The first game of Euro 2008 saw hosts Swizerland play strong football to a huge home crowd in the Basle stadium. The Swiss looked determined from the off and after only three minutes the Czechs give the ball away in midfield and Swiss striker Frei grabs the opportunity to take the first shot of the tournament, powering it past the woodwork. On the 20 minute mark, dangerous captain Frei pulls a sneaky backheal to midfielder Gokhan Inler but the shot is no problem for the magalithic Cech.
It takes more than half an hour for the Czechs to start playing to form and the Swiss work them hard. Frei takes a formidable shot from 30 yards and Cech fluffs the save by punching with his wrist to an (fortunately for the Chelsea keeper) offside Swiss attacker.
The game could belong to either team- a joy for the hoardes of home fans to see.
But just before half-time, key man Frei goes down after a challenge. He tore a knee ligament and left the pitch in tears. The tournament ended there for Switzerland's captain and most dangerous player.
HALF TIME- Switzerland 0- 0 Czech Republic.
Hakan Yakin came on for Frei. Ten minutes later the popular mountain of a striker, Jan Koller, is subbed for Vaclav Sverkos, seemingly annoying the Czech fans.
By around 20 minutes into the second half, the Czech's start to play the kind of football that the tournament expects of them, narrowly missing two opportunities before the contraversial substitute Sverkos prooves manager Karel Bruckner right by slamming the ball from the outside of his foot and into the bottom left of the Swiss goal.
Switzerland 0- 1 Czech Republic on the 71st minute.
For the last twenty minutes of the game the Swiss pooled their strength into some powerful attacking. So close to equalising on the 79th! Cech punches away a Swiss shot before Vonlanthen volleys the ball onto the crossbar. But equalising isn't to come for the hosts, despite a possible Czech handball in the penalty area a minute before full-time. The crowd yelled to the ref. to give a penalty but it was deemed ball to hand.
The Swiss created opportunity and played well but had no finishing touches.
Switzerland: Benaglio, Lichtsteiner, Muller, Senderos, Magnin, Behrami, Inler, Gelson, Barnetta, Frei, Streller; Subs: Zuberbuhler, Jakupovic, Djourou, Huggel, Cabanas, Yakin, Derdiyok, Grichting, Gygax, Spycher, Vonlanthen, Degen
Czech Republic: Cech, Jankulovski, Rozehnal, Ujfalusi, Grygera, Plasil, Polak, Galasek, Jarolim, Sionko, Koller; Subs: Blazek, Zitka, Kovac, Fenin, Sverkos, Vlcek, Pospech, Kadlec, Baros, Matejovsky, Sivok, Skacel
