[Euro 2008] Switzerland 0-1 Czech Republic

Czech Republic substitute Vaclav Sverkos crashed the party for co-hosts Switzerland by scoring the only goal of the Euro 2008 curtain-raiser in Basel.

Group A - Matchday 1
SWITZERLAND 0-1 CZECH REPUBLIC
St. Jakob-Park, Basel
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.

The Czech's will play Portugal next on Wednesday, while the the co-hosts will play Turkey.

Switzerland: Benaglio, Lichtsteiner (Vonlanthen 75), Muller, Senderos, Magnin, Behrami (Derdiyok 83), Inler, Gelson, Barnetta, Frei (Yakin 46), Streller.
Czech Republic: Cech, Jankulovski, Rozehnal, Ujfalusi, Grygera, Plasil, Polak, Galasek, Jarolim (Kovac 87), Sionko (Vlcek 83), Koller (Sverkos 56).

[Euro 2008 Group A]