My Sports India: Match Previews, TV Channel timings, and important sports news stories

The first match of the Euro 2008 tournament went Live at 9:30 today, and Czech Republic managed to scoop one in to win the first match against Switzerland. 

It didn’t look this way in the beginning however as just five minutes into the game, Alexander Frei picked up the ball in midfield off a Czech mistake and hammered a low shot just inches off the post. picks up the ball in midfield off a Czech mistake. He hammers a shot low which is just inches off the post. 

Then, 32 minutes later, Alexander Frei then unleashed a missile from 30 yards which Petr Cech can only parry. The ball goes straight to Marco Streller but he is offside. Then unfortunately, Alexander Frei had to be moved out of the field on a stretcher having jarred his knee in a challenge with Zdenek Grygera. He was in tears.

The beginning of the second period brought some cheer. Hakan Yakin, on for Frei, announced his arrival by turning his markers and earning a free-kick which Barnetta placed centimetres too high. Then followed the countless number of substitutions. 

Vaclav Svěrkoš then crashed the party (that is, substitute) with 19 minutes remaining. Following a period of Czech pressure prompted by Sionko and Plašil, the striker latched on to Zdeněk Grygera’s forward header to direct a cool, low finish to Benaglio’s left — the 24-year-old’s first international goal. And so the co-host Switzerland’s big day was ruined.

So did you watch this match? Would Switzerland have won if Alexander Frei wasn’t injured? Sound off in the comments. 

To get timings for Indian television of the Euro 2008 tournament, visit our Euro 2008 Schedule post. If you missed this match, you can watch the highlights the next day or download from a torrent.