UEFA EURO 2008 GROUP A
Portugal 0-0 Turkey 1945 BST
RESULT
Switzerland 0-1 Czech Republic
GOALFLASHES AND MAJOR INCIDENTS (all times BST)
Live - Czech Republic v Scotland ...
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(Not all contributions can be used) By Caroline 'Swiss' Cheese
2002: Just had another look at that dive from Tuncay. I give it a 9.3. Excellent work from the Middlesbrough man.
2000: Chance for Turkey and Tuncay is through - but falls over instead. Another dive. Ridiculous.
1955: Tuncay is about to take a shot when he is robbed by Nihat. Yes, Nihat, his Turkey team-mate. Bizarre - and an early nominee for Champagne Moment in this game.
1953: Cristiano Ronaldo cuts in from the right and his first shot of the tournament goes high over the bar.
1952: Kazim Kazim is the first man into the book for flattening Simao. Portugal look pretty good so far.
1948: Within seconds of the kick-off, Cristiano Ronaldo announces his arrival at Euro 2008 with a beautifully-executed dive.
1948: Away we go then. Almost forgot to answer my own question (see 1936)... Jurgen Klinsmann and Vladmir Smicer have both scored at three European Championships.
1945: Both anthems belted out. English-born Kazim 'Don't Call Me Colin' Kazim is in Turkey's midfield tonight. Midfielder Hamit Altintop switches to right-back.
1941: The teams are just on their way out now but let's have one last word on that first match. We'll be nominating our Champagne Moment from each match at Euro 2008 - and you're welcome to have your say via 606 or on 81111. Not a lot of options in the opener, so Vaclav Sverkos takes the honours for his goal - his first for the Czech Republic and the first of (hopefully) many in Austria and Switzerland.
1939: "In my expert opinion, the key man may just be a little-known winger called Cristiano Ronaldo. Could be putting himself in the shop window tonight to move to a bigger club..."
Holloway Afro on 606
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1936: If Portugal striker Nuno Gomes scores - and he's in the middle of a front three tonight - he'll become the third player to score in three European Championships. Can you name the other two?
1932: Portugal have never gone out at the group stage of a European Championship. They have the world's best player in their side. Nothing's going to go wrong is it? Still, Phil Scolari had a warning for his players before the tournament: "Some players are overweight and concentrating too much on nightlife and fashion shows." That's Big Phil Scolari.
1925: TEAMS
Portugal: Ricardo, Bosingwa, Pepe, Carvalho, Ferreira, Petit, Joao Moutinho, Ronaldo, Deco, Simao, Nuno Gomes. Subs: Rui Patricio, Bruno Alves, Fernando Meira, Raul Meireles, Hugo Almeida, Miguel, Jorge Ribeiro, Quaresma, Veloso, Nani, Postiga, Quim.
Turkey: Demirel, Altintop, Cetin, Zan, Balta, Kazim-Richards, Emre, Aurelio, Erding, Sanli, Nihat. Subs: Rustu, Zengin, Topal, Senturk, Karadeniz, Metin, Gungor, Turan, Asik, Boral, Akman, Sarioglu.
1920: Oh, look at that, the points are missing from the Group A table. I'm going to eat some sweet and sour chicken. Maybe that will make everything alright.
1915: Euro Two Thousand and Great has caused mayhem at BBC Sport Towers. Hair is being torn out all around me as stuff breaks just at the vital moment. So no interactive Player Rater just yet but someone's gone to give it a kick and hopefully it will be up and running quick smart.
1911: Of course, this game represents my first chance to see my adopted team Turkey in action at Euro 2008. The Turks lost to Portugal at Euro 96 and Euro 2000 and last beat them in 1955. Oh dear.
1908: The Basel stadium is deserted already. A disappointing start for the co-hosts, who were quite bright but lacked a cutting edge. Or precision if you like. It's off to the Stade de Geneve now for today's second Group A game between Portugal and Turkey.
1905: "The Swiss just lacked precision...I'll get my hat AND coat!"
redandblackT1899on 606
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1853: FULL-TIME Switzerland 0-1 Czech Republic
1852: Huge shout from the crowd for a penalty as the ball hits the Czech skipper's arm but it looks like ball to hand.
1851: Eventful game for Vaclav Sverkos, who is now stretchered off after being clattered in the back by Tranquillo Barnetta. He'll be OK I think.
1850: Goalscorer Vaclav Sverkos concedes a soft free-kick, allowing the Swiss to get the ball into the mixer - but it's cleared.
1848: Petr Cech is screaming at his defence after scrambling the ball behind for a corner. Three minutes of injury time remaining.
1844: With a little over three minutes remaining, the Czechs look to run down the clock with another change. David Jarolim off, Radosav Kovac on.
1842: A change for each side. For the Czechs, Stanislav Vlcek replaces Libor Sionko. For the Swiss, teenager Eren Derdiyok is on for Valon 'Beckham' Behrami.
1837: Oh my word. What happened there? As a couple of players appeal for handball, Tranquillo Barnetta lashes in a shot which is brilliantly parried by Petr Cech. Johan Vonlanthen volleys the follow-up onto the bar. So close to an equaliser.
1835: "If the Swiss don't get a point, they can declare themselves out of the tournament."
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1833: Swiss boss Kobi Kuhn doesn't hang about. He brings on Johan Volanthen for Stephan Lichtsteiner - and Volanthen is into the book almost immediately for a late challenge on David Jarolim. Not a great start to his Euro 2008.
1828: GOAL Switzerland 0-1 Czech Republic
Switzerland look to have cleared the danger but the ball is headed back over the top and substitute Vaclav Sverkos stays onside to poke the ball into the far corner. That's his first goal for the Czechs in only his third international. A brilliant substitution by Karel Bruckner.
1824: Best chance of the match so far. Stephan Lichsteiner delivers an excellent cross from the right but Hakan Yakin plants a free header narrowly wide of the post. Perhaps 'heading' isn't in his bag of tricks.
1822: Tranquillo Barnetta fouls Jaroslav Plasil to give the Czech Republic a free-kick about 30 yards out. Marek Jankulovski's effort goes over the wall and over the bar.
1821: "In Switzerland, Yakin is known as the wizard for his ability to pull tricks out of nowhere. Quite a big bag so he can't store them in his sleeve."
Anon via text on 81111
1819: Hakan Yakin waves his arms at the crowd to increase the noise - but it doesn't help his delivery from the corner. It's a poor one, not for the first time today. It all makes you realise why David Beckham is still valued as an international footballer.
1817: Ludovic Magnin gets the first yellow card of Euro 2008 after clattering into the back of Libor Sionko. He was already on a warning to be fair. Sionko almost gets on the end of the free-kick - but can't get any contact on his header.
1814: A change from the Czechs and it's a surprise. Top scorer Jan Koller comes off to be replaced by Vaclav Sverkos. I think I heard a few boos from the Czech fans.
1808: Switzerland win a free-kick now but sub Hakan Yakin's effort is bit too high. A lively start from the hosts - a bit like the first half.
1807: Ludovic Magnin goes on a rampaging run down the left and earns a corner for his trouble. The corner is played right back to Magnin outside the area but his swerving shot is caught by Petr Cech.
1803: The Swiss seem to have changed their minds at half-time. Basel-born Eren Derdiyok was poised to come on before the break, but it's Hakan Yakin who replaces the unfortunate Alexander Frei. And we're under way.
1801: "Really feel for Frei, can see Czechs wrapping things up in the second half though."
Tom via text on 81111
1800: "With Frei being injured it's a massive blow for the Swiss because Streller has been no use at all."
BBC analyst Martin O'Neill
1755: As BBC analyst Gordon Strachan points out, that injury to Frei hasn't only rocked the Swiss team, but the crowd are now very quiet too.
1753: "It would be a good race between myself and Jan Koller."
BBC analyst Martin O'Neill
1748: HALF-TIME Switzerland 0-0 Czech Republic
1747: Frei uses his shirt to wipe away the tears as he is helped down the tunnel. Aw. He won't be coming back on.
1745: There are huge cheers as Frei rejects the stretcher and hobbles off instead, but the striker is crying as he leaves the pitch. Not good.
1744: Trouble here for Switzerland captain and key man Alexander Frei, who seems to have jarred his knee in a challenge. Stretcher on.
1743: Ludovic Magnin is incredulous after being penalised for tripping Jan Koller. Or perhaps the Swiss defender is just shocked that the striker actually ran a bit. Free-kick comes to nothing.
1740: "Re 1729: if you could be Cech for a day, obviously you wouldn't pick the day he got kneed in the head. Or the day he got kicked in the face in training. Any other day though."
Lewis via text on 81111
1737: Alexander Frei thumps a shot from 30 yards which Petr Cech can only punch away. The ball goes straight to a Swiss attacker - who is offside. Cech taking no chances with the new, super-light ball.
1737: The Czechs are beginning to look dangerous now. Jaroslav Plasil swings over the cross from the left and Jan Koller escapes his marker - but the lumbering striker is a bit slow to react and the ball goes behind.
1735: Swiss midfielder Gelson Fernandes takes out David Jarolim now and that's a final warning from swarthy Italian ref Roberto Rosetti.
1732: Czech midfielder Jan Polak is, well, Polak-ed by Gelson Fernandes. Polak-ed. Pole-axed. Geddit? Sorry.
1729: "I wish I could be Petr Cech. If only for a day. What a guy."
Anon via text on 81111
1726: Jan Koller attempts to get on the end of Libor Sionko's through-ball. The towering Czech striker has been very quiet so far.
1724: Philippe Senderos shows a bit of his Arsenal form there with a terrible attempt at a clearance. There are no Czech attackers on hand to profit though.
1723: "As it's Saturday, if it ends goalless, will they have to sing off to Lord Lloyd Webber to decide the points?"
WYN via text on 81111
1722: Swiss keeper Diego Benaglio's long kick evades the Czech defence and Alexander Frei gets his toe to it but Petr Cech is alert to the danger.
1721: Alexander Frei sets up Gokhan Inler with a lovely backheel but the midfielder shoots tamely at Petr Cech. Another slick move from the hosts though.
1718: I'm quite impressed by Switzerland so far. They're passing the ball around at pace in midfield. Striker Marco Streller, though, looks like a bit of a weak link.
1716: "It's a decent opening to the game, quite pacy. Both teams trying to get forward quickly. The first goal is so important."
BBC analyst Mark Bright
1712: Lovely skill from Valon Behrami on the right. The winger gets past a couple of players but the Czech defence cut out the cross. Behrami is known as the Swiss David Beckham, according to Motty. He has got nice hair.
1709: The Czechs go up the other end and win a corner - which is taken short and easily broken up by the Swiss defence. Lively start this though.
1708: Free-kick for the Swiss out right. Ludovic Magnin's delivery is poor though and Tomas Galasek clears easily.
1704: The Czechs give the ball away in midfield and it's danger man Alexander Frei who picks it up. He manages to dig the ball out from under his feet and hammers a low shot just wide of the post. The crowd loved that.
1701: Euro 2008 is go, go, go.
1659: My colleague believes the singer of the Swiss national anthem was miming. A scandal. Anyway, hold onto your hats, we're about to get going.
1656: And here are the teams, followed by the two managers, Karel Bruckner and Kobi Kuhn, who will both retire after the tournament. Anthems now...
1654: "Miss Switzerland... now that's a sight..."
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1652: Wahay! There go the fireworks and balloons, accompanied by polite applause from the crowd, and that's our 13-minute ceremony done and dusted. The teams are waiting in the tunnel...
1651: Miss Switzerland, who is half Swiss and half Czech, leads out some children carrying the flags of each of the participating nations. The box people are moving about in arty fashion. It's all a mystery to me.
1649: "Re 1629: If Degen can't make the Swiss starting team, how will he ever make the Liverpool team?"
Anon via text on 81111
1648: It's a bit ponderous this ceremony. Even Uefa boss Michel Platini looks a bit bored. We're getting some fake snow now. There was a bit of concern before the tournament that we might actually see real snow, so unseasonal was the weather. The rain has abated though and it's now cool but dry.
1644: There's a plastic cow on stilts followed by some milk maids. No national stereotyping here folks. The BBC's Mark Bright is speechless.
1643: There are 976 performers in this ceremony according to my notes - and most of them have boxes on their heads. What a way to make a quick buck.
1641: Right here comes the pixel art-themed ceremony - starring the Pixmen. These are people with boxes on their heads from what I can see.
1637: Someone has just sent six different text messages about Dean Windass which seems a strange way to welcome Euro 2008, but each to their own. Should you have anything you need to get off your chest, why not drop me a line on 81111?
1630: Looks like quite an attacking line-up from Switzerland with Marco Streller joining fellow striker Alexander Frei in the side. As expected, Portsmouth striker Milan Baros only makes the bench for the Czech Republic.
1629: TEAMS
Switzerland: Benaglio, Lichtsteiner, Muller, Senderos, Magnin, Behrami, Inler, Gelson, Barnetta, Frei, Streller. Subs: Zuberbuhler, Jakupovic, Djourou, Huggel, Cabanas, Yakin, Derdiyok, Grichting, Gygax, Spycher, Vonlanthen, Degen.
Czech Republic: Cech, Jankulovski, Rozehnal, Ujfalusi, Grygera, Plasil, Polak, Galasek, Jarolim, Sionko, Koller. Subs: Blazek, Zitka, Kovac, Fenin, Sverkos, Vlcek, Pospech, Kadlec, Baros, Matejovsky, Sivok, Skacel.
1624: "The Czechs say 'ahoy' for hello."
Anon via text on 81111
Again, this could be a swear word. I hope it's true though. Worth going to the Czech Republic just to get off the plane and greet the airport staff with a hearty "ahoy".
1622: They are playing some classic Euro-pop in the Basel stadium. Not my cup of tea, but the Swiss fans are absolutely loving it, which is all making for a carnival atmosphere. Lovely.
1618: More injury news... Former England boss and now BBC Radio 5 Live analyst Graham Taylor has picked up an Achilles injury and will be hobbling around Austria and Switzerland with a plastic boot on his foot.
BBC 5 Live commentator John Murray's blog
1616: "Euro 2008 is here baby! And it's going to rock!"
Piyush371 on 606
My sentiments exactly, although perhaps not quite the way I would have expressed them.
1613: The players are warming up on the pitch at the St-Jakob Park, home of FC Basel. Cracking atmosphere actually. The crowd are obviously as keen as I am to catch the 13-minute opening ceremony.
1607: Portugal suffer a blow just ahead of their opener against Turkey later. Keeper Quim has broken his wrist and is out of the tournament.
1602: "Re 1515: The main greeting in Switzerland is Gruezi (pronounce: grew-zi), and those crazy Austrians greet each other by saying 'Gruss Gott' (Hello God, I think)."
Fullofham on 606
Happy to admit I have no idea if this is true. Apologies if it's actually a string of obscenities.
1557: And what of the Czech Republic? Well, they've got Jan Koller - who is the only striker at Euro 2008 who has scored more than 50 international goals. They also conceded fewest goals in qualifying, along with France and the Netherlands. However, they don't have tricky Arsenal midfielder Tomas Rosicky. A huge blow.
1552: "Switzerland showed what a poor team they are by losing to England. I mean seriously what self-respecting team loses to England?"
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1544: Of the two co-hosts, Switzerland are widely regarded to have the better chance of advancing beyond the group stages, largely because Austria are, well, rubbish. The Swiss have a cast-iron defence, marshalled by Arsenal's Philippe Senderos (yes, him), but they don't score a lot of goals. At the last World Cup, they managed four goals in four games before going out to Ukraine in a penalty shoot-out in which they didn't score a single spot-kick.
1534: Disappointing news for opening ceremony fans, of which I am one. This afternoon's extravaganza is set to last a mere 13 minutes, hardly enough time to open an envelope. The theme is modern pixel art, and the show will finish with 900 pyrotechnic shots. Awesome...
1528: "Looking forward to watching Philipp Degen, I know absolutely nothing about him, apart from he's tall, strong and likes to attack. I can only see a Czech win though."
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1524: You, like me, will still be reeling from the news that Sir Geoff Hurst, England's hat-trick hero in 1966, is lending his support to... Germany. Germany! I ask you. Me? I'm going for Turkey. They've got an English-born player in Kazim 'Don't call me Colin' Kazim and 'colourful' coach Fatih Terim, who is also known as 'The Emperor'.
1515: Bonjour, Guten Tag, Hola... (this is where I run out of languages) Hello. Welcome to Euro Two Thousand and Great. Sitting comfortably? Probably more comfortably than Steve McClaren right now I should imagine...
(BBC)
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