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Euro 2020: Czech striker's brilliant Hampden double leaves Scotland Schick as a parrot after losing 2-0 in their first match at major finals in 23 years


By Craig Christie

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SCOTLAND tasted defeat in their Euro 2020 opener, beaten 2-0 by the Czech Republic.

Scotland lost their Euro 2020 opener.
Scotland lost their Euro 2020 opener.

Striker Patrik Schick was the thorn in the Tartan Army's side with two goals at Hampden including a long range screamer which is destined to win the goal of the tournament prize.

Scotland missed several golden opportunities in the match, hitting the bar through defender Jack Hendry and being denied by some good saves from Tomas Vaclik.

Steve Clarke's men have now been left with a mammoth task in trying to become the first Scotland team to reach the knockout stages of a major tournament.

They travel to face Auld Enemy and group favourites England at Wembley on Friday night, desperately needing to pull off a famous result.

Then it's back to Hampden next Tuesday for the final group match against Croatia.

Backed by a noisy home contingent in a 12,000 crowd inside the National Stadium, Scotland made a steady start but needed keeper David Marshall to make a great save from Schick on 15 minutes.

A fine Scotland move three minutes later saw captain Andy Robertson's cross on the left guided just past by Lyndon Dykes.

Robertson himself had a better chance on 32 minutes when Ryan Christie picked him out in the box but his rising strike was tipped over by Vaclik.

A succession of Czech corners led to an opening goal just before half time, with Schick's terrific header leaving Marshall with no chance.

Manager Clark introduced striker Che Adams to the action as a half time sub in place of Ryan Christie.

Hendry nearly added to his first Scotland goal against the Netherlands during the warm up internationals when he returned a Vaclik punch with a firm strike off the top of the crossbar.

Vaclik then plucked the ball out of the air at full stretch to prevent an own goal from team-mate Tomas Kalas.

Moments later Scotland attacked and a blocked Hendry shot ricocheted up the other end, where Schick collected the ball and spotted Marshall off his line before lobbing him from almost the halfway line for a brilliant second Czech goal.

Scotland refused to give in with Stuart Armstrong seeing a shot deflected just over, then Dykes was denied by Vaclik's foot when he should have found the net.

Scott McTominay blazed over with time running out and sub James Forrest beat two men only to be thwarted by a blocking tackle as Scotland's luck just wouldn't turn.

Two smart Marshall prevented the Czechs from scoring again, but they moved to the top of the group with their 2-0 win and Scotland now have it all to do in their final two matches.


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