Schick: If we have a full squad, we have a better chance to qualify than the Swedes

Patrik Schick will be a key player for the Czech national team in the March barrage. Jaroslav Šilhavy’s team will first play Sweden, and if they advance they will challenge Russia or Poland.

He is having the season of his life. Schick is the Bundesliga’s second top scorer, having pushed, for example, shooting superstar Erling Haaland under his belt. He’s only four goals behind first-placed Robert Lewandowski. He has scored 14 goals and added 1 assist in 12 games. It’s the best league record of his career, and we’re only halfway through the season.

That this year can be a turning point for Schick to step among the elite strikers was also indicated by the summer EURO. There, the Czech striker netted 5 goals and was joint top scorer of the tournament with Cristiano Ronaldo, but the Portuguese phenom won the award thanks to more assists.

In his current form, Schick simply enjoys football and, in his own words, would like to play over Christmas. He has scored 6 goals and added 1 assist in his last two Bundesliga games.

Leverkusen are depending on him, as well as the Czech national team, and that suits him very well. Schick doesn’t abdicate responsibility, on the contrary, he is happy when others rely on him. 10 million people will be counting on him in the March barrage, where Schick will be expected to score goals.

“I’m relieved. We’re not going to Italy or Portugal, which is great. It’s the best thing that could happen to us, even though it won’t be easy. We will need all the boys to be at their best because we only have one chance,” Schick told Deník Sport.

The Czech national team will face Sweden in the semi-finals, which is a tough opponent, but not unbeatable. The Bundesliga’s second top scorer knows this very well.

“If we have a full squad and are in good shape, we have a better chance of qualifying than the Swedes. Yes, they have very good players, but I believe in us,” the 25-year-old Leverkusen striker added.

The semi-finals will be played on 24 March, the final five days later. The Czech national team was lucky to avoid Portugal and Italy, both of which were drawn in the “pavilion” C.

Source: Deník Sport, Livesport