ENGLISH fans will always have fond recollections of 1996. The mere mention of it conjures up images of Paul Gascoigne’s magnificent goal against Scotland, Three Lions, Stuart Pearce’s penalty against Spain, and Alan Shearer, well, being Alan Shearer.
But while Terry Venables and his players were busy bringing joy to their own supporters, it was also the year that the Czech Republic announced themselves on the international stage.
Playing in their first major tournament following the dissolution of Czechoslovakia in 1993, they were rank outsiders when the competition got underway but – thanks to their own “Golden Generation” – they were able to make quite a name for themselves.
A combination of talent and guts, here's Euro 96's surprise package, Czech Republic! Should also include Patrick Berger and Vladimir Smicer. pic.twitter.com/9mcTM200BY
— 90s Footballers (@90sPlayers) September 28, 2016
Wins over Italy, Portugal and France propelled them into the final, the fairytale ending only when they narrowly lost to Germany in extra time. Pavel Nedved, Patrik Berger, Karel Poborsky and Vladimir Smicer became stars for major European clubs, while their team became the much-cliched “perennial dark horse,” going on to reach the semifinals of Euro 2004 before they all gradually faded into retirement.
They have struggled ever since, and there is something ironic in the fact that the one player now expected to propel them forward was born in the same year in which England saw the start of that great era of Czech Republic football. Patrik Schick is currently the nation’s best and biggest star, yet much like the side he represents, is struggling to live up to the lofty reputation that has been built up around him.
Probably still trying to climb out of Harry Maguire’s pocket after England’s easy win over Czech Republic last week, the striker first came to prominence in 2016, shortly after a €4 million move from Sparta Prague to Sampdoria. A goal against Juventus in October hinted at his quality, Schick’s talent truly coming to the fore in the second half of the campaign, as he ended his debut season in Italy with an impressive 13 goals.
His performances had led to Antonio Cassano insisting he was even more talented than Paulo Dybala, while compatriot Pavel Nedved went even further. "Schick has a great future in front of him," the Juve vice-president said in an interview with Denik.
Highest NPxG per 90 minutes:
1.07 • Kylian Mbappé
0.97 • Gabriel Jesus
0.70 • Luka Jović
0.68 • Moussa Dembélé
0.56 • Timo Werner
0.48 • Krzysztof Piątek
0.47 • Marcus Rashford
0.47 • Milot Rashica
0.47 • Patrik Schick
0.47 • André Silva pic.twitter.com/3t0L1YcUzu— Scouted Football (@ScoutedFtbl) March 20, 2019
"Right now he doesn't have the muscles, but you can just imagine him in two or three years. He reminds me of Zlatan Ibrahimovic because he was like that when he came to Juve. He didn't have the muscles either, then Zlatan gained muscles and turned into a world-class striker… if Patrik keeps improving himself he can turn into a world-class striker as well!”
With his tally including strikes against Inter, Roma and Lazio, it was no surprise that the peninsula’s biggest clubs were queuing up to sign him, the Bianconeri – at Nedved’s behest – seemingly winning the race as they announced a €30 million deal. However, it later emerged that two separate medicals had revealed a heart condition and Juve backed out, issuing a statement in mid-July that they had terminated the transfer in agreement with Sampdoria.
Just over a month later he joined Roma in a complex deal that saw the Giallorossi pay €5 million for an initial one-year loan and then a further €9 million to make the switch permanent. The two clubs have agreed that Samp will receive a final payment of €20 million in February 2020 or, if Schick is sold before then, the same sum or 50% of the transfer fee depending on which is higher.
Without counting the €8 million in performance-related bonuses, that is a total of €34 million, making him Roma’s most expensive signing ever. Even adjusting for inflation, that is a shocking reality and, as a hugely successful hedge fund manager, club owner James Pallotta will be the first to understand he has not seen a return on that investment.
Minor injuries delayed his introduction, but when he did return, Schick was nowhere near his previous best. Looking timid and nervous in front of goal, he had to wait until December 20 to find the back of the net and he did not score in Serie A until April, ending the 2017/18 season with just three goals in 26 appearances.
Antonio Cassano: "I don’t believe Dzeko can play with Patrik Schick, because Schick doesn’t belong out wide. In Eusebio Di Francesco’s 4-3-3 formation, there is only room for one of them." via @footballitalia
— Karel Häring (@KHaring75) August 11, 2018
The hope was that a full summer of stability would allow the 23-year-old to concentrate on improving his fitness and toughness, working with mental coach Jan Muhlfeit and receiving plenty of encouragement from Roma. "Sometimes there are players who need longer than others to settle,” coach Eusebio Di Francesco told Sky Italia. “We’ve all been waiting for him to find his form and confidence.”
Claudio Ranieri replaced Di Francesco earlier this month after results under Di Francesco became unacceptable, and the former Leicester City boss championed Schick at his inaugural press conference. “He has remarkable quality, pace and technique,” he told reporters when asked about the Czech forward. “I’m convinced that once he breaks through his block, and he is close to doing that, the fans will fall in love with this lad.”
He scored in Ranieri’s first game in charge, but continues to look like the lost soul he has been since arriving in the Italian capital, the bright prospect from Sampdoria nowhere to be seen. Arsenal, Tottenham and even Cardiff City have been linked with offering him a route out of Rome, but the truth is that any club would do well to avoid committing funds until they see at least a glimmer of his previous form.
For now Patrik Schick the goal scorer, much like Czech Republic at Euro ’96, remains a fond but sadly unrepeatable memory.
A £10 bet on Roma to finish in the Serie A top four returns £35.00
