Schick scores two, including long-range stunner, to sink Scotland

Patrik Schick scored twice, including an extraordinary 45m effort from just inside the halfway line, to give the Czech Republic a 2-0 win over Scotland in their European Championship opener at Hampden Park Monday.

Schick put the Czechs in front three minutes before half-time as he towered above two defenders to power home a header, but his second goal seven minutes into the second half will almost certainly be one of the tournament’s greatest.

A blocked effort in midfield saw the ball fall to Schick, who spotted Scotland goalkeeper David Marshall off his line and fire an audacious long-range left-footed lob that curled through the air with unerring accuracy to thunder into an empty net.

The win put the Czechs above England, who beat Croatia 1-0 at Wembley Sunday, at the top of the Group D standing.