5 things learned from Scotland vs Czech Republic

By Tom Canton


Published: June 14, 2021 3:52 pm

Last Updated: June 14, 2021 3:53 pm

1. Tierney a big miss

With the news that Kieran Tierney would be unavailable for the match, Steve Clarke’s masterplan took a major hit.

Leeds United’s Liam Cooper was tasked with slotting into the left-centre back position which Tierney has made his own under Clarke.

Simply, Cooper is far less attack minded than Tierney and even though the Arsenal man is technically playing in a centre-back role, he still has licence to advance and support the talismanic Andrew Robertson.

The defensive solidity which Cooper brings may be better than that of Tierney, but few are highlighting the bright side of the former Celtic man’s absence.

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – SEPTEMBER 07: Kieran Tierney of Scotland during the International Friendly match between Scotland and Belgium on September 7, 2018 in Glasgow, United Kingdom. (Photo by Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images)

2. Hampden Park Scotland’s 12th man

Whilst the absence of Kieran Tierney is a big blow for Scotland, arguably without the noise of their 12th man, Hampden Park, they could have been even worse off.

Scotland will travel to play England at Wembley on Friday and whilst there is likely to still be a sizeable supporting crowd in the ground, the atmosphere backing Steve Clarke’s side will be multiple times less.

The atmosphere in the ground was palpable to see Scotland’s return to a major international tournament. Any opposition, like the Czech Republic did, need to score the first goal to quieten down the crowd.

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – JUNE 07: A general view during the Scotland training session at Hampden Park on June 7, 2017 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)

3. The Czech aerial threat

With the presence of a number of aerial threats in the team it was unsurprising to see Patrick Schick open the scoring for the Czech Republic.

Crosses and set pieces were always going to be the main weapon Tomas Soucek’s side would try to utilise.

Arguably more unsurprising was the fact that West Ham United’s Vladimir Coufal was the man to deliver the cross for Schick’s opener.

Throughout the season Coufal has been looking to overlap with his associated winger, link up and cross and that is exactly what he did.

England and Croatia will be taking note of the Czech’s plan A, which so many sides resort to later in the game, being implemented from minute 1.

Here’s the goal that sees Scotland trailing at half-time.

Patrik Schick put the Czech Republic ahead after a great cross from Vladimir Coufal. #SCO 0-1 #CZE

📲💻📺 Watch live: https://t.co/XJ464KbERY#bbceuros #euro2020 pic.twitter.com/AwwbaNx6uj

— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) June 14, 2021

4. Making early pressure pay

Scotland started the match clearly the better of the two sides. Andrew Robertson was exceptional on the left-hand side.

Crosses from the Liverpool man were coming thick and fast but it wasn’t Roberto Firmino and co who he was aiming for.

Lyndon Dykes had an opportunity created for him but couldn’t turn the ball on target. Robertson had a shot himself which Vaclik was able to comfortably turn over the bar.

Whilst England saw pressure tell in their game against Croatia, Scotland were unable to sustain their early dominance and the Czech side grew gradually into the game.

Winning the second ball consistently less and less. Ultimately big chances later in the game were very costly, but not getting the early, and more importantly the first, goal to lift Hampden further ultimately cost the Scots.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 05: Andy Robertson of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Leicester City at Anfield on October 5, 2019 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)

5. Stay on your line!

Patrik Schick not only opened the scoring but provided without a doubt the goal of the tournament so far.

After Scotland had a shot blocked on the edge of the Czech box, Schick was released down the left and spotted David Marshall of his line.

The Leverkusen striker swept a strike with perfect aim, angle and power to loop it past the Scottish keeper and into the back of the net from more than 40 yards.

It will take some effort top that this summer.

Yes, the Czech side have a threat in the air, however, when there is the possibility of a strike from near the half way line, maybe Jordan Pickford and Dominik Livaković will want to stay on their line.

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

Euro Daily: Spain’s Covid chaos, Sweden’s missing men, Hampden Roar, Napoli face-off & watch out for Adam Hlozek

5 more strikers which Arsenal could realistically look to sign this summer.

Arsenal betting odds, next game:

Arsenal’s latest videos

Ranking Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s Top 10 goals for Arsenal

A close look at ten of the best Aubameyang goals so far, which is…

2021-06-11T16:14:59Z

The best of Nicolas Pepe | Every Goal and Assist | 2020/21 Highlights

Check out the best of Nicolas Pepe, who scored 16 goals and claimed 6…

2021-06-10T11:36:03Z

Premier League table

#	Team	MP	D	P
1	Manchester City FC	38	51	86
2	Manchester United FC	38	29	74
3	Liverpool FC	38	26	69
4	Chelsea FC	38	22	67
5	Leicester City FC	38	18	66
6	West Ham United FC	38	15	65
7	Tottenham Hotspur FC	38	23	62
8	Arsenal FC	38	16	61
9	Leeds United	38	8	59
10	Everton FC	38	-1	59
11	Aston Villa FC	38	9	55
12	Newcastle United FC	38	-16	45
13	Wolverhampton Wanderers FC	38	-16	45
14	Crystal Palace FC	38	-25	44
15	Southampton FC	38	-21	43
16	Brighton & Hove Albion FC	38	-6	41
17	Burnley FC	38	-22	39
18	Fulham FC	38	-26	28
19	West Bromwich Albion	38	-41	26
20	Sheffield United FC	38	-43	23

See also  Switzerland-Spain: the official compositions - 24hfootnews

Player	Team	Goals
Kane, Harry	Tottenham Hotspur FC	23
Salah, Mohamed	Liverpool FC	22
Fernandes, Bruno	Manchester United FC	17
Son, Heung Min	Tottenham Hotspur FC	17
Bamford, Patrick	Leeds United	17
Calvert-Lewin, Dominic	Everton FC	16
Vardy, Jamie	Leicester City FC	15
Watkins, Ollie	Aston Villa FC	14
Gundogan, Ilkay	Manchester City FC	13
Lacazette, Alexandre	Arsenal FC	13
Wilson, Callum	Newcastle United FC	12
Ings, Danny	Southampton FC	12
Wood, Chris	Burnley FC	12
Iheanacho, Kelechi	Leicester City FC	12
Rashford, Marcus	Manchester United FC	11
Mane, Sadio	Liverpool FC	11
Pereira, Matheus	West Bromwich Albion	11
Bale, Gareth	Tottenham Hotspur FC	11
Zaha, Wilfried	Crystal Palace FC	11
Sterling, Raheem	Manchester City FC	10

Player	Team	Red Cards	Yellow Cards
McGinn, John	Aston Villa FC	0	12
Gallagher, Conor	West Bromwich Albion	0	11
Maguire, Harry	Manchester United FC	0	11
Phillips, Kalvin	Leeds United	0	10
Hojbjerg, Pierre	Tottenham Hotspur FC	0	9
Milivojevic, Luka	Crystal Palace FC	1	8
Lundstram, John	Sheffield United FC	1	8
Luiz, Douglas	Aston Villa FC	0	8
Holgate, Mason	Everton FC	0	9
Bissouma, Yves	Brighton & Hove Albion FC	1	8
Soucek, Tomas	West Ham United FC	1	7
Shaw, Luke	Manchester United FC	0	8
Xhaka, Granit	Arsenal FC	1	7
Bellerin, Hector	Arsenal FC	0	8
Andersen, Joachim	Fulham FC	1	7
Egan, John	Sheffield United FC	1	7
Hayden, Isaac	Newcastle United FC	0	8
Dallas, Stuart	Leeds United	0	7
McGoldrick, David	Sheffield United FC	0	7
Reid, Bobby	Fulham FC	0	7

Player	Team	Assists
Kane, Harry	Tottenham Hotspur FC	14
Fernandes, Bruno	Manchester United FC	12
De Bruyne, Kevin	Manchester City FC	11
Son, Heung Min	Tottenham Hotspur FC	10
Grealish, Jack	Aston Villa FC	10
Rashford, Marcus	Manchester United FC	9
Raphinha	Leeds United	9
Vardy, Jamie	Leicester City FC	8
Mane, Sadio	Liverpool FC	8
Harrison, Jack	Leeds United	8
Werner, Timo	Chelsea FC	8
Gross, Pascal	Brighton & Hove Albion FC	8
Cresswell, Aaron	West Ham United FC	8
Pereira, Matheus	West Bromwich Albion	7
Sterling, Raheem	Manchester City FC	7
Firmino, Roberto	Liverpool FC	7
Ward-Prowse, James	Southampton FC	7
Eze, Eberechi	Crystal Palace FC	7
Alexander-Arnold, Trent	Liverpool FC	7
Robertson, Andrew	Liverpool FC	7