By Mitch Phillips
VIENNA, June 7 (Reuters) - The European Championship got off
to the worst possible start for co-hosts Switzerland on Saturday
when they lost 1-0 to Czech Republic and lost captain Alex Frei
to an injury that could rule him out of the tournament.
After two years of preparation, Switzerland's interest in
the party they are co-hosting with Austria is in danger of being
effectively over after 90 minutes, with tough Group A games
against Portugal and Turkey to come.
Those two countries meet in Geneva later on Saturday (1845
GMT), while Austria get things underway across the border on
Sunday when they play Croatia in Vienna (1600).
Tournament favourites Germany play Poland in Klagenfurt
(1845) in the second Group B game on Sunday.
It was all smiles in Basel before the first match as the
fans were entertained by a traditionally kitsch opening
ceremony.
Mock-up mountain scenes, skiers and giant model cows were
the centrepiece, all accompanied by mass yodelling and alpine
horn music.
STARTED CONFIDENTLY
It looked good on the field too as the Swiss started
confidently.
They went on to more than hold their own in terms of
possession, had the best of the chances, a penalty claim turned
down and hit the woodwork.
The Czechs had hardly threatened until substitute Vaclav
Sverkos, who made his international debut only last week,
cleverly steered a volley beyond Diego Benaglio after 70
minutes.
Switzerland substitute Johan Vonlanthen came closest to
equalising when he fired fiercely against the bar 10 minutes
from time after Petr Cech had parried a low Tranquillo Barnetta
shot.
The result was compounded by the injury suffered by Frei,
Switzerland's all-time leading goalscorer.
Frei, who has scored 35 international goals, left the pitch
in tears with an ice pack strapped to his knee at the end of the
first half, obviously fearing his tournament was over.
Four years ago his interest in Euro 2004 also ended early
after he was banned for spitting at England's Steven Gerrard.
Injuries continued to dog teams who have not started playing
yet, as Quim, who had been vying for the Portugal goalkeeper's
spot with Ricardo, became the second keeper to be ruled out of
the tournament in two days.
A scan revealed he had broken his wrist in a training
accident and he will be replaced by uncapped 34-year-old Nuno
Espirito Santo.
Poland called up 10-cap goalie Wojciech Kowalewski to
replace Tomasz Kuszczak, who was ruled out on Friday with a back
problem.
Russia will be without prolific Zenit St Petersburg striker
Pavel Pogrebnyak for the tournament after he failed to recover
from a knee injury sustained when scoring in his team's 2-1
friendly win over Serbia on May 28.
Russia coach Guus Hiddink has asked UEFA's permission to
call up uncapped midfielder Oleg Ivanov in his place.
(Editing by Jon Bramley)
