world expansions health sport: Juni 2008

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Czech fans gather in Basel
FOOTBALL
Live - Euro 2008
Fans gather in Basel ahead of the Euro 2008 opening ceremony and the opener between Switzerland and the Czech Republic.

Ana Ivanovic

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Page last updated at 14:09 GMT, Saturday, 7 June 2008 15:09 UK
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Live BBC TV coverage
Radio 5 Live commentary
Basel, 7 June 2008
606 debate | Blog

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UEFA EURO 2008 GROUP A
Switzerland v Czech Republic 1700 BST
Portugal v Turkey 1945 BST

BUILD-UP (all times BST)

606: DEBATE
Your thoughts on the action
To get involved use 606 or text us your views & comments on 81111. (Not all contributions can be used)
By Caroline 'Swiss' Cheese

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.
Portugal v Turkey team news

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.
Czech Republic team guide

1552: "Switzerland showed what a poor team they are by losing to England. I mean seriously what self-respecting team loses to England?"
AreaClouded on 606
Join the debate

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.
Switzerland team guide

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."
Superredripper on 606
Join the debate

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...

BIG MATCH STATS

Head-to-heads

Switzerland and Czech Republic have met each other on 30 occasions with the Czechs emerging victorious 16 times and the Swiss triumphing in eight instances.

The last meeting between these nations was a friendly in the Czech Republic on 18 August 1999, which was won 3-0 by the hosts. Jan Koller opened the scoring in that match. Tomas Galasek also played for the Czechs.
Head to head records and significant meetings

Team facts - Switzerland

Switzerland have not conceded a goal in competitive matches since 16 November 2005, when they lost a World Cup qualifier against Turkey 4-2.

Switzerland have not won any of their previous six matches at the European Championship.

Team facts - Czech Republic

The Czechs are the only former champions in Group A, having won as Czechoslovakia in 1976.

Czech Republic, France and Netherlands conceded fewest goals (five) in qualifying for Euro 2008.

Player facts - Switzerland

Alexander Frei, a Basel native, became Switzerland's all-time top scorer on Friday, 30 May, having netted his 35th goal in a friendly against Liechtenstein. The previous record had belonged to Xam Abegglen since 1937 and had been equalled by Kubilay Turkyilmaz in 2001.

Basel native Eren Derdiyok is the only teenager amongst the 368 players that will be present at Euro 2008. He will celebrate his 20th birthday on Thursday 12 June. The record for youngest player at the European Championship is safe with Johan Vonlanthen, who was 18 years and 137 days old, when Switzerland took on England on 17 June 2004.

Pascal Zuberbuhler (37) can break Jorg Stiel's record for oldest Swiss player in a European Championship match.

Player facts - Czech Republic

Karel Bruckner, like Swiss colleague Kobi Kuhn, will lead his nation as he did at Euro 2004 and the 2006 World Cup, with the intention of resigning after Euro 2008. Bruckner has led the Czechs to 49 victories in 73 matches in charge of the national team.

Jan Koller is the only player among the 368 at Euro 2008 with more than 50 international goals (54). At 2.02 metres, Koller is the tallest player at Euro 2008. Koller and Marek Jankulovski are about to equal the Czech record for most European Championship participations (three), a mark that has been recorded by Vladimir Smicer, Karel Poborsky and Pavel Nedved.

The Czech squad boasts no player that won a domestic league championship with his club last season, yet harbours four players:- Blazek, Galasek, Koller (1. FC Nurnberg) and Matejovsky (Reading) who were relegated.

Milan Baros was the tournament top scorer at Euro 2004, netting five times in Portugal four years ago.

Miscellaneous Info

Since the introduction of the group phase in 1980, each edition of the European Championship has seen hosts reach the last four.
Opening matches in previous European Championships

Big Match Stats source: Infostrada Sports

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Group A
05 June 2008 18:38
P GD PTS
1 Czech Republic 0 0 0
2 Portugal 0 0 0
3 Switzerland 0 0 0
4 Turkey 0 0 0

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see also
Switzerland team guide
15 May 08 | Switzerland
Czech Republic team guide
15 May 08 | Czech Rep

related bbc links:
BBC Sport's Euro 2008 blog
Your say - 606

related internet links:
Uefa: Euro 2008
Uefa venue guide: Basel
Official Switzerland website
Official Czech Republic website
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites

Czech fans gather in Basel

Czech fans gather in Basel
FOOTBALL
Live - Euro 2008
Fans gather in Basel ahead of the Euro 2008 opening ceremony and the opener between Switzerland and the Czech Republic.