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sports Diasabra 19 Juni 2021

Schick scores, Czechs draw 1-1 with Croatia at Euro 2020

(AP) — With blood still left corner in the 37th min- “We are struggling, we looked
dripping from his nose, ute. It worked for a few moments better after the break, but that
Czech Republic forward anyway. was not enough for our win.
Patrik Schick stepped up But he said the knock left
to the penalty spot and him “quite shaken.” Andrej Kramarić won the “It will be difficult against
scored his tournament- ball in midfield and released Scotland, but this is the Eu-
leading third goal. “I thought I was hit by an el- Perišić, who skipped past ros, every match is difficult,”
bow, but was not sure about right back Vladimír Coufal the coach said. “We still keep
Ivan Perišić then made sure it,” Schick said. “It wasn’t a and volleyed past Czech Re- everything in our hands and
to keep Croatia alive at the pleasant feeling.” public goalkeeper Tomáš Va- we will try to be better and
European Championship. clík. win in the last match.”
Czech Republic coach Jaro-
The two sides ended up slav Šilhavý said he doesn’t Coufal had stumbled, allow- The Croats will next face
drawing 1-1 on Friday, giv- normally allow injured play- ing Perišić a clear sight of Scotland on Tuesday at
ing both teams a chance to ers to take penalties. goal. Hampden Park, needing a
advance to the round of 16 The Czech Republic now win. The Czechs will play
from their final Group D “It’s an exception to the rule “It’s a pity,” Coufal said. “I has four points in the group, England at Wembley Stadi-
matches on Tuesday. and it doesn’t happen very think that if I hadn’t slipped I while Croatia has one from um.
often,” Šilhavý said. “When I would have blocked Perišić. I its two matches after losing
Schick was awarded the pen- saw Patrik Schick, he seemed took the wrong boots for the to England 1-0 on Sunday. “There is a bitter taste after
alty after being elbowed in the very determined. Our team- second half.” this match, as we didn’t win,”
face by Croatia defender De- mates were screaming to the “It’s a very valuable point Croatia captain Luka Modrić
jan Lovren while both chal- kit man, ‘Get him a clean Šilhavý said he doesn’t check from a game against a strong said. “We entered the match
lenged for the ball in the air. shirt, he wants to take the what boots the players put opponent,” Šilhavý said. really disorganized, but then
The referee awarded the spot penalty.’ I just believe in on. we looked better in the sec-
kick after a video review and him.” Croatia played better against ond half.
gave a yellow card to Lovren. “It’s their responsibility the Czechs than they did
The Croatians argued that it Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić, which cleats they chose,” he against England, but the team “We scored that goal and
was accidental contact. who had promised a much said. “But we will speak about still lacks the spark that took we could have scored even
more attacking team after the it. He did change his boots it to the 2018 World Cup fi- more, but unfortunately we
Schick wasn’t bothered by loss to England, made a dou- eventually, but he knows that nal. didn’t win,” he said. “Now,
the blood or the arguments, ble substitution at the start of he chose the wrong ones.” we have to defeat Scotland to
slamming the ball into the the second half. “We need energy,” Dalić said. go through.”

Isak impresses as Sweden beats Slovakia 1-0 at Euro 2020

(AP) — Zlatan Ibra- jor tournament after a break- greatest ever player — are and it gave Sweden four ultra-defensive tactics against
himovic’s successor in through season at Spanish understandable, if perhaps a points in Group E, which Spain.
Sweden’s national team club Real Sociedad. There, little premature. could be enough to advance
changed the game even he is nicknamed “The Swed- to the round of 16 after open- A draw would have been just
without scoring the goal. ish Messiah.” “Don’t think there’s much ing with a 0-0 draw against fine for the Slovakians, who
doubt that Alexander Isak Spain. Slovakia has three have reached the knockout
Alexander Isak’s second-half “Sometimes AIexander had will attract a lot of attention points after starting with a 2-1 stage in each of the other two
performance illuminated to do things all on his own,” from clubs across Europe,” victory over Poland, so may major tournaments they have
a hitherto tough-to-watch Sweden coach Janne Anders- former England captain Gary need to get at least a point qualified for since becom-
match against Slovakia that son said. Lineker posted on Twitter af- out of its final group match ing an independent nation in
was heading for a goalless ter the match. “Exceptional against Spain in Seville. 1993.
draw until the highly rated Like a mazy, crowd-pleasing talent.” Aside from Isak’s individual
21-year-old striker produced dribble soon after halftime contributions, it felt like a set Now, after Forsberg’s penal-
a deft flick over the top of the that began just inside his own And it was no surprise that piece would settle the game ty, they still have some work
defense. half, saw him drift to the left Isak was the name being played in stifling mid-after- to do.
while beating two Slovakia chanted by Sweden’s small noon heat in St. Petersburg.
Substitute Robin Quaison players, then cut in for a shot section of yellow-clad fans “We came here as an outsider
ran onto the ball and was that was turned aside by Slo- behind one of the goals after There was only one shot on and everyone counted getting
brought down by the goal- vakia goalkeeper Martin Du- the final whistle at Saint Pe- target in the first half and the three points against us,” Slo-
keeper. Emil Forsberg con- bravka. tersburg Stadium. referee even blew for half- vakia coach Stefan Tarkovic.
verted the penalty to give time without playing any “We managed to beat a very
Sweden a 1-0 victory Friday Like the way he rose minutes “Of course there’s a differ- stoppage time. That kind of strong Poland and were close
and, quite possibly, a place in later to meet a right-wing ence playing for a club team play hardly improved the to a draw against Sweden.
the round of 16 at the Euro- cross with a header that just and the national team,” Isak reputation of Sweden after its I’m still optimistic.”
pean Championship. cleared the crossbar. said. “You can do a really good
job without getting noticed
Isak, the son of Eritrean par- And like the way he darted for you club. But with the big
ents who moved to Stock- in front of his marker to flick tournaments, this is the only
holm in the 1980s because of that delicate pass which led to thing that’s going on. There
the long civil war in eastern the penalty. Dubravka got the are more eyes on you.
Africa, also came close on slightest touch on Quaison’s
two other occasions during leg as the striker attempted to ”The second half,” he add-
a second half that was a huge go around the keeper and it ed,” was a bit more open and
step-up from the first. was enough to get the whis- I could attack and create a
tle. number of chances. I think
Yet it was more the way he al- everyone realizes that there
most single-handedly turned Tall and blessed with great was just one thing missing
things Sweden’s way that was technical ability, the com- today.”
so impressive for a young parisons between Isak and
player who is in his first ma- Ibrahimovic — Sweden’s That goal eventually came