.

"We have to go game by game. I don't think we are favorites," he added.