FEELING A BI T SCHICK!
So... judging by that England have nothing to fear! You can pin that on your dressing room wall now, Steve You wait decades to return to a major tournament and then get finished off by a wondergoal... Scots suffer a Hampden horror
IN this day and age, coaches probably no longer do this sort of thing but there is a bit of old school about Steve Clarke.
So here goes, Steve. Cut this out, blow it up and pin it on the dressing-room wall.
Judging by this most recent evidence, England have nothing to fear on Friday.
Judging by this most recent evidence, it will be a seismic surprise if Scotland win at Wembley, a consdierable surprise if they get a draw.
Let’s face it, there was nothing in this defeat to the Czech Republic that Gareth Southgate did not know.
A fired-up Andy Roberston is a threat, in a variety of ways, and there are plenty of highlycombative individuals in Clarke’s squad. But combat only gets you so far. There was a lack of quality, a lack of composure, a lack of guile in this performance that suggests England should take care of their second Group D opponents.
Of course, the occasion, and the history of the occasion, might inspire Clarke’s team.
But while inspiration might lift your physical commitment to a different level, it cannot take your technique to a new level.
No Scottish player demonstrated the sort of technique that earned Patrik Schick the goal of the tournament so far.
Scotland caused the Czechs plenty of problems and might well have the odd moment at Wembley.
But after this demoralising defeat, surely only the most optimistic, or deluded, of Scots can believe this team will win at Wembley.
Steve, get your scissors out. You are welcome.
AS Patrik Schick pinged his 49.7yard shot into orbit, floating over the head of Scotland keeper David Marshall, Hampden Park fell silent.
The ball seemed to take an age to fall out of the grey Glasgow sky and, when it did, it plopped under the crossbar.
The net rippled and no amount of the Scottish patriotism or noise that came before, could rescue the game.
There was simply a gasp. Typical Scotland.
You wait 22 years, 11 months and 23 days for a game at a tournament finals then get finished off by a wonder-goal from the halfway line.
Bayer Leverkusen forward Schick has the goal of Euro 2020 sewn up after that improvised, brilliant moment that leaves the Scotland campaign floundering ahead of their trip to Wembley and England on Friday.
It was the longest-range goal on record - since 1980 - at the European Championship.
It was only a second defeat in 17 games for head coach Steve Clarke, but the nationalistic belief and pride that surged at kick-off in such stirring fashion has ebbed.
By the end Hampden was grumbly. Their team had been outplayed by supposedly the weakest side in Group D and they could not find a finish to a handful of chances.
How different it all felt two hours earlier. The Tartan Army belted out Flower of Scotland. Anyone under 30 had little chance of remembering the last time they played at the highest level at France 98, so this was a special occasion.
Ten failed attempts including two play-offs, a dip to 88th in the world rankings, multiple managers and whole playing careers passing without qualification, meant Glasgow was ready.
But there was bad team news prematch, deliberately kept secret by Clarke. Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney was ruled out by injury, a big blow for Clarke, who insisted on Sunday everyone was fit.
Tierney has been their best player this season, breaking from the left of a three-man defence and his attacking dimension was missed.
Leeds’ Liam Cooper came in and Clarke made a brave call up front with QPR’s Lyndon Dykes preferred to Southampton striker Che Adams.
The Scots started on the front foot feeding off the atmosphere, not quite all guns blazing like captain Andy Robertson promised, but more controlled.
The Liverpool wing-back crossed for Dykes to prod wide after a dangerous break. There was an early warning of threats to come, and chances to be wasted.
Marshall was sharp to save from Schick and after half an hour Robertson should have scored when 18 yards out and untroubled by defenders, but his shot was tipped over by keeper Tomas Vaclik.
From the corner, Robertson cut back to John McGinn whose shot was blocked by Lukas Masopust’s arms and body.
There was growing tension in the stadium, and with good reason. The Czech’s pressed for the opener and got it through the impressive Schick.
West Ham full-back Vladimir Coufal overlapped to cross unchallenged from the right. With Scotland reorganising from a corner Schick rose above Grant Hanley and Liam Cooper to clip a brilliant header into the corner.
Down but not out, the second half started explosively. Within 70 seconds of the restart Marshall had made two saves, from Shick and Vladimir Darida.
At the other end, Jack Hendry hit the bar from 22 yards with a looping shot. Then Tomas Kalas almost flipped over his own keeper for an own goal, but Vaclik back-pedalled and slapped away.
Scotland’s big weakness is not having a reliable striker. That showed when a defensive slip let Dykes have a free shot, only to hit the keeper.
They came to regret those misses and also that Marshall was standing way too far upfield when Hendry’s shot was blocked and from the halfway line Shick saw the goal empty and finished superbly.