Waiting for the Opening match: Switzerland - Czech Republic

Tomorrow, Switzerland will face the Czech Republic in Basel in the opening match of Euro 2008.

Switzerland also took part in the opening match of the European Championship in 1996, a 1-1 draw against England.

Czechoslovakia featured in consecutive opening matches in 1976 and 1980.In 1980 the Czechs fell to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of West Germany.

Four years earlier, Czechoslovakia beat the Netherlands 3-1 after extra time in the first match of the final tournament of 1976.

Opening matches at European Championship

7 Jun 2008 St. Jakob-Park Basel, Switzerland – Czech Republic

12 Jun 2004 Estádio do Dragão Porto, Portugal - Greece 1-2

10 Jun 2000 Koning Boudewijnstadion Brussels, Belgium – Sweden 2-1

8 Jun 1996 Wembley Stadium London, England – Switzerland 1-1

10 Jun 1992 Råsunda Fotbollstadion Stockholm, Sweden – France 1-1

10 Jun 1988 Rheinstadion Düsseldorf, West Germany – Italy 1-1

12 Jun 1984 Parc des Princes Paris, France – Denmark 1-0

11 Jun 1980 Stadio Olimpico Rome, West Germany – Czechoslovakia 1-0

16 Jun 1976 Stadion Dinamo Zagreb, Czechoslovakia – Netherlands 3-1 aet

14 Jun 1972 Bosuil Antwerp, Belgium – West Germany 1-2
14 Jun 1972 Astrid Park Brussels, Soviet Union – Hungary 1-0

5 Jun 1968 Stadio Artemio Franchi Florence, Yugoslavia – England 1-0
5 Jun 1968 Stadio San Paolo Naples, Italy – Soviet Union 0-0

17 Jun 1964 Camp Nou Barcelona, Soviet Union – Denmark 3-0

6 Jul 1960 Parc des Princes Paris, France – Yugoslavia 4-5

Source: Infostrada Sports

Edited:
Probable Opening Match Lineups:

Switzerland:
Benaglio; Degen, Magnin, Senderos, Eggimann; Barnetta, Cabañas, Huggel, Vonlanthem; Frei, Streller.

Czech Republic:
Cech; Grygera, Jankulovski, Rozenhal, Kovac; Galasek, Plasil, Polak, Matejovsky, Sionko; Koller.