Switzerland lost a game they totally dominated as
a goal from Vaclav Sverkos earned Czech Republic a 1-0 Group A win
in the Euro 2008 opener.
The co-hosts were on top for virtually the entire 90
minutes but failed to make the most of their opportunities and even
fluffed the chance to grab a respectable draw after Sverkos had put
the Czechs ahead with 20 minutes left in Basel.
They face a struggle to progress the group stages now, though,
with Portugal and Turkey both deemed superior opposition.
The Swiss team were given a rapturous reception by the home
crowd before kick-off and it definitely lifted the players, with
Kobi Kuhn's men starting the brighter.
Alexander Frei drilled a shot narrowly wide after just three
minutes and the lively Valon Behrami forcing Petr Cech into the
first meangingful save of the match on 15.
Frei looked certain to open the scoring five minutes later after
getting a toe on the end of a long ball in the box but Cech was
bravely out of his goal to block his close-range effort.
Frei tested Cech yet again on 36 with a long-range effort that
the Chelsea stopper could only parry, but the Swiss skipper's
impressive contribution was brought to an early end a minute before
half-time when he hobbled off virtually in tears with a
serious-looking knee injury.
Hakan Yakan came on in place of Frei at the start of the second
period and he was instantly in the action as he won, and then fired
just over, a free-kick on the edge of the box four minutes in.
Czech Republic still could not get a foothold in the game and
introduced Sverkos for Jan Koller in the 56th minute and their best
chance of the game came seven minutes later with a free-kick that
Marek Jankulovski was off target with.
Yakan sent a free header wide of the post on 65 and the Swiss
were predictably made to pay for the miss five minutes later when
Sverkos latched onto a hopeful ball forward to poke into the far
corner and make Karel Bruckner's substitution look an inspired
one.
The goal was harsh to say the least on the Swiss but they only
had themselves to blame in the 80th minute when Johan Vonlanthen
somehow struck the bar from close range after Cech had parried
Tranquillo Barnetta's effort into his path.
Switzerland continued to press for an equaliser but the Czech
defence just about stood firm, surviving a last-gasp penalty claim
against them, to ensure a winning start to the tournament.
