Euro 2008 game 1 Switzerland vs Czech Rep

Switzerland v Czech Republic preview

Co-hosts look to open tournament with win over Czechs

Switzerland will get Euro 2008 underway against Czech Republic on Saturday, with the co-hosts looking for a first finals win.

In two previous European Championship appearances, the Swiss have failed to win in six matches, but will be hoping home advantage will lead to an opening game three points.

Coach Kobi Kuhn is retiring after the tournament and will be looking for a positive start from his squad.

Kuhn does have two main selection decisions ahead of the opening fixture in Basel as he considers starts for Patrick Muller and Tranquillo Barnetta.

Barnetta boost

Experienced defender Muller has only recently returned to fitness from a long-term knee injury and looked rusty in last week's friendly against Liechtenstein.

Muller is likely to be given the chance to decide his own level of fitness and, if he does start, will partner Arsenal centre-half Philippe Senderos.

Influential playmaker Barnetta has shaken off an ankle injury picked up in a training ground tangle with Gelson Fernandes and is fit to start.

He could replace Johan Vonlanthen on the left-hand side of midfield, while the national team's top scorer Alexandre Frei will lead the line.

The Czechs head into the tournament without the injured Tomas Rosicky and also concerns about the form of Milan Baros, who was top scorer at Euro 2004.

Ujfalusi concern

Baros will hope to partner Jan Koller up front, while Libor Sionko will also be looking to start after scoring twice against Scotland last week.

Zdenek Pospech will miss the match due to a virus, although Zdenek Grygera was expected to start at right-back in any case.

Influential defender Tomas Ujfalusi is a worry for the Czechs due to an abdominal problem, but Marek Jankulovski is fit after a knee injury.

Czech keeper Petr Cech is expecting a stern test from the Swiss, but is hoping Karel Bruckner's side have been fully prepared.

"I think the Swiss are very dangerous, and know how to play well together," said Cech.

"They create a lot of chances down the left side with Barnetta and [Marco] Streller, and count on Frei to score goals.

"The players on the flanks can attack and provide dangerous crosses. We already know a lot about them, and we'll see how well we have prepared in the game."

Czech Squad:

Goalkeepers:

Petr Cech
Daniel Zitka
Jaromir Blazek

Defender:

Michal Kadlec
Zdenek Pospech
Marek Jankulovski
David Rozehnal
Rudolf Skacel
Zdenek Grygera
Tomas Ujfalusi

Midfielder:

Marek Matejovsky
Jan Polak
Tomas Sivok
Radoslav Kovac
David Jarolim
Tomas Galasek
Jaroslav Plasil

Striker:

Stanislav Vlcek
Martin Fenin
Libor Sionko
Vaclav Sverkos
Jan Koller
Milan Baros

players to look out for.

Swiss Squad:

Goalkeeper:

Eldin Jakupovic
Diego Benaglio
Pascal Zuberbuhler

Defender:

Stephan Lichtsteiner
Johan Djourou
Philippe Senderos
Philipp Degen
Christoph Spycher
Stephane Grichting
Ludovic Magnin
Patrick Muller

Midfielder:

Gokhan Inler
Gelson Fernandes
Valon Behrami
Daniel Gygax
Tranquillo Barnetta
Hakan Yakin
Benjamin Huggel
Johan Vonlanthen
Ricardo Cabanas

Striker:

Eren Derdiyok
Marco Streller
Alexander Frei

star men to watch

i think the czechs will be too tough for the swiss to win even though its home advantage for the swiss

I am for Czech rep 😉
mostly the host team have always won their opening match for some reasons 😕

Hmm...the first half was not interesting at all..thought I were gonna sleep🥱 maybe 2nd half will be better😊

well 1 goal, and a little action from the swiss but in the end the host nation lost 1-0

I am glad the team I supported won 😛 but feel bad for Swiss...its bye-bye for Euro 2008 for their captain, Frei.