Video: Player does Nate Diaz celebration after scoring at EURO 2020

Czech Republic and Croatia came up against each other in group play at EURO 2020 on Friday. The game ended in a 1-1 draw, giving each nation a point as they hope to progress through to the knockout stages.

Despite the lacklustre scoreline there was plenty to discuss from this game, especially the nature of the Czech’s goal and—for our purposes—the celebration that followed it.

In the 33rd minute Petr Ševčík crossed the ball into the Croatian box. Bayer Leverkusen striker Patrik Schick rose to meet the cross but was met with the elbow of Zenit Saint Petersburg’s Dejan Lovren.

Schick hit the turf with blood pouring out of his nose. After a VAR check the referee decided that the elbow constituted a foul and awarded a penalty to the Czechs. Schick, who had been lightly patched up, stepped up to take the penalty. He calmly sent the goalkeeper the wrong way and slotted the penalty into the bottom left corner to earn his side the 1-0 lead.

After scoring Schick ran to the corner flag and found a TV camera. Starring down the lens the striker, who still had blood trickling out of his nose, flexed both biceps and scowled.

Later Schick said the celebration was inspired by Stockton’s finest.

“I wanted to look like Nate Diaz, who is usually covered with blood after each fight. I was just imitating him,” said Schick (per the42).

Unfortunately for Schick his goal would be cancelled out by a ferocious strike from Ivan Perisic in the 47th minute.

Schick’s celebration isn’t the only MMA connection to this match. The man who cracked him in the nose, former Liverpool player Lovren, is also a keen fan of face-punching.

Earlier this year he shared footage of him sparring with Croatian legend Mirko Cro Cop. You can see how that went below: