Football EM: Croatia maintains a chance of promotion with a draw

Patrik Schick, who scored both goals in the 2-0 win over Scotland, gave the Czechs the 37th-minute lead from the penalty spot with his third goal of the tournament after being hit by Dejan Lovren’s elbow in the penalty area. Perisic saved Croatia, which again owed a lot in the offensive, immediately after the restart in front of around 9,000 spectators in Hampden Park and kept the runner-up in the race for the round of 16 places.

Croatia, which has never lost two games in the group stage at major events, now absolutely needs a win in the last game against Scotland on Tuesday in Glasgow (9:00 p.m., live on ORF1) in order to make it into the round of the best 16 can. Another draw would not be enough for a place among the four best thirds in the group. The Czech Republic, however, can already plan carefully with the round of 16.

Minor changes

For the runner-up, there was good news, at least before the game. Dejan Lovren returned to the defense after recovering from his knee injury. The changes made by team boss Zlatko Dalic were again bad news for Duje Caleta-Car. The former Salzburg resident had to take a seat on the bench this time. Dalic brought Josip Brekalo as an additional offensive force behind striker Ante Rebic. After defeating the Scots, Czech team boss Jaroslav Silhavy only kept it almost with the maxim “Never change a winning team”. Because the 59-year-old was apparently expecting a Croatian assault and strengthened his defense with Tomas Holes at the expense of midfielder Alex Kral.

The Croatian fans in Hampden Park felt like they were in a bad movie for the first few minutes. Because not their team, but the supposedly defensive Czechs put themselves in the limelight and were allowed to book the first scoring chance for themselves: A header from Tomas Soucek went just over it (4th). A certain nervousness was noticeable in Croatia. Luka Modric and Co. seemed unusually unfocused, especially when it came to building up the game. A moderate free kick by Lovren (10th), because it was shot far over it, was the only gain in the initial phase.

Schick meets despite a bloody nose

The Czechs, on the other hand, were bursting with self-confidence. In the 18th minute it got really hot in the Croatian penalty area, but Schick was the last to hit the ball right through the penalty area after a nice ball relay. In Croatia, only one goal seemed to be able to release the button – and it almost came out of nowhere. After a corner kick, Ivan Perisic was completely free to shoot at the penalty spot, but it was too weak and central. Goalie Tomas Vaclik had no problems (23rd).

The Croatians had a big problem with referee Carlos del Cerro Grande around ten minutes before the break. The Spaniard decided on a penalty for the Czech Republic after Lovren’s arm and Schick’s face collided in a header duel. Del Cerro Grande assessed the incident in which Schick had a bleeding nose at the request of the video conference and after viewing the material as a deliberate elbow check. The Croatians protested violently, but it was of no use. Despite visible traces on his face, Schick pushed his way forward as a penalty taker and made it 1-0 four minutes after the foul (37th).

The anger at what they considered to be an unjustified penalty aroused the fighting spirit of the Croatians, who were sometimes lethargic. By return of post, the equalizer almost succeeded, but Rebic missed after a burst of energy from a good position (39th). Shortly before the break, there was another murmur through the Croatian spectators when Andrej Kramaric pulled away, but Vaclik was on the post (44th). With a controversial, from a Croatian point of view, but fair 1-0 lead for the Czech Republic due to the facts and the proportions of the game, the break started.

Dream start saves Croatia point

After the break, Croatia brought four fresh legs in attack, but not in addition. Because Bruno Petkovic and Luka Ivanusec replaced Rebic and Brekalo. To do this, Perisic moved to the preferred left side. A move that paid off immediately, as the veteran from Inter Milan made a Croatian dream start into the second half after first duping Vladimir Coufal with a hook and goalie Vaclik with a hard shot (47th).

The equalization was only good for the game for a short time, because the Croatians struggled to build up the game even after the boost in motivation. The Czechs were therefore waiting for the ball to be lost in order to launch a counter-offensive at lightning speed. In Croatia, attacks from the left still worked most of the time. One of them almost brought the lead, but Nikola Vlasic knocked the ball just over it after Perisic’s header (73). In return, the substitute Adam Hlozek did not do much better with a volley in the penalty area (76th).

While the Czechs could live with the point, the Croatians’ frustration grew with every minute as the final whistle approached. Because even in the last few minutes, the playful button in the attacking game did not want to loosen. If Croatia came close to the Czech penalty area, it was usually a mistake of their own that stood in the way of a conclusion. Shortly before the final whistle, Petkovic had the chance to “lucky punch”, but the Dinamo Zagreb man was disturbed at the crucial moment and the ball missed (89th).

Voices for the game:

Zlatko Dalic (Team Principal Croatia): “We need energy. We have problems. We got off to a bad start, were slow and not compact. We looked better after the break, but that wasn’t enough for a win. The draw was deserved. It’s going to be difficult against Scotland. But we still have everything in our own hands. “

Jaroslav Silhavy (Team Principal Czech Republic): “I was surprised how much possession we had in the first half. The opponent didn’t press us very high and let us play. We had a couple of half-chances and scored on the 911. Patrik is a great striker and goalscorer. He was very determined and really wanted to take that penalty. “

EM 2021, Group D, second matchday

Friday:

Croatia – Czech Republic 1: 1 (0: 1)

Glasgow, Hampden Park, 9,000 spectators, SR del Cerro Grande (ESP)

Goal sequence:
0:1 Schick (37./Elfmeter)
1:1 Perisic (47.)

Croatia: Livakovic – Vrsaljko, Lovren, Vida, Gvardiol – Modric, Kovacic (87./Brozovic) – Perisic, Kramaric (62./Vlasic), Brekalo (46./Ivanusec) – Rebic (46./Petkovic)

Czech Republic: Vaclik – Coufal, Kalas, Celustka, Boril – Holes (63./Kral), Soucek – Masopoust (63./Hlozek), Darida (87./Barak), Jankto (74./Sevcik) – Schick (74./Krmencik )

Yellow cards: Lovren or Masopust, Boril, Hlozek