Anything Schick could do, Chris could do better
Patrik Schick’s sensational strike against Scotland last Monday has been hailed as possibly the best ever seen at the Euros.
The Czech Republic striker caught David Marshall off his line from just under 50 yards out with a stunning effort that dipped and curled its way into the net like a guided missile.
However, as much as he was impressed by the goal that gave the Bayer Leverkusen hit-man his second of the afternoon and sealed the hosts’ fate, one Scotland coach believes he can still pick out a better goal – from a man wearing a darkblue jersey.
Billy Stark was in charge of the Under-21s side that reached the European Championships Play-offs in2010.
And in the home leg against Iceland at Easter Road, Chris Maguire netted from just inside the opponents’ half with a lofted shot that sailed home.
Stark recalled: “As it much as might sound daft, I think Chris probably edges it.
“You can level bias at me, and I am certainly that. But they were two worldclass goals, and for me the situation just tips it the way of Chris.
“His was a slightly different set-up to Schick’s goal.
“That was on a counterattack. He reacted very quickly, hit it first time and the execution was phenomenal.
“For him to do what he did from distance tells you just how precise the shot was.
“While it came at a time when the Czechs were already leading, Chris’s effort was an equalising goal.
“Iceland had just scored, and their keeper actually went into our half to join in their celebrations.
“He was still on the way back when we kicked-off, Chris spotted that and produced a sublime finish from around the halfway line.
“To get immediately back level gave us an incredible lift.
“Unfortunately, we went on to lose 2-1 on the night and 4-2 on aggregate, but you could not undersell that goal by Chris.
“Unlike Schick, he had to take a touch to get it out of his feet before shooting. So there was extra technique required there.”
Maguire – then of Aberdeen, now at Sunderland – was thwarted on the night by Gylfi Sigurdsson, who scored both of Iceland’s goals.
“Sigurdsson had been quiet in the first leg over there, because they played him
wide. But at Easter Road, he was used in a more-central role,” Stark continued.
“And it was two moments of magic that won it. All three goals that night were outstanding.
“It was always going to be tough because they had something like 80-odd full caps in that team.
“Their front six was pretty much the front six when they beat England at Euro 2016.”
While Scotland did not qualify, Stark did make it to the Finals the following year.
“I took a Pro Licence group to Denmark with Jim Fleeting,” he said.
“Christian Eriksen was playing at Under-21 for the hosts,and the trip came to mind with the sad events of last weekend during the game against Finland.
“Even then, Eriksen had a big reputation, and, he has gone on to enjoy an incredible career, and played for huge clubs.
“But neither Denmark nor Iceland won it that year, as Spain had some great players (David de Gea, Thiago and Juan Mata were in their side) and came out on top.
“We got the best goal of the tournament, though, thanks to Chris.”