Source: Xinhua
06-08-2008 10:15
Special Report: 2008 European ChampionshipsBASEL, June 7 (Xinhua) -- Thanks to a 71-minute goal from substitute striker Vaclav Sverkos, Czech nipped a 1-0 victorious start at the Euro 2008 against co-hosts Switzerland here at the St. Jakob-Park on Saturday.
Coach Karel Bruchner's decision of calling off the country's best-ever striker Jan Koller 10 minutes after the break and replacing him with Sverkos had surprised many and caused suspects about the tournament opener's process, but the 24-year-old proved himself soon after by sending a low drive into the corner of the rivals' net.
Sverkos scored smartly with his right foot after a scrappy hooked ball over the defence from Plasil, as Benaglio tried to narrow the angle but Sverkos's shot evaded him.
The tournament opening game, however, had earlier came to the end for Switzerland before the break when the co-hosts' all-time leading scorer Alexander Frei was forced to hobble off the pitch with a strapped left knee in front of an enthusiastic but inconsolable pack of home fans on the stands.
Frei, who made the first effort of the tournament in the 3rd minute, was tackled by Zdenek Grygera in the 42nd minute and was carried off the pitch to have treatment on the sideline.
The tailman eventually headed to the dressing room in tears with the possibility of packing up home with an injured knee just after the opening game of the European Championship.
Swizerland's best chance came in the 66th minute when substitute Hakan Yakin as Lazio defender Valon Behrami burst forward on the right and lifted a great cross into the unmarked midfielder, who headed one-meter wide of the right post.
The home favorites had occupied most time and more chances of the first half, but failed to make dangerous challenges to the Czech goalmouth, while their daunting rivals neither went short of method of slicing the Swiss defence alongside with some successful blocks from established keeper Petr Cech to the fiece attacks from co-hosts Switzerland.
Switzerland bombed straight back up the other end of the pitch in as early as the 2nd minute before Marco Streller played a return pass with Frei, who shot from outside the area but driving the ball a yard wide at 3. The Swiss star striker's first effort of the tournament got the home fans excited though.
Czech midfielder David Jarolim gave away a very first free kick following a challenge on Gokhan Inler seconds after, before Streller worked the ball out wide to earn the Swiss a corner at 4.
Playmaker Tranquillo Barnetta drove the very first corner kick of the tournament but was blocked before the ball fell to Behrami who whipped a right-footed cross in, which was well cleared.
The visiting side's Jaroslav Plasil delivered their first corner on 8 minutes to mark both sides on corner, but he also failed to manufacture a shot on goal.
Valon Behrami's low cross on 13 minutes caused the first momentof anxiety in the Czech defence before it was eventually cleared.
The very first booking of the tournament came on 59 minutes when Ludovic Magnin was cautioned by the Italian referee after the Swiss defender fouled Libor Sionko from behind.
Editor:Xiong Qu
