
The days seem to go by quicker when a major tournament is on. Before you know it, you’re having your lunch and tucking into the first of three successive games. Beautiful stuff.
Scotland braced itself for their first appearance at a major tournament since the 1998 FIFA World Cup, with 12,000 fans allowed into Hampden Park for their opening Euro 2020 group stage fixture with Czech Republic.
And while those 12,000 roared them on like the old days of Hampden, they fell behind to a header from Patrik Schick shortly before half-time.
Patrick Schick heads in his 11th goal for the Czech Republic.
Beast.#SCOCZE #EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/ACW9kbVwIZ
— 90min (@90min_Football) June 14, 2021
Patrik Schickboy Schick was born 30 days before Trainspotting was released in the cinema
— Duncan Alexander (@oilysailor) June 14, 2021
The 25-year-old rose highest from a cross and powered it beyond a helpless David Marshall, but little did anyone know what would happen minutes after half-time.
Both sides came racing out of the gates, with Che Adams making himself a nuisance and causing the Czech Republic some real problems.
Jack Hendry tried his luck from all of 30 yards out, but his shot was easily blocked. The ball rolled back into Scotland’s own half and into Schick’s path, and…well, have a look for yourself.
WHAT. A. GOAL.
Patrik Schick scores for the Czech Republic from the halfway line.#SCO 0-2 #CZE
??? Watch live: https://t.co/XJ464KbERY#bbceuros #euro2020 pic.twitter.com/p8DjWwZeVQ
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) June 14, 2021
What an effort, what confidence. A moment in European Championships history that Schick has etched and one that will live on forever.
49.7 – Patrik Schick’s second goal (49.7 yards) is the furthest distance from which a goal has been scored on record at the European Championships (since 1980). Ridiculous.#Euro2020 #CZE #SCOCZE pic.twitter.com/imssf0WAxj
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 14, 2021
The curve on Patrik Schick’s goal ? pic.twitter.com/Y57imr03Oe
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) June 14, 2021
The quality of a goal is measured by how much it forces the opposition goalkeeper to scramble.
Patrick Schick’s effort did this to David Marshall. ? pic.twitter.com/44mMpijBNu
— Squawka Bet (@SquawkaBet) June 14, 2021
Le freak, c’est Schick
— FourFourTwo (@FourFourTwo) June 14, 2021
Missed the goal as stuck “working” but sounds like either all of Twitter is overplaying it or Soccerstand is really underplaying it.
Sounds great either way really. pic.twitter.com/Oq28mz4t5g
— John Byrne (@Byronchenko) June 14, 2021
Schick! Did you see that!
— Tom Williams (@tomwfootball) June 14, 2021
Nice of Patrik Schick to get his worldie out of the way before he plays England
— Molly Hudson (@M0lly_Writes) June 14, 2021
The Guardian even veered away from their seemingly automated score updates to appreciate the effort.
Goal! #SCO 0-2 #CZE (Schick, 52 – what a goal): #Euro2020 – live! https://t.co/Bj3C1wqjeI #SCOCZE
— Guardian sport (@guardian_sport) June 14, 2021
But obviously not everyone was too happy with Scotland going two down…sorry, lads.
Mood. Cheers Schickhttps://t.co/oed2h3jkrs
— Eli (@ElMengem) June 14, 2021
pic.twitter.com/JpGbaoMRkZ
— Oldfirmfacts (@Oldfirmfacts1) June 14, 2021
pic.twitter.com/T5fsU3KUdv
— Jean Dubas (@jean_dubas) June 14, 2021
pic.twitter.com/BowVUYOgwP
— Politics for Ally (@radalias) June 14, 2021
While Schick tore it up with Sampdoria a few years ago, he’s had mixed spells since with Roma, RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen.
Obviously, your opinion of him varies based on which of those experiences you endured.
Schick con Schick#CZE en ?? pic.twitter.com/5cDEJSwZ1Y
— Juanma Romero (@Guardiolato) June 14, 2021
Me and @tommymila are the official Patrik Schick fan club in London – if anyone is interested in joining let one of us know!
— Jack Gallagher (@calciolovesjack) June 14, 2021
RB Leipzig must be raging they didn’t sign this Patrik Schick. #CZR
— Ronan Murphy (@swearimnotpaul) June 14, 2021
“Wow, this Schick really is a great player. ____ should try and go for him!” – PL fans watching Schick for the first time
— Drew (@fcbayerndrew) June 14, 2021
And everyone loves an ill-advised big-money move off the back of a major tournament. Do your thing, Everton.
Patrick Schick has just sealed his £40m move to Everton. 29 appearances, 6 goals.
— Sean Walsh (@SeanDZWalsh) June 14, 2021
Just so we’re clear, Patrick Schick actually did tear it up for me at Everton on FM17
— Scott Saunders (@_scottsaunders) June 14, 2021
Who’s looking forward to Schick trying his luck from the halfway line in every game a la Charlie Adam, then?