Switzerland 2-0 Portugal

Hakan Yakin's double strike ensured that Switzerland ended their Euro 2008 campaign on a high at the expense of Group A table-toppers Portugal.

After a goalless first half, Yakin gave Switzerland the lead when he slotted in through the legs of keeper Ricardo.

He scored his second, and third of the championship, with a firmly struck penalty after Fernando Meira fouled substitute Tranquillo Barnetta.

Portugal's Pepe had a shot saved and Nani hit the outside of the upright.
In fact, for the first 50 minutes of the match Portugal looked more likely to come away with victory and keep their 100% group record intact.

Most of their forays forward were led by the wizardry of Ricardo Quaresma and Manchester United's Nani, who were two of eight players brought into the starting XI by Luiz Felipe Scolari.



Senderos pleased to restore Swiss pride
Nani, who was a nuisance down the left, came close to helping Portugal take the lead when his 35-yard free-kick was flicked on by team-mate Pepe only for it to be pushed on to the crossbar by Pascal Zuberbuhler.

Nani himself squandered Portugal's best opportunity soon after the restart when he pounced on Stephan Lichtsteiner's error only to sidefoot his 10-yard shot on to the right-hand upright with just the keeper to beat.

Former Tottenham forward Helder Postiga, in for Nuno Gomes, also wasted a fantastic opportunity to give his side the lead when his low shot inside the box was blocked by the leg of defender Philippe Senderos.

The Swiss also had two great chances in the opening 45 minutes when Ricardo was forced into tipping over Gokhan Inler's 25-yard dipping strike while Yakin saw his fierce header palmed round the post.

But Yakin finally found the net with 20 minutes of the match remaining when he was fed in by Eren Derdiyok's deft flick before calmly placing the ball under Ricardo.

And late in the game, the hard-working forward smashed home his second from the spot to delight the home fans and coach Kobi Kuhn who was overseeing his final match in charge of the Swiss.



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Switzerland: Zuberbuhler, Lichtsteiner (Grichting 85), Muller, Senderos, Magnin, Behrami, Gelson, Inler, Vonlanthen (Barnetta 61), Yakin (Cabanas 86), Derdiyok.
Subs Not Used: Benaglio, Jakupovic, Djourou, Huggel, Gygax, Spycher, Degen, Frei, Streller.

Booked: Yakin, Vonlanthen, Barnetta, Gelson.

Goals: Yakin 71, 83 pen.

Portugal: Ricardo, Miguel, Pepe, Bruno Alves, Ferreira (Jorge Ribeiro 41), Fernando Meira, Veloso (Joao Moutinho 70), Raul Meireles, Quaresma, Postiga (Hugo Almeida 74), Nani.
Subs Not Used: Quim, Rui Patricio, Bosingwa, Ronaldo, Petit, Simao, Carvalho, Deco, Nuno Gomes.

Booked: Ferreira, Jorge Ribeiro, Fernando Meira, Miguel.

Att: 40,000

Ref: Konrad Plautz (Austria).


TRIVIA
Switzerland booked their first ever win at the European Championship, and in so doing ended an eight-match sequence without victory.

Yakin became Switzerland's all-time top scorer at the European Championship after scoring his second and third goals of Euro 2008.

Pascal Zuberbuhler (37 years and 159 days) became the oldest player to play for Switzerland at a major tournament (European Championship and World Cup).

Zuberbuhler and Eren Derdiyok (20 years and three days) were fielded in Switzerland's starting line-up with an age difference of 17 years and 156 days.

This defeat ended Portugal's record streak of seven successive wins in group phase matches at European Championships and World Cups combined.

Also their unbeaten streak in competitive matches of 13 was ended, which was their second best such sequence ever. Their last competitive defeat before this came on 11 October 2006 in a Euro 2008 qualifier against Poland (2-1).

The 2-0 reverse marks Portugal's biggest loss at European Championships and equals their biggest defeat at a major tournament (European Championship and World Cup).

Switzerland-Portugal

UEFA EURO 2008 GROUP A
Date: Sun 15 June Kick-off: 1945 BST Venue: St Jakob-Park, Basel
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Gygax could start in Switzerland's final match of the Championship
Switzerland will be playing for pride against Portugal in their final Group A game after the hosts failed to qualify.

Home striker Eren Derdiyok picked up a slight ankle injury in the defeat by Turkey - their second in the tournament - so Daniel Gygax stands by to start.

With Portugal having secured top place in the group, coach Luiz Felipe Scolari is expected to rotate the squad.

Seven changes are likely - two in the back four, four in midfield and Hugo Almeida partnering Nuno Gomes up front.

That could mean the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Jose Bosingwa and Ricardo Carvalho being rested ahead of the quarter-final against the runners-up in Group B, a position likely to be held by Germany.

Scolari's men will still be favourites to win the match, though, and send Switzerland out of the competition with three defeats from three.

Switzerland's last victory against Portugal came 26 years ago in a friendly in Lugano, while their last competitive win against them was a 2-0 win in a World Cup qualifier in 1969.

And Swiss defender Patrick Mueller suggested that Portugal's squad rotation would not make their task any easier.

"The players on the bench want to show what they can do so they can get on the pitch," he said.

Portugal defender Fernando Meira insisted his side would be "playing to win", adding: "That's what Portugal tries to do in every game. I don't understand this idea that the players might enter more relaxed or with indifference."

Meira also played down suggestions that Scolari's announcement that he will be taking over as Chelsea manager once the tournament is finished has disrupted the Portugal squad.

"It's not going to be a problem for us because we still have him until the end of the European Championship," Meira said. "It's important the team thinks only about the football part. We have him until June 30."


BIG MATCH STATS
Head-to-heads

Switzerland and Portugal have met each other 19 times before, with Switzerland holding the upper hand with eight wins against six victories for Portugal. Five matches have finished in a draw.

In nine competitive matches (World Cup and European Championship qualifiers), Switzerland have won twice, Portugal have won three times and four matches have been drawn.

This will be their first encounter at a major tournament. Their last meeting came in a World Cup qualifier on 13 October 1993, when Portugal won 1-0 at home, courtesy of Joao Vieira Pinto's winning goal.

Head to head records and significant meetings

Team facts - Switzerland

Been eliminated from the knock-out stages at Euro 2008 and will finish fourth in Group A. In their previous two European Championship participations, Switzerland also finished fourth in their group.

Only the second host country after Belgium in 2000 which failed to progress from the group stages since the introduction of the knock-out stages in 1984.

Still awaiting their first victory at the European Championship after eight winless matches. This constitutes the longest running winless streak in the competition, which is also just one match short of the record set by the Soviet Union/CIS/Russia, between 1988 and 1996.

At 25 years and 44 days, Switzerland fielded the youngest starting line-up at Euro 2008 in the match against Turkey, and the youngest Swiss starting line-up ever in a European Championship match.

Team facts - Portugal

Qualified for the next round as winners of Group A. They are the only country amongst nations with at least four participations in the European Championship to have progressed from the group stages on all participations.

Nations with the highest success rate to progress from European Championship group stages

Now won a record seven successive group phase matches at European Championships and World Cups. The Portuguese extended their unbeaten sequence in competitive matches to 13, their second best streak ever. Their last competitive defeat came on 11 October 2006 in a Euro 2008 qualifier against Poland (2-1).

Player facts - Portugal

If he sees action, Nuno Gomes will equal Luis Figo (14) as Portugal's record appearance maker at European Championships.

If Gomes scores, he will become the third player to score in three different European Championships, joining Jurgen Klinsmann (Germany) and Vladimir Smicer (Czech Republic). Thierry Henry (France) and Henrik Larsson (Sweden) can also achieve this feat at Euro 2008.

If selected, Paolo Ferreira will win his 50th international cap for Portugal.

Jose Bosingwa will be suspended if he receives another yellow card.

Miscellaneous Info

The last time Konrad Plautz was referee in a match of the Swiss National team was on 15 May 2002 when they lost 3-1 against Canada in a friendly international.

Plautz 'refereed' Portugal on 6 September 2006, when they drew 1-1 in Finland in a Euro 2008 qualifier

Switzerland 1-2 Turkey

Euro 2008 co-hosts Switzerland became the first team knocked out of the competition after they lost to Turkey.

The Swiss had taken the lead during a torrential downpour when a low cross slowed on the drenched pitch and allowed Hakan Yakin to tap in.

Yakin missed a glorious chance from the same spot and was punished later on when Semih Senturk headed Turkey level.

Arda Turan then broke Swiss hearts when he cut inside and scored with a shot in injury-time which took a deflection.

Portugal's win over the Czech Republic earlier on had added to the pressure on the home side as they knew a defeat would result in their elimination.

The situation meant the St Jakob-Park stadium in Basel was a melting pot of nervous tension and passionate support from the Swiss contingent at the start.

There was also an extra element of needle around the game after the two teams were involved in a mass brawl at the final whistle of a World Cup 2006 play-off which the Swiss won on away goals.

Turkey's hunger for revenge saw them look the more assured in the early stages, while the prospect of elimination weighed heavily on a lacklustre Switzerland.

The pouring rain did not help the game and the home nation had to produce some last-ditch defending before giving their crowd reason to get excited.

Yakin's stinging shot was palmed away by Volkan Demirel before the Turkey keeper excellently touched a Tranquillo Barnetta free-kick round his post.

At the other end, Turkey hit the post when keeper Diego Benaglio pushed a free-kick inadvertently against Arda Turan and the ball richocheted back off the woodwork.


The weather played a big part at the match in Basel

The downpour had meant that the ball regularly held up on the drenched pitch and, although the atrocious conditions made the game almost impossible, this worked to Switzerland's favour.

Philippe Senderos played a pass over the top of Turkey's defence to Derdiyok and he, with the help of the soaked ground, gave Yakin the simple task of tapping in.

Yakin had another glorious chance at the same spot minutes later when Valon Behrami crossed but the Swiss playmaker sidefooted the bouncing ball unbelievably wide from point-blank range.

Turkey came out with a renewed sense of purpose after the break as the rain ceased and they grabbed an equaliser when Semih Senturk nodded in Nihat's cross.

Swiss keeper Benaglio got two hands to the header but, instead of saving, could only divert the ball into his goal.



Kazim says the win will spur Turkey on
Nihat was inches away from a Tuncay Sanli cross as Turkey threatened a winner which finally came in dramatic fashion late on.

Turkey now face the Czech Republic with both sides on three points and in a straight shoot-out for a last eight slot, while Portugal have now qualified.



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Switzerland: Benaglio, Lichtsteiner, Muller, Senderos, Magnin, Behrami, Inler, Gelson (Cabanas 76), Barnetta (Vonlanthen 66), Yakin (Gygax 85), Derdiyok.
Subs Not Used: Zuberbuhler, Jakupovic, Djourou, Huggel, Frei, Streller, Grichting, Spycher, Degen.

Booked: Derdiyok.

Goals: Yakin 32.

Turkey: Demirel, Altintop, Asik, Cetin, Balta, Karadeniz (Senturk 46), Aurelio, Metin (Topal 46), Turan, Nihat (Kazim-Richards 85), Sanli.
Subs Not Used: Rustu, Zengin, Zan, Emre, Gungor, Boral, Akman, Sarioglu, Erdinc.

Booked: Sanli, Aurelio, Balta.

Goals: Senturk 57, Turan 90.

Att: 42,500

Ref: Lubos Michel (Slovakia).



Player Rater man of the match: Turkey's Arda Turan 7.73 (on 90 minutes)

Switzerland v Turkey

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

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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

EURO at an end for Swiss icon Frei

EURO at an end for Swiss icon Frei




Switzerland will be without talismanic captain Alexander Frei for the remainder of UEFA EURO 2008™ after he tore interior ligaments in his left knee in the 1-0 defeat by the Czech Republic.
'A disaster'
The 28-year-old limped off the St. Jakob-Park pitch in tears 42 minutes into Saturday's Group A opener, following a challenge with Zdeněk Grygera, and an MRI scan has now revealed the extent of the problem. "The injury is a shock, no doubt about it," said Switzerland coach Köbi Kuhn. "To lose our skipper is a disaster." Meanwhile, Jürgen Klopp, Frei's club coach at BV Borussia Dortmund, predicted that he will be out of action for six to seven weeks.

'Very difficult'
The most prolific scorer in Switzerland's history with 35 goals from 59 internationals, the Dortmund striker has been beset by complications stemming from an operation for a hip problem this season. He made just 13 Bundesliga outings, scoring six times. Switzerland played well in Frei's absence against Czechs but defender Johan Djourou spoke for many when he said: "We will take a lot of confidence from the way we played, especially in the first half, but if we lose Alex it will be very difficult to get back into the tournament." Switzerland meet Turkey in their next Group A game in Basel on Wednesday.

Switzerland 0-1 Czech Republic

Switzerland 0-1 Czech Republic




Substitute Vaclav Sverkos gave the Czech Republic a winning start to Euro 2008 with a second-half strike that broke Switzerland's resistance.

Swiss skipper Alexander Frei was twice denied by Petr Cech before he was forced off injured and Hakan Yakin headed a chance wide after the break.

On 70 minutes Sverkos slotted in a low volley from 12 yards after latching on to a ball over the top of the defence.

The Swiss were denied an equaliser when Johan Vonlanthen's volley hit the bar.

And it might prove that the width of the woodwork could be the end of the Swiss, with tough matches against Portugal and Turkey to come in Group A.

Realistically the tournament's co-hosts needed to get something out of their opening game, and they started as though they were absolutely determined to.

After three minutes, the Czechs gave the ball away cheaply in midfield but Frei dragged his shot wide and failed to capitalise.

That should have been a wake-up call to the Czechs, but they appeared in no rush to raise their tempo.

As a result, Switzerland - unfancied in the group - grew in confidence and stroked the ball around, but with little cutting edge.

A weak effort from Gokhan Inler was indicative of their toothless attacks up until that point.

Frei, though, looked the liveliest player on the pitch, and despite having no help from his struggling strike partner Marco Streller, he began to cause some problems.

It took a decent stop from Cech to deny him the opening goal of Euro 2008 after he had latched on to a long clearance from his own keeper.

Frei followed that up with a 30-yard shot that Cech opted to use his fists to clear, despite there being little sign of the any movement from ball.

Sadly for Frei it would prove to be virtually his last contribution to the match as he later hobbled off after a jarring challenge.

The Czech Republic had already started showing signs of waking from the slumber before then, and with crisp passing and better movement were dictating the play.

But their final ball was awful and up front, giant striker Jan Koller looked slow and cumbersome.

After the break the Swiss brought on Hakan Yakin for the injured Frei and they started the half positively.

As the Czechs found themselves pinned back, Yakin got himself into the action but was too high with an effort following a free-kick.

But it was clear Yakin was already having more of an impact than Koller and it was no surprise when the Czech's top scorer was replaced by Vaclav Sverkos.

And the Swiss substitute should have opened the scoring when he was presented with a free header, but he directed the ball wide the right-hand post.

It was to prove a costly miss when, on 70 minutes, Czech substitute Sverkos finished smartly into the bottom corner after latching on to a ball over the top of the Swiss defence.

Yet Switzerland almost snatched a draw when Tranquillo Barnetta's shot was superbly parried by Cech and Vonlanthen smashed the follow-up against the woodwork.

Switzerland 0-1 Czech Republic

Switzerland 0-1 Czech Republic




Swiss defender Patrick Muller is put under pressure from Czech forward Jan Koller as the game opens up in the second half






Czech keeper Petr Cech is called into action as the Swiss look to score the opening goal of the tournament







The deadlock is broken as Czech substitute Vaclav Sverkos beats the off-side trap to slot the ball past Diego Benaglio in the 70th minute

Swiss hold their breath in Basel

Swiss hold their breath in Basel




Swiss people, it is said, sometimes need something of an incentive to let their emotions show. But the Switzerland team are hoping that their UEFA EURO 2008™ opening game against the Czech Republic on Saturday will do just that in Basel, the unofficial national football capital.
New spirit
While the FIFA World Cup campaign two years ago ended in frustration with the first knockout round penalty shoot-out defeat by Ukraine in which Switzerland failed to convert once, what happened off the pitch could give heart to the co-hosts on their big day at St. Jakob-Park. Brought together by a dramatic qualification success, tens of thousands of Swiss people crossed the German border to follow the 'Nati' and hundreds of thousands others gathered together back home in an spirit of euphoria never seen before. After two years of often lacklustre friendly games, Swiss flags are now back on windows and cars and a whole country is ready to explode again.

Fresh hopes
Back in March 2001, when St. Jakob-Park was inaugurated, the nation was hopeful that as the first of a new generation of Swiss stadiums it would blaze a trail that would lead to UEFA EURO 2008™ being awarded to the nation. However, although FC Basel 1893 were to bring UEFA Champions League football to the arena, the national team lost their first two games there to Slovenia and Yugoslavia in their unsuccessful 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifying bid.

Turning point
But on 8 September 2002 – three months before Switzerland's joint UEFA European Championship bid with Austria was accepted – the love affair between the St. Jakob Park and the Nati began. That day, on a sunny afternoon, Georgia were beaten 4-1 to launch Switzerland on their way to UEFA EURO 2004™. Having failed to reach three major tournaments in a row, Switzerland have not missed out since and indeed are yet to lose another competitive game in Basel, the most memorable win being the 2-0 defeat of the Republic of Ireland in October 2003 that booked their place in Portugal.

Moment of truth
There has not quite been another international like that at St. Jakob Park to trigger the emotions. Friendlies have been the main fare, including the disappointing 4-0 loss to Germany in March. But the big day pencilled in for so long has now arrived and feelings, currently vacillating between fear and hope, are again running high. For the nation, as they wait to see if the Czech Republic can be defeated; for the city, as they discover if St. Jakob-Park becomes a place of legend or a venue where dreams were extinguished.

Switzerland v Czech Republic

Switzerland v Czech Republic



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.

Sure to be tight on opening night

Sure to be tight on opening night





It will be a surprise if Saturday's opening game between co-hosts Switzerland and the Czech Republic produces a decisive victory either way. Traditionally the start of the UEFA European Championship provides an ultra-competitive fixture: no team has ever won by more than one goal while between 1988 and 1996 a succession of 1-1 draws were played out.

Greece stun hosts
When Greece launched their amazing run to the UEFA EURO 2004™ podium with a 2-1 victory over Portugal in Porto, it was the first time the host nation had lost the opening match. Georgios Karagounis and Angelos Basinas helped the Greeks establish a 2-0 lead early in the second half before Cristiano Ronaldo grabbed a consolation for the home country in added time. Otto Rehhagel's side remembered the winning formula when they came up against Portugal again in the final – this time a single goal sufficed.

German revenge
When, in 1980, Europe's four-yearly footballing festival first became a gathering of eight nations, split into two groups, in one host country, holders Czech Republic faced West Germany in the opening match played in Rome. It established the template of tight and tense curtain-raisers: a 1-0 victory, secured by Karl-Heinz Rummenigge's header, provided the Germans with a measure of revenge for their defeat by the same opponents in the 1976 final.

Platini's prize
Four years later and the host team had the honour of playing in the first game – an arrangement that has since become customary. In 1984 great things were expected of France and they began with 1-0 win over Denmark. Michel Platini - who 24 years on is preparing for his first UEFA European Championship as UEFA President – raised the roof in the Parc des Paris with a late winner, the first of his nine goals in that tournament . France emerged as champions – matching Germany’s achievement four years previously of launching the event and then bringing down the curtain with the trophy in their grasp. That would not be matched for another 20 years until Greece's adventure unravelled.

All-square
The next three tournaments all began with 1-1 draws. West Germany came from behind in Dusseldorf in 1988 thanks to Andreas Brehme's free-kick to reach parity with Italy who had taken the lead through Roberto Mancini three minutes earlier. Platini was France's coach in 1992 when they faced Sweden in the opening fixture in Solna, where Jean-Pierre Papin cancelled out Jan Eriksson's first-half header. It was the same four years later when the competition became a 16-team event for the first time. Alan Shearer shot England ahead at Wembley only for Switzerland to draw level with seven minutes remaining through Kubilay Türkyilmaz's penalty.

Belgium score twice
So in the five opening matches from 1980 to 1996 no team had managed more than a single goal. That changed in 2000 when the event was co-hosted for the first time. Belgium staged the opening game (the Netherlands had the final) and the vast majority inside the Roi Baudouin stadium roared with delight as Bart Goor and Emile Mpenza gave them a 2-0 lead over Sweden in a three-minute spell either side of the interval. Johan Mjällby reduced the arrears but Belgium held on. With Greece then spoiling the Portuguese party four years later what price a third successive 2-1 scoreline tomorrow when Switzerland and the Czechs meet in Basel?

Rosetti 'honoured' to blow first whistle

Rosetti 'honoured' to blow first whistle





Roberto Rosetti will follow in the footsteps of compatriot Pierluigi Collina when he blows the whistle to get UEFA EURO 2008™ under way in Basel on Saturday evening. It is little surprise then that he describes the responsibility of refereeing the opening match between Switzerland and the Czech Republic as both an "honour" and a significant milestone in his career.
'Important step'
Speaking at the UEFA referees' base in Regensdorf, the 40-year-old from Turin said: "Yes, of course, it is a very important match for me – it is an honour for me to be here. It is an honour also for my federation. It is an important step in my career and I will try to do a good job." Four years ago in Portugal it was Collina, now head of the Italian Referees' Association, who took charge of the curtain-raiser between Portugal and Greece, and Rosetti said of his mentor: "He was a great referee. Being able to follow him in this way makes me even more proud."

Rise to prominence
Asked about Collina's influence on his career, Rosetti added: "He has been giving me advice for a number of years now. We've worked on my technique, positioning, my mental approach and also on matches." Rosetti's rise to prominence began when he officiated at the 2003 FIFA U-20 World Cup – including the Spain-Brazil final – and he gained his first taste of a senior international tournament at the FIFA World Cup two summers ago, refereeing four games, including the Round of 16 encounter between France and Spain.

'Pressure is positive'
So while this may be his first UEFA European Championship, he is no stranger to pressure. "Obviously this is a hugely important tournament. The matches are all decisive. But there is also quite intense pressure refereeing in the Italian league. For a referee it is important to approach a game, an event, with the right degree of tension. A bit of pressure is also positive because it helps enhance your focus." To relax, Rosetti spends time "watching films, reading books, speaking to my wife over the internet" yet until the opening game is consigned to history, there will be little escape from the inevitable nerves. He explained: "Right now I am trying to focus my attention on this match with the right level of tension and energy, to try and ensure I impose my qualities on to this game. It is an important game that I will try to referee to the best of my ability."

Rosetti to referee opening game

Rosetti to referee opening game





An Italian will get the UEFA European Championship finals under way for the second tournament running after Roberto Rosetti was appointed to referee the opening game between co-hosts Switzerland and the Czech Republic in Basel on Saturday.

Rosetti honour
Four years ago in Portugal, Pierluigi Collina officiated when the hosts met Greece in the first fixture, now Rosetti will follow in his footsteps, assisted by compatriots Alessandro Griselli and Paolo Calcagno, with France's Stéphane Lannoy as fourth official. Dutch referee Peter Vink will be in charge for the first match in Austria on Sunday, meanwhile, when Croatia face the home nation in Vienna.

Appointments
Altogether the 12 referees have been assigned one match so far, each assisted by a team two compatriots with who they have been working in UEFA competitions this year, along with a selection of eight fourth officials. Slovakia's Ľuboš Micheľ, who took charge of last month's UEFA Champions League final, is one of two of the 12 UEFA EURO 2004™ referees involved this time around; he starts on Wednesday when Switzerland meet Turkey in Basel while Spain's Manuel Enrique Mejuto González, the other survivor from Portugal, will officiate Romania v France in Zurich on Monday. Further appointments will be announced later in the tournament.

UEFA EURO 2008™ appointments for first 12 matches


Date Match Referee Assistant 1 Assistant 2 4th Official

Sat 7 Jun

Switzerland v Czech Republic - Roberto Rosetti (ITA), Alessandro Griselli (ITA),
Paolo Calcagno (ITA), Stéphane Lannoy (FRA)

Portugal v Turkey - Herbert Fandel (GER) ,Carsten Kadach (GER) , Volker Wezel (GER), Viktor Kassai (HUN)

Sun 8 Jun

Austria v Croatia - Peter Vink (NED), Adriaan Inia (NED), Hans Ten Hoove (NED)
Kristinn Jakobsson (ISL)

Germany v Poland - Tom Henning Øvrebø (NOR) , Geir Åge Holen (NOR), Jan Petter Randen (NOR) , Craig Thomson (SCO)

Mon 9 Jun

Romania v France - Manuel Enrique Mejuto González (ESP), Juan Carlos Yuste Jiménez (ESP), Jesús Calvo Guadamuro (ESP) , Olegário Benquerença (POR)

Netherlands v Italy - Peter Fröjdfeldt (SWE) , Stefan Wittberg (SWE) ,
Henrik Andrén (SWE) , Damir Skomina (SVN)

Tue 10 Jun

Spain v Russia - Konrad Plautz (AUT) , Egon Bereuter (AUT), Markus Mayr (AUT) , Grzegorz Gilewski (POL)

Greece v Sweden - Massimo Busacca (SUI) , Matthias Arnet (SUI) ,Stéphane Cuhat (SUI) Ivan Bebek (CRO)

Wed 11 Jun

Czech Republic v Portugal- Kyros Vassaras (GRE) , Dimitris Bozatzidis (GRE) , Dimitris Saraidaris (GRE), Kristinn Jakobsson (ISL)

Switzerland v Turkey - Ľuboš Micheľ (SVK) , Roman Slyško (SVK) , Martin Balko (SVK),
Damir Skomina (SVN)

Thu 12 Jun

Croatia v Germany - Frank De Bleeckere (BEL), Peter Hermans (BEL), Alex Verstraeten (BEL), Stéphane Lannoy (FRA)

Austria v Poland - Howard Webb (ENG), Darren Cann (ENG), Mike Mullarkey (ENG), Viktor Kassai (HUN)

Swiss seek to find the right mix

Swiss seek to find the right mix




With only three days to go before they launch UEFA EURO 2008™ against the Czech Republic in Basel, Switzerland assistant coach Michel Pont has challenged their squad to find the right balance in their mental approach to the tournament.

Young and old
Pont believes it is important the Swiss players discover "the right mix between nervousness and pleasant anticipation, tension and calmness", and that is why they have tried to get a balance of young and old in their 23-man party. It contributed to the decision to include Patrick Müller, though the young players are helped by the fact they do not share the "Swiss complex", when the national team did not give themselves a chance of beating Europe's top guns.

Same routine
"It will nevertheless now be important for the young players to make their first experiences during such a big tournament," said Pont. "We will not change our daily routines now, because expectation and pressure are already high enough on the players." There is a feeling in the Swiss camp that they have prepared well for a tournament, and that includes having watched the Czechs several times. "They have a very well-oiled team with lots of qualities when attacking," Pont pointed out. "They surely have their weaknesses as well, and we plan to prepare ourselves for those."

Barnetta returns
Midfielder Tranquillo Barnetta is expected to return to full training at this afternoon's session after an ankle injury. Defender Müller is not yet at full fitness after recovering from a torn cruciate ligament and Pont admitted: "There has not yet been a final talk between [coach] Köbi Kuhn and Patrick as to whether he is fit enough to play on Saturday."

Müller cautious about his EURO role

Müller cautious about his EURO role




After a season spent on the sidelines, Switzerland defender Patrick Müller is back in contention following his cruciate ligament injury but it is still not known if he will be fit enough to feature in the UEFA EURO 2008™ opener on Saturday.

Shaky performance
Following his year-long absence, Müller returned to action in Switzerland's 2-0 victory over Slovakia, but looked shaky in last week's 3-0 win against Liechtenstein. "I am alright from a health point of view," said Müller, who has dominated the football talk in his homeland. "But I am surely not back to 100 per cent, other players are fitter than me." That was confirmed by team doctor Roland Grossen who said: "His healing has been completed. Everything else is now a question of training."

Tournament write-off
The Olympique Lyonnais defender tore cruciate ligaments in his right knee last December and immediately wrote himself out of UEFA EURO 2008™, saying: "I will be out for six months and the tournament starts in June. I have a 0.00001 per cent chance of making it there."

'Sign of trust'
Fast forward six months, and the 31-year old finds himself sitting in the media tent and in a relaxed mood while telling uefa.com: "It is a miracle that I am here. I am happy that the coach has taken me into the squad. It is a sign of trust, and I hope that I will be able to pay him back for that."

Race against time
Yet he knows time is running out and he is lacking match practice. "Usually, healing after a torn cruciate ligament takes six months. I had surgery on 7 December, and the opening game is on 7 June – exactly six months." The experienced defender – Switzerland coach Jakob Kuhn calls him an "intelligent player" – appears unsure himself whether he can take a full part in the tournament.

'It counts now'
"Before, [the games] were just friendlies. Now it counts. You have to be 100 per cent fit for that. We will see on Saturday how the coach will have made up his mind. I cannot say that I am at 100 per cent right now. But, if I have to play, I will give it everything I've got. Since things are getting started now, I can maybe forget about my knee and other things aside from the game." The matter will be addressed in discussions between Müller and the coach and it is expected that Kuhn will leave the final decision to the player.

Organisation the key
Should he play, he will resume his role of organising the defence. "As a central defender, I try to direct the team in front of me. I will communicate a lot because I think that this is the most important thing, to be well organised." But even if he does not make it out onto the pitch, Müller, capped 78 times, has an important role to play within the squad. As assistant coach Michel Pont confirmed at today's press conference: "For the squad, we tried to find the right balance between experienced and young players. This is one of the reasons why Patrick is here."

Barnetta returns
Meanwhile, midfielder Tranquillo Barnetta has returned to full training for the first time after recovering from an ankle injury. The Bayer 04 Leverkusen player was cautious in what he did as the squad went through their paces but as long as he suffers no reaction he is likely to be included in Saturday's game in his customary left-midfield role. Otherwise FC Salzburg's Johan Vonlanthen stands by.

Swiss committed to sustainable power

Swiss committed to sustainable power



Stadiums, UEFA EURO 2008™ Fan Zones and UBS Arenas in Switzerland are to be powered by green energy in accordance with the finals' sustainability policy.
'naturemade star'
As well as a high energy efficiency, the supply of green power a key feature of the UEFA EURO 2008™ sustainability strategy. Efforts have been made to draw electricity from renewable sources under the 'naturemade star' brand defined by Switzerland's association for environmentally-sound electricity (VUE) in collaboration with the relevant energy providers.

Green surcharge
The stadiums in Basle, Berne, Geneva and Zurich and the official Fan Zones in the host cities will be supplied with 'naturemade star' green power. Euro 2008 SA, the company organising the finals, is supporting the supply of green power to stadiums with a CHF 5,000 subsidy per match. A similar surcharge for Fan Zones will be borne by the host cities, energy suppliers and concession operators.

Solar power
The green power electricity requirements of the stadiums and Fan Zones will amount to approximately 850,000 kWh, the equivalent of the annual consumption of 200 households. A third of the energy consumed by the stadiums will be generated by solar cells mounted on the roofs of the venues in Basle, Berne and Zurich. The rest of their requirements will be covered by other 'naturemade star' certified sun, wind, water and bio-substance power plants.

Frei record boosts co-hosts' morale

Frei record boosts co-hosts' morale





Switzerland 3-0 Liechtenstein
UEFA EURO 2008™ co-hosts Switzerland came through their last pre-tournament warm-up against neighbours Liechtenstein in comfortable style on a night when Alexander Frei became his country's all-time leading scorer.
Frei record
Frei was one behind Kubilay Türkyilmaz's record tally of 34 goals at kick-off but within 31 minutes had not only equalled it but overtaken the mark to the delight of the sell-out 18,000 crowd in the new St Gallen stadium. Johan Vonlanthen, who four years ago set a record as the youngest ever UEFA European Championship finals goalscorer, volleyed a third in the 68th minute to set up Switzerland nicely for their 7 June opener against the Czech Republic in Basel.

Unchanged lineup
Perhaps significantly ahead of that Group A game, Switzerland coach Jakob Kuhn started with exactly the same players as in the 2-0 defeat of Slovakia six days ago, though Tranquillo Barnetta is likely to contend for Vonlanthen's position in left midfield as he returns from injury. Frei came close early on and although Diego Benaglio was then tested, the BV Borussia Dortmund striker opened the scoring with a header. Only seven minutes later, the outright record was Frei's with a shot through the legs of Peter Jehle.

Clincher
Although Liechtenstein began the second half brightly, Switzerland extended their lead midway through the half when Frei and substitute Hakan Yakin produced a fine passing move completed by a Vonlanthen volley. Switzerland coach Jakob Kuhn paid tribute to Frei, saying: "He deserved to beat [the record]. He's coming out of a bad time with injuries but he's never stopped fighting."

Switzerland: Benaglio, Lichtsteiner (Degen 59), Müller, Senderos (Grichting 62), Magnin (Spycher 71), Behrami (Gygax 55), Inler, Fernandes (Huggel 86), Vonlanthen, Frei, Streller (Yakin 59).

Liechtenstein: Jehle, Oehri (D Hasler 83), Gerster, Martin Stocklasa, Burgmeier, Ritzberger, Polverino, M Büchel, Rohrer (R Beck 65), Fischer (T Beck 65), Frick (R Büchel 83).

Fernandes rise set to continue

Fernandes rise set to continue




He may only be 21, but a €5.9m transfer to Manchester City FC last summer made him the second most expensive Swiss player behind Patrick Müller – Gelson Fernandes is an extraordinary footballer.

New surroundings
Having arrived from Cape Verde at the age of five he quickly adapted to Swiss life and, by 16, was turning out for FC Sion. Four years later, at the start of the 2006/07 season, Fernandes made his first of 34 appearances in the Swiss Super League and instantly became a regular as Sion ended the campaign in third place. Possessing all the attributes needed for the modern day holding midfielder, Fernandes can pass, tackle and is not afraid to put his body on the line for club or country. "That's a healthy toughness," he said. "He who does not work has already lost."

English move
His performances for Sion soon prompted the interest of foreign clubs and, after just one campaign in the Swiss élite, Fernandes moved to England where, after a spending the first two months among the substitutes, he quickly established himself as a regular in midfield and made 26 appearances. "My record has been more than positive," he declared. "I played many matches and the club and coach have shown themselves to be pleased with my performances."

'Enormous advances'
Moving overseas despite just one top-flight campaign, Fernandes feels he has certainly developed his game. "I have improved in every area," he added. "Physically, technically and tactically I have made enormous advances. You can hardly compare the Premier League to the Swiss League when it comes to rhythm, pace and individual class. This is my kind of football here, lots of challenges and a constantly high pace. Technically, I am still not strong enough for Italy or Spain – my place is here."

'Expectation'
His rise with the Swiss national team has been similar to that at club level. Winning his first cap in August 2007 in a 2-1 win against the Netherlands, he has been a regular for coach Jakob Kuhn ever since and seems a certain starter at UEFA EURO 2008™. "I am looking forward a lot to the tournament, the expectation is rising everyday," he continued. "We are young, but we might be fresher because of that. Most of us play in big European leagues, so this should not be a problem."

Swiss eager to show their worth

Swiss eager to show their worth






How are their preparations going for UEFA EURO 2008™?

• Having won their first three friendlies after the FIFA World Cup finals, a 2-1 defeat against Austria served as a wake-up call for Jakob Kuhn's side.
• Two more losses prompted Kuhn to get tough and drop captain Johann Vogel, while injuries to established stars Ricardo Cabanas and Alexander Frei in 2007 caused further disruption to his plans.
• There have been encouraging results, though, notably a 1-1 draw against Argentina in June 2007 and a 2-1 win against the Netherlands – with Tranquillo Barnetta scoring twice – two months later.
• Before the latter match, Kuhn said of Switzerland's finals ambitions: "Success would be to reach the quarter-finals. Of course it won't be easy, but that has to be our goal. Four years ago, when we really hit a low point, I developed an internal strategy with the title 'European champions 2008'. That was being very optimistic but we have to strive towards big goals and go out there with the necessary confidence to deal with these challenges."
• The intensive friendly schedule continued for the remainder of 2007 with mixed results against Japan (3-4), Austria (3-1), USA (0-1) and Nigeria (0-1). And in 2008, it was more of the same with losses to England (1-2) and Germany (0-4) on the main international matchdays. A 2-0 defeat of Slovakia in their final preparations before the start of the final tournament provided a timely boost.
• Kuhn will retire as Switzerland coach after the finals, saying: "I have promised my wife that I'll call it a day after UEFA EURO 2008™."

How did they perform at the 2006 FIFA World Cup?

• Kuhn led Switzerland to their second successive major international tournament, as they finished unbeaten - and second behind France - in Group 4 before progressing on away goals against Turkey in an incident-packed play-off.
• They topped Group G at the finals in Germany, drawing their opening game 0-0 against France, and then beating both Togo and Korea Republic 2-0 - with Alexander Frei scoring in both games.
• They drew 0-0 with Ukraine in the Round of 16 but lost 3-0 on penalties. Ricardo Cabanas and Marco Streller had their efforts saved while Barnetta's spot-kick hit the crossbar.
• They thus bowed out of the competition without conceding a goal in open play.

How did they perform at UEFA EURO 2004™?

• Switzerland defied the odds to qualify for their second UEFA European Championship finals, coming top of a five-team Group 10 which also featured Russia and the Republic of Ireland.
• Qualification went down to the wire, with a 2-0 win against the Irish on the final day ensuring that second-placed Russia could not catch them.
• Switzerland drew 0-0 with Croatia in their opening game of the finals in Portugal but then lost 3-0 to England and 3-1 to France to finish bottom of Group B
• Johan Vonlanthen scored their only goal of the finals, cancelling out Zinédine Zidane's goal for France before Thierry Henry struck twice late on to win the game. Vonlanethen's goal made him the tournament's youngest ever scorer.

What is their best performance in the UEFA European Championship?

• Switzerland have twice qualified for the finals of the UEFA European Championship, doing so for the first time at the ninth attempt at EURO '96™. They then qualified again for UEFA EURO 2004™. Both of their finals campaigns have started with draws - 1-1 against hosts England in 1996 and 0-0 with Croatia in Portugal - but ended with two subsequent defeats.

Key facts
• This is the first time the UEFA EURO 2008™ co-hosts will have played in consecutive UEFA European Championship finals and the 2008 tournament will be their third finals overall.

All-time record
• Their record prior to the finals of UEFA EURO 2008™ was 80 matches played with 29 wins, 22 draws and 29 losses, with 119 goals scored and 108 conceded.

SWITZERLAND -Tournament fixtures

Tournament fixtures




07/06/2008 Switzerland v Czech Republic 18:00
11/06/2008 Switzerland v Turkey 20:45
15/06/2008 Switzerland v Portugal 20:45

SWITZERLAND

SWITZERLAND




Coach: KUHN

Squad list

Goalkeepers

»1 Diego Benaglio
»18 Pascal Zuberbühler
»21 Eldin Jakupovic

Defenders

»2 Johan Djourou
»3 Ludovic Magnin
»4 Philippe Senderos
»5 Stephan Lichtsteiner
»13 Stéphane Grichting
»17 Christoph Spycher
»20 Patrick Müller
»23 Philipp Degen

Midfielders

»6 Benjamin Huggel
»7 Ricardo Cabanas
»8 Gökhan Inler
10 Hakan Yakin
»14 Daniel Gygax
»15 Gelson Fernandes
»16 Tranquillo Barnetta
»19 Valon Behrami
»22 Johan Vonlanthen

Forwards

»9 Alexander Frei
»11 Marco Streller
»12 Eren Derdiyok