Euro 2020 Round Up: Schick’s lob sinks Scots, Slovakia shock Poland, Spain & Sweden draw blank

The European Championship continued on Monday June 14, 2021 with Scotland and Czech Republic gunning for a massive win to open up their tough Group D campaign, which also includes games against England and Croatia.

Czech Republic’s Patrik Schick delivered a one-man masterclass, scored an incredible brace with his second strike blasting in from the half-way line, catching Scottish goalkeeper David Marshal off-guard.

Slovakia stunned ten-man Poland, whiles Spain played Sweden to goalless draw leaving Spain playing catch-up in Group E, raising stakes for next fixtures in Group E.

RESULTS

(Group D)
Scotland 0 – 2 Czech Republic

(Group E)

Poland 1 – 2 Slovakia
Spain 0 – 0 Sweden

MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS

Schick’s long-range howitzer deflates home hopes in Glasgow

– It was an electric atmosphere in Glasgow for the first time since 1998 and the Scots kicked off their Group D campaign with a clash against the Czech Republic.

– Scotland made a terrific start and showed plenty of attacking in the first half but the Czechs settled and were on high alert to stand the pressure.

– The deadlock was broken as half time approached Patrik Schick towered above two defenders to power home a header.

– A second goal from the sensational Schick seven minutes into the second half was almost certainly one of the tournament’s greatest.

– Spotting Scotland’s goalkeeper Marshall off his line, Schick lobbed an extraordinary 45m effort from just inside the halfway line into an empty net, to hand the Czechs a 2-0 win over Scotland in their Euro 2020 opener at Hampden Park. A top, top, top, top, top, top strike.

Slovakia stun 10-man Poland

– Pre-match favorites Poland took on Slovakia, the under dogs of Group E in the opener.

– Poland made out the bigger names but Slovakia had not believed and this was clear to see especially in the first half.

– An own goal from Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny handed Slovakia the lead on 18 minutes, but Karol Linetty equalised for Poland right at the start a minute after restart.

– Poland were reduced to 10 men on the hour when midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak picked up a second yellow card, to record the first red card of the tournament.

– Slovakia made their advantage count as Milan Skriniar drove in a well-taken winner at a corner late to snatch a 2-1 victory into Group E in Saint Peterburg Stadium on Monday.

– Poland had their chances to steal a point from the contest in the dying minutes but a ball in the plotty area went ultimately off the mark.

– Slovakia are unbeaten in four EURO matches, winning three of them.

– Poland have won once and lost 10 times on the 12 occasions when they have played in Russia.

A goalless draw leaves Spain playing catch-up in Group E

– Sweden the 2018 FIFA World Cup Quarter finalist proved a stern task for Spain on Monday night with both kick-starting their Group E adventures.

– A dominant first half display from Luis Enrique’s side on a scorching evening at Seville’s La Cartuja Stadium.
– The Sweden back line came under pressure at the half hour but Alvaro Morata spurned Spain’s best opening in when he missed the target from inside the area after a defensive slip.

– Sweden’s Berg was equally wasteful when he somehow missed the target after a sensational piece of skill and cross from fellow forward Alexander Isak, who had manoeuvred his way past four Spain defenders to put the chance on a plate.

– The chances came and went but neither Spain nor Sweden managed to put any of them in the net in a 0-0 draw at the European Championship.

– This raises the stakes for the game between Spain and Poland on Saturday, when a loser would be left struggling to qualify.

– Both sides played without their veteran stars at Euro 2020. Sergio Ramos was left off the Spain squad after playing sparingly for Real Madrid this season because of injuries, while Zlatan Ibrahimovic — who ended his retirement from Sweden’s international team in March — couldn’t make it to the tournament because of a knee problem.

Group D Standings 

Group E Standings

WHAT TO EXPECT ON TUESDAY 15 June
Hungary hosts defending Champions Portugal at Euro 2020 as France begin their Euro 2020 campaign with a Group F encounter against Germany at the Allianz Arena, Munich, on Tuesday night.

GROUP F: Hungary vs Portugal – Puskás Aréna – Budapest 4PM

Home advantage at the European Championship may not count for much when Hungary faces a star-studded Portugal team with scoring talent and one particular player looking to make history.

Cristiano Ronaldo needs six more goals to become the all-time leading scorer for a men’s national team.

But the Portuguese tackle a Hungary side who will have strong backing in Budapest where they showed their mettle with a dramatic comeback in their play-off final against Iceland. [Credit : UEFA.com]

GROUP F: France vs Germany – Football Arena Munich – Munich 7PM

Germany hosts Les Blues in one of soccer’s longest-standing rivalries.

What a blockbuster! Although playing away and despite a recent squabble between Kylian Mbappe and Olivier Giroud, world champions France start as slight favourites with a star-studded squad that now includes returning Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema. But as they say, never write the Germans off.

France and Germany are more used to meeting at the other end of tournaments, and maybe they still will, but for the first time they face off in a group game.

Pre-tournament favorites France are tipped by many to add the European title to their global crown, while their predecessors as world champions – here, in the last tournament of Joachim Löw’s long reign – have had mixed results in recent months but then Germany have often thrived most when underestimated. [ Credit: UEFA.com]

Acknowledgement: Betway Ghana (Headline Sponsor)

Mark F. | SilverFM