Scotland 0-2 Czech Republic
The Czech Republic beat Scotland 2-0 to go top of Group D, thanks to a wonderful double from striker Patrik Schick.
The Bayer Leverkusen man headed the Czechs into a first-half lead and then added a spectacular second from almost 50 yards to close the deal. Euro 2020: Scotland vs Czech Republic has been a long time coming for the Tartan Army which has endured 23 years of major competitions without their heroes making an appearance. And their team battled bravely throughout but simply couldn’t break the Czechs down.
The Scotland vs Czech Republic betting odds pitched the visitors at odds of 2.55 to win and they were good value for the three points as the excellent Schick put their hosts to the sword.
Highlights of the game
The Hampden crowd made it sound like there were a lot more than 12,000 in the ground as the game kicked off and it was a lively opening half, every Scottish move roared on by their fans. And they were on their feet to salute their goalkeeper David Marshall who made an outstanding save to keep the scores level. Czech skipper Vladimir Darida fed Schick and his well-struck effort was pushed round the post by the veteran stopper.
When the corner swung over Jakub Jankto met it the first time but blasted over, and then it was Scotland’s turn to attack. On one of his trademark surges down the left-wing Andy Robertson left Vladimir Coufal in his wake before crossing for Lyndon Dykes and the QPR striker fired wide of the near post. Then Ryan Christie did well to slide in Robertson and the Scotland skipper tried to place his shot, but his effort was tipped over by Czech keeper Tomas Vaclik.
Scotland withstood a succession of Czech corners and looked like they’d head in for halftime level, but then Schick struck on 42 minutes. After yet another corner was cleared the ball was recycled and Coufal raced to the bi-line before standing up a perfect cross for Schick to power his header home for his 11th international goal.
Marshall was busy at the start of the second half, making two strong saves to deny Schick and then Darida. Scotland responded and Jack Hendry was a fraction away from scoring his second international goal when he latched on to a clearance and chipped an effort onto the top of the crossbar. Then Vaclik had to make a desperate save to prevent an own goal from Tomas Kalas who’s attempted clearance looped dangerously towards the Czech goal.
But the good work that Scotland were doing was undone again by a moment of genius from Schick. Hendry pondered on the halfway line and lost the ball to the Leverkusen man who looked up and planted a peach of a shot, over the back-peddling Marshall and into the net.
Scotland battled on bravely and Stuart Armstrong had a shot deflected over and then Vaclik saved well with his boot to deny Dykes. Scott McTominay volleyed an effort over the bar, but the Czechs continued to press for a third and Marshall stayed big to deny Schick a hat-trick, before making a great save to keep out an effort from Burnley’s Matej Vydra.
Key statistics
The visitors have gone ahead by five to four in the head to head Scotland vs Czech Republic results, beating Scotland for the first time in five meetings and ending the Scots’ five-match unbeaten run.
At 49.7 yards, Schick’s second is the longest range goal on record at the European Championships.
And at 36 years and 101 days Marshall is the second oldest player to appear at a major tournament for Wales (after 39-year-old keeper Jim Leighton in the 1988 World Cup), but had he been 26 Marshall still wouldn’t have reached Schick’s wonder goal!
What’s next?
Well, if this was a special occasion for Scotland fans, they have the biggest game in a generation on Friday night when they face the Auld Enemy at Wembley Stadium, and you can get all the build-up and the best odds here at SBOTOP.
The Three Lions started with an impressive 1-0 win over Croatia and are alongside France as the tournament favourites, and there’s nothing the Scots would love more than to give the English a bloody nose. And then Steve Clarke takes his team back to Hampden Park to face Croatia and Real Madrid star Luka Modric.
The Czechs face Croatia on Friday, and then they conclude their group matches next Tuesday against England.
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