Schick scores Euro’s longest goal from 49.7m away, Czech win 2-0

ACCORDING TO UEFA, SCHIK’S GOAL WAS FROM 49.7M AND IS THE FURTHEST FROM WHERE A GOAL HAS BEEN SCORED IN EURO

GLASGOW: Patrik Schick spotted the goalkeeper off his line, launched a looping shot from just inside the halfway line, and gave his team a two-goal lead it wouldn’t relinquish.

Schick scored both goals for the Czech Republic on Monday in a 2-0 victory over Scotland at the European Championship. But it was his second goal that will be talked about for years to come.

According to UEFA, Schik’s goal was from 49.7m and is the furthest from where a goal has been scored in Euro.

The previous record of 38.6m came from Germany midfielder Torsten Frings at Euro 2004.

Scotland lost possession when a shot was blocked and the ball fell to Schick.

The Bayern Leverkusen forward looked up and spotted opposing goalkeeper David Marshall way off his line before hitting a long, curling shot that bounced into goal.

Marshall gave chase, but he could only watch the ball sail into the goal before he ended up tangled in net.

“There was a deflected ball,” Schick said.

“I took a look (at the keeper) to see where he was and he was pretty high. I checked it again and fired.” Schick had earlier given the Czechs the lead in the 42nd minute with a header.

It was an excellent finish that came from an equally outstanding cross from right back Vladimír Coufal.

Denmark to ‘play for Christian’

COPENHAGEN: Christian Eriksen had a simple message for his Denmark teammates when he spoke to them from the hospital for the first time following his collapse on the field on Saturday.

”He told us to look forward to the game on Thursday,” Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg said. “That meant a lot . ... It gave me a form of energy.”

Hojbjerg was one of three Denmark players—along with keeper Kasper Schmeichel and Martin Braithwaite—to talk to the media about Eriksen’s collapse.

The 29-year-old Eriksen suffered cardiac arrest against Finland and had to be resuscitated with a defibrillator.

“It gives you the feeling that it’s OK to move forward,” Hojbjerg said.

“We really want to play on Thursday, to play for Christian and to play for everyone who has supported us.”