Switzerland v Turkey

UEFA EURO 2008 GROUP A
Date: Wed 11 June Kick-off: 1945 BST Venue: St Jakob-Park, Basel

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Switzerland are without their captain Alex Frei, who has a knee ligament injury and is likely to be replaced by attacking midfielder Hakan Yakin.

Frei's regular strike partner Marco Streller has a groin problem but is expected to recover in time to play.

Turkey captain Emre Belozoglu is out after tearing a hamstring muscle and is now also a doubt for the final group game against the Czech Republic.

Centre-backs Gokhan Zan and Servet Cetin are doubts with knee injuries.

But Emre's absence is likely to be most harshly felt as he has a major say in Turkey's gameplan.

"He has a 3-4 cm tear in his muscle and was sent for an MRI in Basel on Tuesday and the news was not good," said Turkey boss Fatih Terim.



"It is not just as simple as one player out and one player in for him, because of the role he plays.

"But then again Switzerland will not have their injured captain Alexander Frei."

Switzerland are expected to field three players with joint Swiss-Turkish nationality - defensive midfielder Gokhan Inler, playmaker Yakin and striker Eren Derdiyok.

"The match against Turkey is going to be particularly special because of the fact my family come from there," Yakin said.

"I've got a lot of Turkish friends who are getting really excited about it, although they'll be supporting Turkey of course.

"My mother is really tense about having both countries playing against each other but she always says she supports the teams her sons play for."


BIG MATCH STATS
Head-to-heads

Turkey have won seven of the 14 previous encounters with Switzerland, and lost just four.

In eight competitive matches, Turkey emerged victorious on four occasions and Switzerland twice. They have never met at a major tournament.

Their last encounter dates back to 16 November 2005 when Turkey beat Switzerland 4-2 in a World Cup qualifying play-off. But Switzerland qualified for the 2006 World Cup as they had won the first leg 2-0.

Head to head records and significant meetings

Team facts - Switzerland

Not won any of their previous seven matches at the European Championship (two draws, five defeats). This marks the longest running winless streak in the competition.

Hoping to avoid joining Belgium (2000) as the only European Championship hosts not to survive the group stage, since the introduction of the knock-out stages in 1984.

Team facts - Turkey

Won just one of their eight matches at the European Championship. Their record of one win, one draw and six defeats is the worst by any nation that has played at least eight matches at this tournament. In those matches they have been out-scored by three goals to 11.

Since the introduction of the knock-out stages, seven teams have survived the group stage after losing their opening match. At Euro 2004, Portugal and England were the last to achieve this feat.

Qualifying for knock-out stages at European Championship despite losing first match

Player facts - Switzerland

The hosts will be without all-time top scorer Alexander Frei, who suffered a knee injury in the opening match and will miss the rest of the tournament. During Switzerland's friendly campaign over the past two years, Frei was joint top scorer with eight goals in 11 matches.

If selected, Ricardo Cabanas will make his 50th international appearance for Switzerland.

Basel native Eren Derdiyok is the only teenager amongst the 368 players that will be present at Euro 2008. He will celebrate his 20th birthday on Thursday 12 June, the day after this match.

Tranquillo Barnetta, Johan Vonlanthen and Ludovic Magnin will be suspended for the final group match if they are shown a yellow card in this match.

Player facts - Turkey

The last Turkish player to score a goal at a European Championship was Hakan Sukur. He netted twice on 19 June 2000 against Belgium (2-0) in Turkey's only ever European Championship victory.

Colin Kazim-Richards, Gokhan Zan and Sabri Sarioglu will miss Turkey's final group match if they are shown a yellow card in this match