European Championships Countdown: Czech Republic

Victory was all the sweeter for having been achieved without a number of top players. Libor Sionko, Marek Matějovský and Jaroslav Plašil scored the goals that silenced the Bavarian crowd and qualifying is nice but the way we did it is even better

By Citizen Correspondent Sir Stephen

Date Posted: 05/26/08

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With just 13 days to go now the cream of Europe’s footballing nations are gearing up for the European Championships in Austria and Switzerland, with Switzerland taking on the Czech Republic at St Jakob Park on Saturday 7 June 2008. It promises to be a cracking event, not only for the football on display but for the picturesque backdrop it will be played in. Let’s take a look at the 16 countries that will be participating in the event...

Don’t expect the goals to fly in when the Group A fixtures get underway at the European Championships. Czech Republic had an outstanding record in qualifying, conceding only five goals in 12 matches, while Portugal and Turkey allowed only 10 and 11 respectively - less than one per match - which suggests Switzerland could find it tough to progress on home turf

Co-hosts Switzerland will need to rely on home advantage and the fact they play their three Group A games against Portugal, Czech Republic and Turkey at St Jakob-Park in Basel as they bid to secure a path into the quarter-finals of a European Championships for the first time in their history.

Coach Kobi Kuhn’s spine of the team is made up of veteran goalkeeper Pascal Zuberbuhler, while Premier League fans will know all about Arsenal central defender Philippe Senderos and Manchester City midfielder Gelson Fernandes, who has recently broken into the squad. Blackburn Rovers’ former Swiss captain Johan Vogel will also hope to be in Kuhn’s defensive midfield plans this summer. The Swiss’ star man and skipper Alexander Frei, currently plying his trade at German side Borussia Dortmund, will lead his home nation, while BSC Young Boys’ attacking midfielder Hakan Yakan will also look to be in on the goals.

The Czech Republic will be the Swiss’ first opponents and Karel Bruckner’s men will no doubt be well backed in the Euro 2008 betting stakes due to their impressive record in the tournament.

Runners up to Germany in Euro 96 and semi-finalists in Portugal four years ago the Czech side usually bode well in these championships, although their World Cup statistics have been disappointing.