The Czech Republic closed in on the Euro 2020 knockouts on Friday as Patrik Schick’s first-half penalty helped them secure a 1-1 draw with Croatia, whose own qualification hopes will go down to the wire.

Schick, who took his tally for the tournament to three, picked himself off the turf and wiped blood from his nose before burying a 37th minute spot kick, awarded after Dejan Lovren’s flailing elbow clattered into the striker’s face.

But that was not enough to secure victory, as Ivan Perisic’s superb leveller after the break gave Croatia hope.

The result left the Czechs with four points from their two games and a giant step closer to booking their spot in the last 16. They face England in their final game at Wembley on Tuesday knowing a victory would see them top the group while defeat would probably not be fatal.

For Croatia, who have one point, the situation is more pressing. They face Scotland at Hampden Park in their final outing knowing a defeat would end their campaign, while a win would put them in a good position to reach the knockouts. Croatia are clearly not as potent a force as when they reached the World Cup final in Russia in 2018.

The same cannot be said for the Czechs, who in Schick possess a marksman who netted a ninth goal in his last 12 international appearances to go top of the Euro 2020 scoring charts.