Swiss v Czech Republic 0-1

Doubly unfortunate start of the co-host the European Football Championship: First captain Alexander Frei retires with knee injury, then the "Nati" despite good performance against the Czech Republic 0:1. The decision ensures ex-Austrianer Vaclav Sverkos in the 71st minute

The Swiss national football team is in the opening game of home-EM 2008 for a good performance is not rewarded. EURO-host had on Saturday in Group A Czech Republic before 40,000 spectators in Basel with 0:1 (0:0) beaten. The decisive hit was reached in the eingewechselte ex-Austrianer Vaclav Sverkos in the 71st Minute. Until then, the Swiss actually had the better chances vorgefunden.

After a header wide ball from the midfield was Sverkos not ask twice. The 24-year-old, now back at home playing with Banik Ostrava, met to the delight of more than 5,000 Czech fans in the stadium untenable for Switzerland-keeper Diego Benaglio into the long corner. The greatest chance of compensation was the eingewechselte Salzburg Legionnaire Johan Vonlanthen, after a Star goalkeeper Petr Cech just abgewehrten Barnetta-shot hit the bar (80).

A bitter pill, the Swiss also with the loss of captain Alexander Frei to swallow. The star striker of Borussia Dortmund withdrew in a duel with Zdenek Grygera shortly before Page break a knee injury and had to tears by hand Hakan Yakan replaced. The EURO 2008 is expected for the Swiss record scorer (35 goals in 60 national games) ended early.

Frei was also been the first Torchance vorgefunden the European Championship. The 28-year-old failed the gate in the third minute after error by Tomas Galasek just. The Swiss had displayed in the first half more of the game, mainly through free always dangerous. The captain continued until Gökhan Inler, the free shot on goal but the middle (19). Two minutes later awarded a free-for far Benaglio Committee.

As Cech then a shot of free only briefly repulsed had einschussbereiter storm was its partner Marco Streller, however, stood offside (36). While the Swiss Valon Behrami also on the right wing always cared for unrest, the Czechs were rarely dangerous. Benaglio was first tested after Swiss defender Ludovic Magnin-Jarolim a slope per head to the danger had made (14).

Czech Republic's 2.02-meter giant Jan Koller was against the Swiss defender Philippe Senderos, Patrick Mueller, the team boss Kübi Kuhn, despite a lack of match practice after a cruciate ligament operation trusts had little scope to come. The star striker was Karel Brückner in the 57th Minutes later, Winner Match Sverkos. With Libor Sionko was another ex-Austrianer offensive in the right midfield while striving, but rather colorless. A dangerous free kick flank of the Copenhagen Jankoluvski missed nearly Legionnaire (60th).

The hosts also had to page break from the game more. A shot from substitute captain Magnin prepared Cech no problems (49), with a head ball from Yakin but he would be beaten. Barnetta missed the ball but just (66th). In the dramatic final stage threw the Swiss again everything forward, with the exception of the scene of Vonlanthen, only seconds after his Einwechslung the Yellow Card had seen, but chances remained large.

To wait for the Swiss after seven attempts to continue their first victory in a European Championship finals. Previously it had only draw for two (one each in 1996 and 2004) now. Abgebrühten The Czechs are in front of the hits of Group A on Wednesday in Geneva against Portugal on the other hand, in an excellent position.