UEFA EURO 2008 GROUP A
Date: Sat 7 June Kick-off: 1700 BST Venue: St Jakob-Park, Basel
Switzerland were boosted by the return to fitness of Tranquillo Barnetta ahead of Saturday's Euro 2008 opener.
The midfielder has recovered from an ankle problem, while Patrick Mueller should also be available.
Czech defender Marek Jankulovski has declared himself fit for the Group A game after a knee injury.
Captain Tomas Ujfalusi has played down concerns over his own fitness after a muscle strain, but right-back Zdenek Pospech (virus) is definitely out.
"Pospech has a virus, he has had a high temperature for the past two days. He will not be fit for Saturday's match, he will not go with the team to Basel," team spokesman Lukas Tucek said.
"However, he will stay in the squad and we are not planning a change."
Swiss defender Mueller missed all of last season with a knee injury but has also been cleared to play.
"Everyone is fully fit, Kobi Kuhn will have 23 players to pick from for Saturday," reported squad doctor Roland Grossen at the Swiss squad's training base in the foothills of the Alps.
Arsenal centre-half Philippe Senderos revealed he was anticipating that Mueller would be alongside him against the Czechs.
"Patrick has been training hard and he has played the last two games with me," Senderos said. "It depends on the coach and how Patrick feels, but I think he'll be there."
Barnetta said he was determined to play for the co-hosts in their crucial first game, with matches against Turkey and Portugal to follow.
"I have told the coach I am ready to play but of course the decision rests with him," Barnetta added.
Barnetta could play on either wing, providing competition for the in-form Johan Vonlanthen and Valon Behrami, or take up a playmaker role in central midfield.
"Of course, I would rather not have been injured but I have played plenty of games for Bayer Leverkusen this season."
Italian official Roberto Rosetti has been chosen to referee the opening game.
BIG MATCH STATS
Head-to-heads
Switzerland and Czech Republic have met each other on 30 occasions with the Czechs emerging victorious 16 times and the Swiss triumphing in eight instances.
The last meeting between these nations was a friendly in the Czech Republic on 18 August 1999, which was won 3-0 by the hosts. Jan Koller opened the scoring in that match. Tomas Galasek also played for the Czechs.
Team facts - Switzerland
Switzerland have not conceded a goal in competitive matches since 16 November 2005, when they lost a World Cup qualifier against Turkey 4-2.
Switzerland have not won any of their previous six matches at the European Championship.
Team facts - Czech Republic
The Czechs are the only former champions in Group A, having won as Czechoslovakia in 1976.
Czech Republic, France and Netherlands conceded fewest goals (five) in qualifying for Euro 2008.
Player facts - Switzerland
Alexander Frei, a Basel native, became Switzerland's all-time top scorer on Friday, 30 May, having netted his 35th goal in a friendly against Liechtenstein. The previous record had belonged to Xam Abegglen since 1937 and had been equalled by Kubilay Turkyilmaz in 2001.
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 record for youngest player at the European Championship is safe with Johan Vonlanthen, who was 18 years and 137 days old, when Switzerland took on England on 17 June 2004.
Pascal Zuberbuhler (37) can break Jorg Stiel's record for oldest Swiss player in a European Championship match.
Player facts - Czech Republic
Karel Bruckner, like Swiss colleague Kobi Kuhn, will lead his nation as he did at Euro 2004 and the 2006 World Cup, with the intention of resigning after Euro 2008. Bruckner has led the Czechs to 49 victories in 73 matches in charge of the national team.
Jan Koller is the only player among the 368 at Euro 2008 with more than 50 international goals (54). At 2.02 metres, Koller is the tallest player at Euro 2008. Koller and Marek Jankulovski are about to equal the Czech record for most European Championship participations (three), a mark that has been recorded by Vladimir Smicer, Karel Poborsky and Pavel Nedved.
The Czech squad boasts no player that won a domestic league championship with his club last season, yet harbours four players:- Blazek, Galasek, Koller (1. FC Nurnberg) and Matejovsky (Reading) who were relegated.
Milan Baros was the tournament top scorer at Euro 2004, netting five times in Portugal four years ago.
Miscellaneous Info
Since the introduction of the group phase in 1980, each edition of the European Championship has seen hosts reach the last four.
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