The Czech Republic took a huge step towards qualifying for the last 16 at Euro 2020 with an entertaining draw against Croatia at Hampden Park.
The Czechs opened the scoring through a controversial first-half Patrik Schick penalty, after referee Carlos del Cerro Grande checked the pitchside monitor and awarded the spot-kick for a Dejan Lovren foul on striker Schick.
Lovren, who missed Croatia’s opening-game defeat by England with a knee ligament injury, caught Schick’s nose with his elbow when the pair jumped to contest a corner.
Bayer Leverkusen forward Schick sent goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic the wrong way, finding the bottom left corner to become the first player to score three times in their first two European Championship appearances since Mario Mandzukic in 2012.
Croatia looked for an immediate response, but Ante Rebic blasted an effort high and wide from 10 yards out.
But Zlatko Dalic’s side sprung into life in the second half, with Ivan Perisic equalising minutes after the restart with a fine individual effort.
A quickly taken Andrej Kramaric free-kick released Perisic down the left wing, before he burst into the box, cut inside Vladimir Coufal and fired past Tomas Vaclik.
Inter Milan winger Perisic is the first Croatian to score in four separate major international tournaments, with goals in the 2014 World Cup, Euro 2016, 2018 World Cup and Euro 2020.
Playing each other for only the second time at a major tournament after a 2-2 draw in the group stages of Euro 2016, the game was an end-to-end encounter that lacked quality chances, with just three shots on target throughout.
It is the first time since the 2006 World Cup that Croatia have failed to win both of their opening two games of a major international tournament.
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, with Croatia third on one point. England and Scotland face each other at Wembley at 20:00 BST, where Gareth Southgate’s side can secure a top-two finish with a win over their old rivals.
What’s next?
Croatia meet Scotland and the Czech Republic face England in the final round of Group D games, with both matches taking place on Tuesday at 20:00.
How to play
Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Rating range key = Give it up = Pure perfection
Croatia
Starting XI
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Squad number1Player nameLivakovicAverage rating
5.67
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Squad number2Player nameVrsaljkoAverage rating
5.58
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Squad number6Player nameLovrenAverage rating
5.47
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Squad number21Player nameVidaAverage rating
5.89
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Squad number25Player nameGvardiolAverage rating
5.31
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Squad number10Player nameModricAverage rating
6.54
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Squad number8Player nameKovacicAverage rating
6.65
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Squad number4Player namePerisicAverage rating
6.93
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Squad number9Player nameKramaricAverage rating
5.75
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Squad number7Player nameBrekaloAverage rating
5.35
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Squad number17Player nameRebicAverage rating
5.48
Substitutes
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Squad number11Player nameBrozovicAverage rating
5.33
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Squad number13Player nameVlasicAverage rating
5.56
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Squad number20Player namePetkovicAverage rating
5.29
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Squad number26Player nameIvanusecAverage rating
4.89
Czech Republic
Starting XI
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Squad number1Player nameVaclikAverage rating
5.68
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Squad number5Player nameCoufalAverage rating
7.19
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Squad number3Player nameCelustkaAverage rating
5.96
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Squad number6Player nameKalasAverage rating
5.88
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Squad number18Player nameBorilAverage rating
5.48
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Squad number9Player nameHolesAverage rating
6.08
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Squad number15Player nameSoucekAverage rating
7.53
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Squad number12Player nameMasopustAverage rating
5.66
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Squad number8Player nameDaridaAverage rating
5.97
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Squad number14Player nameJanktoAverage rating
6.05
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Squad number10Player nameSchickAverage rating
7.77
Substitutes
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Squad number7Player nameBarakAverage rating
6.00
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Squad number11Player nameKrmencikAverage rating
5.68
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Squad number13Player nameSevcikAverage rating
5.78
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Squad number19Player nameHlozekAverage rating
6.39
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Squad number21Player nameKralAverage rating
6.34
Line-ups
Croatia
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Livakovic
- 2Vrsaljko
- 6LovrenBooked at 35mins
- 21Vida
- 25Gvardiol
- 10Modric
- 8KovacicSubstituted forBrozovicat 87′minutes
- 4Perisic
- 9KramaricSubstituted forVlasicat 62′minutes
- 7BrekaloSubstituted forIvanusecat 45′minutes
- 17RebicSubstituted forPetkovicat 45′minutes
Substitutes
- 5Caleta-Car
- 11Brozovic
- 12L Kalinic
- 13Vlasic
- 15Pasalic
- 18Orsic
- 19Badelj
- 20Petkovic
- 22Juranovic
- 23Sluga
- 24Bradaric
- 26Ivanusec
Czech Rep
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Vaclik
- 5Coufal
- 3Celustka
- 6Kalas
- 18BorilBooked at 82mins
- 9HolesSubstituted forKralat 63′minutes
- 15Soucek
- 12MasopustBooked at 50minsSubstituted forHlozekat 63′minutesBooked at 90mins
- 8DaridaSubstituted forBarakat 87′minutes
- 14JanktoSubstituted forSevcikat 74′minutes
- 10SchickSubstituted forKrmencikat 75′minutes
Substitutes
- 2Kaderábek
- 4Brabec
- 7Barak
- 11Krmencik
- 13Sevcik
- 16Mandous
- 17Zima
- 19Hlozek
- 20Vydra
- 21Kral
- 23Koubek
- 24Pekhart
- Referee:
- Carlos del Cerro Grande
- Attendance:
- 5,607
Match Stats
Live Text
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Match ends, Croatia 1, Czech Republic 1.
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Second Half ends, Croatia 1, Czech Republic 1.
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Adam Hlozek (Czech Republic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Adam Hlozek (Czech Republic).
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Bruno Petkovic (Croatia) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Corner, Croatia. Conceded by Vladimir Coufal.
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Attempt blocked. Bruno Petkovic (Croatia) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Luka Modric with a cross.
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Corner, Croatia. Conceded by Tomas Kalas.
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Attempt blocked. Bruno Petkovic (Croatia) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ivan Perisic with a headed pass.
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Substitution, Croatia. Marcelo Brozovic replaces Mateo Kovacic.
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Substitution, Czech Republic. Antonin Barak replaces Vladimír Darida.
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Jan Boril (Czech Republic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Jan Boril (Czech Republic).
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Bruno Petkovic (Croatia) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Offside, Croatia. Ivan Perisic tries a through ball, but Bruno Petkovic is caught offside.
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Attempt missed. Adam Hlozek (Czech Republic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Tomas Soucek with a headed pass.
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Substitution, Czech Republic. Michael Krmencik replaces Patrik Schick.
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Substitution, Czech Republic. Petr Sevcik replaces Jakub Jankto.
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Attempt missed. Nikola Vlasic (Croatia) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses the top right corner.
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Foul by Alex Kral (Czech Republic).