The Czech Republic took a huge step towards qualifying for the last 16 of Euro 2020 after a draw against Croatia at Hampden Park, Scotland.
The Czechs opened the scoring in their Euro 2020 tie after a controversial first-half Patrik Schick penalty. Referee Carlos del Cerro Grande checked the pitchside monitor and awarded the spot-kick for a Dejan Lovren elbow on striker Schick.
Lovren caught Schick’s nose with his elbow when the pair jumped to contest a corner that many believed was extremely harsh to be given a foul.
However, the Bayer Leverkusen forward Schick sent goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic the wrong way to net his third goal of Euro 2020. He found the bottom left corner to become the first player to score three times in their first two European Championship appearances since Croatia’s Mario Mandzukic did so in 2012.
Croatia have looked far from their best at Euro 2020
Croatia should have equalised almost immediately but Ante Rebic scuffed a golden chance. The AC Milan striker smashed his left-footed attempt into the crowd from just 10 yards out.
Zlatko Dalic’s side were dominant but would have felt robbed by the penalty. The Croatians sprung into life in the second half. Ivan Perisic scored for the Croatians just two minutes after the restart with a beautiful goal.
A quickly taken Andrej Kramaric free-kick released Perisic on the left flank. The Inter Milan winger burst into the box, cut inside Vladimir Coufal and fired past Tomas Vaclik to make it 1-1.
Perisic is the first Croatian to score in four separate major international tournaments. He has goals at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, Euro 2016, the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia and now, Euro 2020.
Playing each other for only the second time in a major tournament after a 2-2 draw in the group stages of Euro 2016, the game, although end-to-end, had only three shots on target throughout.
It is the first time since the 2006 FIFA World Cup that Croatia have failed to win both of their opening games of a major international tournament.
Czech Republic on top of Group D
The Czech Republic have never beaten Croatia in four attempts, but the result leaves Jaroslav Silhavy’s side top of Group D on four points.
They are just ahead of England on goal difference. Croatia sit in third place with just one point, with Scotland below them on goal difference.
Croatia meet Scotland while the Czech Republic face England in the final round of Group D games. This will decide the fate of all four teams at Euro 2020.
