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Switzerland's own "Summer fairy tale"?

"Hopp Schwiiz" are the two words in everyone's mouth in Switzerland.

The Swiss hope for their very own "Summer fairy tale" at the EURO 2008, starting with the opening match against the Czech Republic in Basle on Saturday (18:00).

Frei: "A historic moment"

"We are ready for a great match and a historic moment that we will tell our children and grandchildren about", Swiss captain Alexander Frei says ahead of his 60th game for the national side.

The motivation of the Swiss team could hardly be bigger, but so is the pressure.

No EURO win for Switzerland so far

Switzerland have hardly set the world alight in their two EURO tournaments so far, drawing two and losing four matches in 1996 and 2004.

"We haven't got any world stars, but a team that works well. We are ideally prepared to play our best football", Swiss coach Köbi Kuhn says ahead of his last major tournament.

Rosicky sorely missed

Czech coach Karel Brückner will have to make do without long-term injury victim Tomas Rosicky.

"We can't replace him. We have to try and compensate for his loss as good as possible", the 68-year-old declared.

Czechs bank on Koller

Zdenek Pospech (fever) is sidelined, too, but the Czechs bank on 1. FC Nürnberg striker Jan Koller, who has 54 goals in 87 caps to his name.

Czech skipper Tomas Ujfalusi isn't afraid of the heated atmosphere in the sold out St. Jakob-Park, saying "the pressure is on Switzerland in front of their own fans."

Line-ups as expected:

Switzerland: 1 Benaglio - 5 Lichtsteiner, Senderos, 20 Müller, 3 Magnin - 19 Behrami, 8 Inler, 15 Fernandes, 16 Barnetta - 9 Frei, 11 Streller

Czech Republic: 1 Cech - 2 Grygera, 21 Ujfalusi, 22 Rozehnal, 6 Jankulovski - 14 Jarolim, 4 Galasek, 20 Plasil - 7 Sionko, 15 Baros - 9 Koller

Referee: Roberto Rosetti (Italy)

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