Paris (AFP)

Three days of competition and there was already not much suspense for the election of the most beautiful goal of the Euro: with his lob of 45 m against Scotland, the Czech Patrik Schick managed Monday a leader of work which came to remind us why the expectations around him were immense at the beginning of his career in Italy.

In April 2017, Schick was 21 and wore the Sampdoria Genoa jersey.

Facing Crotone, he succeeded in a luminous sequence, "à la Bergkamp", with a control oriented back to goal and in pivot of his delicate left foot, doubled by a large bridge on his defender, before going to deceive the opposing goalkeeper for the 10th goal of his first Serie A season.

June 2021 in Glasgow, the Czech center forward, N.10 on the back and already scorer of the first goal of the match, recovers the ball towards the center line, takes a look and strikes from nearly 50m.

The ball ends its incredible curved trajectory at the back of the net of David Marshall, also entangled in the mesh.

"We know he's a genius, who knows how to score goals, that's why he's there. Obviously the second goal is extraordinary. You rarely see goals from midfield. He's an incredible player. and these are not the last goals he will score here, "said coach Jaroslav Silhavy, who still expects a lot from his center-forward on Friday (6:00 pm) against Croatia.

- Slight anomaly -

From April 2017 to June 2021, four years passed between two wonderful goals, four different clubs too, to testify that the career of the elegant southpaw did not quite take off as planned.

After his exploits with the "Samp", the path to the summits seems clear.

Juventus are interested and the center forward is spending his medical visit in Turin.

The club even publish photos of Schick thumbs up in front of the Juve logo.

But doctors are worried about a very slight abnormality in his heart exams and the transfer is canceled.

AS Roma are positioned and, convinced of the potential of the young Czech, loose more than 40 million euros for the biggest transfer in the history of the club.

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But at Roma, everything is wrong.

The affair starts badly, with an interview where Schick tells to imagine himself "quickly" to Manchester United or Real Madrid.

Then, for one of his first matches in the giallorosso jersey, he missed a head-to-head against Szczesny, which would have allowed his side to equalize late in the game on the Juventus pitch.

- Better in Germany -

In the end and two Roman seasons, the record is meager, with eight goals in 58 matches and an impression rarely erased of softness and fragile beauty, of talent thwarted by a self-confidence rarely at the height of its technical qualities.

Although he had some good times at the Olimpico, such as his tenure in the unforgettable 3-0 victory against Barcelona in the Champions League, Schick admitted having been "unhappy" in Rome and his departure for the Bundesliga, in the RB Leipzig and then at Bayer Leverkusen, was seen as a relief for all.

In Germany, Schick recovered, with 23 goals in 64 appearances.

But he remains inconstant, often injured, too irregular to really become a top player.

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But at 25, it is undoubtedly with the shirt of his selection that he is the most convincing, author of 13 goals in 27 matches, including the famous masterpiece of Monday, measured at more than 49 meters by the 'UEFA, a record at the Euro.

Unsurprisingly, the wonder caused an avalanche of puns around its name.

"That goal was Schick!"

summarized Gary Lineker on Twitter.

© 2021 AFP