Source: Xinhua

06-16-2008 10:52

Special Report:   2008 European Championships

BASEL, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Fouls and meaningless actions dominated the little-to-play-for match between Switzerland and Portugal in Euro 2008 Group A, and the scoreboard was kept clean at break here on Sunday.

Luis Felipe Scolari's side, who had already booked a quarterfinal place with two impressive wins over Turkey and the Czech Republic, started slowly as their Brazilian coach rested eight of the regular starters, including most impressive striker Cristiano Ronaldo, for the "walkover" final match in Group A.

Ricardo Quaresma created the first chance of the match in the seventh minute, which could be one of the most utterly unnecessary moments of skill as the Porto striker, wide on the left, banged in an out swinging right-footed cross by wrapping his foot round the back of his left leg and fizzing it in.

Helder Postiga got his head on Quaresma's pass in the middle but was offside.

Five more efforts were made by the Portuguese later before the interval, but none of those materialized.

The co-hosts Swiss, who have lost both of their previous games in Euro 2008, 1-0 to the Czechs and 2-1 to Turkey, have fought for honor here while facing a doomed destiny of elimination from Euro 2008.

Five of their first half efforts have all been blocked, most sounded of the 16-minute attempt by Valon Behrami, who right footed a shot from the center of the box, and Hakan Yakin's header from the center of the box saved in the bottom right corner on 32 minutes.

 

Editor:Xiong