Euro 2008 Preview: Switzerland v Czech Republic

Switzerland were boosted by the return to fitness of Tranquillo Barnetta ahead of Saturday's Euro 2008 opener. The midfielder has recovered from an ankle problem, while Patrick Mueller should also be available.

Czech defender Marek Jankulovski has declared himself fit for the Group A game after a knee injury. Captain Tomas Ujfalusi is still struggling as he has a problem with an abdominal muscle, while right-back Zdenek Pospech (virus) is out.

Coach Karel Bruckner said the problem was probably related to the dry, hard ground at the team's European Championship base in Austria and should not be serious. Swiss defender Mueller missed all of last season with a knee injury but has also been cleared to play.

"Everyone is fully fit, Kobi Kuhn will have 23 players to pick from for Saturday," reported squad doctor Roland Grossen at the Swiss squad's training base in the foothills of the Alps. Arsenal centre-half Philippe Senderos revealed he was anticipating that Mueller would be alongside him against the Czechs. "Patrick has been training hard and he has played the last two games with me," Senderos said. "It depends on the coach and how Patrick feels, but I think he'll be there."

Barnetta said he was determined to play for the co-hosts in their crucial first game, with matches against Turkey and Portugal to follow. Italian official Roberto Rosetti has been chosen to referee the opening game.

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.