The Czech Republic closed in on the Euro 2020 knockouts on Friday as Patrik Schick’s first-half penalty helped them safe a 1-1 draw with Croatia, whose personal qualification hopes will go all the way down to the wire.
Schick, who took his tally for the match to 3, picked himself off the turf and wiped blood from his nostril earlier than burying a Thirty seventh-minute spot kick, awarded after Dejan Lovren’s flailing elbow clattered into the striker’s face.
That was not sufficient to safe victory, nevertheless, as Ivan Perisic’s very good leveller shortly after the break gave Croatia renewed hope of creating it via.
BANG! 🚀
Perišić attracts Croatia stage together with his twenty ninth worldwide aim 👏#EURO2020 | #CRO pic.twitter.com/Qv9prWpXGX
— UEFA EURO 2020 (@EURO2020) June 18, 2021
The end result left the Czechs with 4 factors from their two video games and a large step nearer to reserving their spot within the final 16. They face England of their remaining recreation at Wembley on Tuesday understanding victory would see them high the group whereas defeat would most likely not be deadly.
For Croatia, who’ve one level, the scenario is extra urgent. They face Scotland at Hampden Park of their remaining outing understanding defeat would finish their marketing campaign, whereas victory would put them in place to achieve the knockouts.
Zlatko Dalic’s aspect confirmed little towards the Czechs to strike worry into Scotland nevertheless.
They are clearly not as potent a power as once they reached the World Cup remaining in Russia in 2018 with a group bursting with ingenuity and armed with the weapons to show their passing recreation into objectives and possibilities.
The present aspect, who’ve claimed simply two wins of their final 11 video games, now appear to lack the inherent self-confidence they’d three years in the past and lack chew up entrance.
PENALTY DEBATE
The identical can’t be stated for the Czechs, who in Schick possess a marksman fuelled on the self perception that comes from placing the ball behind the web.
After his double towards Scotland, together with an astonishing effort from close to the midway line, he netted a ninth aim in his final 12 worldwide appearances to go high of the Euro 2020 scoring charts.
Schick ought to have opened his account after 17 minutes however failed to attach correctly with Vladimir Coufal’s cross from the appropriate, however he didn’t have to attend lengthy to search out the web.
The penalty award will little question spark debate, however Lovren’s elbow was raised excessive above his shoulder when he caught Schick sq. within the face, even when the contact was totally unintentional, and the referee had little doubt after reviewing the incident on the pitchside monitor.
Schick stepped as much as take the kick, wiping away the blood nonetheless dripping from his nostril, and slammed the ball left-footed into the underside nook.
3 – Patrik Schick has scored all three of the Czech Republic’s objectives at EURO 2020; essentially the most by a participant at a significant match for the nation since Milan Baros at EURO 2004 (5). Focal. #CZE #EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/ZRtMTuQbzC
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 18, 2021
Croatia ought to have instantly struck again when Ante Rebic went via on the different finish, however the winger, deployed for the second recreation operating in an unfamiliar “false nine” function, lacks Schick’s killer intuition and sliced wildly broad off beam.
His recreation lasted solely 45 minutes, as he was taken off at halftime and Croatia got here out renewed after the break.
Perisic, restored to the left flank, was performed in down the channel and lower in on his proper foot, curling a strong effort into the far nook, turning into the primary Croatian to attain at 4 main tournaments after objectives on the final two World Cups and at Euro 2016.
There had been few good possibilities after that though Schick ought to maybe have performed higher with a header from a nook and substitute Adam Hlozek additionally volleyed wildly over for the Czechs.
For Croatia, substitute Nikola Vlasic scooped an effort over the bar, however there was little else for his or her followers to get enthusiastic about.
