Switzerland crushed as sub Sverkos seals smash-and-grab raid for Czechs

Switzerland's Euro 2008 campaign got off to a catastrophic start as substitute Vaclav Sverkos' second-half strike earned the Czech Republic a smash-and-grab win over the co-hosts in the tournament curtain-raiser in Basle.

Not only did the Swiss lose a Group A match they dominated for large parts at the St Jakob-Park, they also may have lost talismanic striker Alexander Frei for the rest of the competition after he went off injured at the end of the first half.

Czech Republic's Vaclav Sverkos celebrates after scoring the opening goal

Frei, the nation's torchbearer when it comes to their football team, was crying as he hobbled off with a knee injury in the 44th minute.

And many of the home team's fans will have done just the same when Banik Ostrava's Sverkos, the top scorer in the Czech top flight this season with 15 goals, poked home a scarcely deserved winner in the 70th minute.

What the defeat, and more importantly Frei's injury, will do to the Swiss remains to be seen, but they already face an uphill struggle to qualify from a group that also includes Turkey and Portugal, one of the favourites for the title.

It had all began so well for Kobi Kuhn's side, who pegged back the below-par Czechs for much of the game.

A colourful, 13-minute opening ceremony - featuring 976 performers and with modern pixel art as its inspiration - preceded the match.

It ended with 900 pyrotechnic shots fired into the sky and when the real action got under way, it was Frei who produced the fireworks in an all-action first-half display before he got injured.

The Borussia Dortmund striker, who became Switzerland's all-time leading scorer with 35 goals following his brace against Liechtenstein in a warm-up match last week, screwed a 25-yarder just wide after only 120 seconds.

The 28-year-old also drew a great save from Petr Cech in the 21st minute, the Chelsea goalkeeper using his feet to deny Frei.

At the other end, the giant Jan Koller - used as a lone striker by Czech Republic coach Karel Bruckner - was ploughing a lonely furrow with little success.

Koller was getting scant support from his midfield, who were more comfortable with the ball at their feet than running on to help their isolated frontman.

Indeed, the only time Switzerland goalkeeper Diego Benaglio was troubled in the opening 45 minutes was when he had to turn aside a misdirected, but goalbound, cross from David Jarolim.

Cech also defied Valon Behrami and Gokhan Inler midway through a first half Switzerland shaded, but the injury to Frei had stunned the crowd as the players walked off towards the tunnel for the interval.

The experienced Hakan Yakin replaced Frei, who appeared to jar his left knee in a challenge, for the second period and the substitute almost made an immediate impact when he curled a free-kick just over.

Even without their talismanic striker, the hosts were proving too much for their opponents and Bruckner replaced the ineffective Koller with domestic scoring machine Sverkos just 10 minutes into the half.

It initially made precious little difference. Still it was all Switzerland and left-winger Tranquillo Barnetta, who may now be the country's great hope in the absence of Frei, volleyed over from a good position just after the hour mark.

Yakin was getting himself into some decent positions too and he really should have done better when he planted Stephan Lichtsteiner's textbook cross just wide of the post from eight yards.

Sverkos' winner therefore came against the run of play.

After a Czech free-kick was cleared, Tomas Galasek helped the ball back into the danger area and the 24-year-old reacted the quickest to latch onto the ball and poke a finish to the right of Benaglio from 10 yards.

Sverkos' shot may even have come off his shin but he will not care one jot.
His team-mates then defended stoutly to preserve their lead, although Switzerland forward Johan Vonlanthen will rue only hitting the bar from close range with 10 minutes left.