Switzerland vs. Czech Republic - the grand opener

Just under 2 and a half hours to go before Euro 2008 gets underway, and i can't wait.

I wouldn't be surprised if the game is cagey (note, not boring, because the occasion will make it entertaining, in my opinion) as both teams are either strong defensively or favour a more cautious approach.

I can't wait to see new Liverpool signing Philipp Degen play - if he is fit to play, that is. I hope he does feature. If he plays badly though you can imagine the criticism...

For the reason of Degen i'm going to be cheering Switzerland on, and for other players i like too.

I really don't know where the Czech's penetration is going to come from though. It surely will be low scoring and i'm going to predict 0-0.

I want to see Barnetta.

I want the Czech's to win becuase i have two of their players in my fantasy team. I'm gonna guess it will be 2-1 to the Czech's. I'm getting excited!!

2-0 Switzerland Frei to score first goal

Czechs are pretty awful

Czech look to be playing in 4-5-1 with Koller up front as Rosicky's loss has hurt them a lot and obliged them to change from their 4-4-2.
2-1 for them with Frei scoring first .

1-1 i say, can't wait till it starts supporting switzerland for the same reasons as ben

I'll go with Frei 1-0.

My two players in this match are Sionko and Galasek!!!

Switzerland
Diego Benaglio (G)
Patrick Müller (D)
Ludovic Magnin (D)
P. Senderos (D)
S. Lichtsteiner (D)
T. Barnetta (M)
Valon Behrami (M)
Fernandes Gelson (M)
Gokhan Inler (M)
Alexander Frei (F)
Marco Streller (F)

Czech Republic
Petr Cech (G)
M. Jankulovski (D)
Tomas Ujfalusi (D)
David Rozehnal (D)
Zdenek Grygera (D)
David Jarolim (M)
Libor Sionko (M)
Tomas Galasek (M)
Jaroslav Plasil (M)
Jan Polak (M)
Jan Koller (F)

my 2 players are galasek and grygera

i love them... go go czech!!!!

Oh no. Looks like Frei is out for good. Massive blow for the Swiss.

The Swiss have had the better chances thus far. They could easily be up right now. The Czech Republic are struggling with their final ball into the box. The service to Koller has been very poor so far. Some good movement of the ball on both sides. Will be interesting to see what happens in the second half.

Been an ok first half. Might not be the best football but it is an open match. I'm liking the look of Sionko but that Galasek seems a waste of a pick. He has hardly been out of his own half and i will be asking for some clean sheet points if they keep one.

5 minutes in and Hakan Yakin has already made a big difference for the Swiss.

Koller is a waste of space. Subbing him will probably improve Czech fortunes now.

Looks like the Swiss will win this if they continue to control the second half.
How crap is Rozehnal

Wow, near miss for the Swiss.

You can't really blame Koller for his ineffectiveness today. The service to him was absolutely terrible. You could be the best striker in the world and you'd look like crap with the service he was getting today as a lone striker.

Frei comes out to the bench with crutches.

goal!!!!!

Czech btw. Hopefully they will hold out and i will get points

Talk about a couple lucky bounces. Great take on the ball for the goal though. So not deserved, Czech Republic have been severely outplayed in the second half.

Very unlucky for the Swiss. Clear handball in the box, and then the rebound goes off the woodwork.

i think Czech's goal was so simple one innit.