Patrik Schick enjoys opportunity to emulate Milan Baros by winning Golden Boot

Czech Republic striker Patrik Schick enjoys an opportunity to emulate the heroics of legendary footballer Milan Baros, by winning the Golden Boot in the ongoing Euro 2020. However, Schick has played down chances of him emulating Baros, stating that he was more focused on the team’s success. The 25-year-old has scored four goals in as many games, going into Saturday’s Baku quarter-final against Denmark. His closest competitor was Cristiano Ronaldo, but the danger has been averted following the exit of Portugal. Schick is one goal shy of Ronaldo in the list of top scorers, which can certainly be caught up with or eclipsed.

“It is not a big topic for me, the main thing is the team’s success. My aim is not to win the Golden Boot but to help my team get as far as possible. I am not that interested in how many goals I will have scored by the end,” said Schick as quoted by Euro’s official website.

The striker has already equalled the overall tally of Vladimir Smicer (4) in Euros. Schick needs just one goal to get slotted alongside Baros, who is the leading marksman in the popular tournament for the Czechs. The latter smashed five crucial strikes in the 2004 edition of Euros.

“Patrik is a more technical player”

Czech Republic assistant coach Tomas Galasek and full-back Vladimir Coufal expressed their opinions with regard to the comparisons.

“‘Bari’ [Baros] played off the main striker so I would liken Patrik more to Jan Koller, but they are different players. Baros played around Koller, who set up some goals for him. Patrik is creating them on his own and has a strong left foot,” said the former.

Coufal termed the comparison as a difficult one.

“That is a hard question. Patrik is a more technical player. He prepares more in his approach to finishing, though Milan Baros was an excellent player too, he won the Champions League. But we all want him to win the Golden Boot. If he wants to become a top player he must score one more goal. And if we don’t concede, then we are in the semis. That would be great!”

The defender provided a fine assist for Schick’s opening goal, a brilliant header against Scotland in the Group D opener.

“I spotted Schick in position and knew, as soon as I got the ball and crossed, that he would beat the two defenders. It was not served on a plate. It was hard but he did brilliantly to get there. He is a smart player. He always finds space, goes past players and manages to get into space in time and either uses his head or volleys, he does it so well. I just need to look in his direction and when I see him, I get him the ball,” he said.

Czech Republic had defeated Denmark 3-0 in their 2004 quarter-final en route to a semi-final appearance where they failed to prevail. Baros was the hero, scoring two goals. The Danes will certainly be eager to stop Schick from replicating the same feat.