Switzerland become the first to be knocked out from the group stage of the Euro 2008 after losing 2-1 to Turkey. Switzerland took the lead in the first half but suffered two goals in the second half to bow out of the tournament. The match was one of the most thrilling and both teams deserved to grab points from the match. A moment of brilliance from Turkey saw them nip the co-hosts in the 92nd minute of the match leaving the home fans deluded.

Hakan Yakin sent Swiss fans into joy in the first half but it was not to be… Turkey turned the match in the second half with the equaliser from Semih Senturk and then a deep stoppage time goal from Arda Turan left Kobi Kuhn’s men disillusioned.  Switzerland play Portugal next and with Portugal already qualified, Switzerland might at least get a consolation result in their final encounter. Czech Republic and Turkey were always favoured then hosts Switzerland to join Portugal in the quater finals but Turkey needed to work extremely hard to gain this vital win.

Switzerland went into the break leading 1-0 thanks to a Hakan Yakin goal sending the numerous fans dancing in jubilation. Switzerland need to win the match to get back hopes of qualifying from the group stage and currently they are doing exactly what they need to do.

Probable Starting XI: Benaglio; Magnin, Müller, Senderos, Lichtsteiner; Barnetta, Behrami, Fernandes, Inler; Streller, Yakin.

Euro 2008 Co-hosts lost their opening match against Czech Republic on the opening match of Euro 2008 and this means that they must beat Turkey today or at least draw to survive any hopes of qualifying for the quarter finals. Turkey lost 2-0 to Portugal in their first match and this leaves Portugal and Czech topping the group with 3 points. Switzerland lost their star player Alexander Frei to injury in the first match and this leaves with slight lack of hope of getting some good results in the tournament.

Hakan Yakin is likely to replace injured Frei

Squadra	G	V	N	P	F	S	P.ti
	Portugal	1	1	0	0	2	0	3
	Czech Rep	1	1	0	0	1	0	3
	Switzerland	1	0	0	1	0	1	0
	Turkey	1	0	0	1	0	2	0

Alexander Frei will be the star player of the Swiss squad in this year’s edition of the European Championships. Frei is 28 years old, born on the 15^th July 1979, and he plays as a striker for Borussia Dortmund. The reported transfer fee paid by Dortmund to secure his services from French club Rennes in 2006 is € 5 million. Until now, he has earned 56 caps for Switzerland, in which he scored 32 goals. He only needs three more goals to be considered Switzerland’s number one all-time top scorer. Frei can score a goal if he spots a tiny flaw in the opponents’ defence.

Frei was selected for the Swiss squad to play in the 2006 World Cup. In this competition, he managed to score two goals. One of the goals was against Togo and the other against South Korea. The Swiss lad has the potential to be a match winner for the Switzerland national team, and unless the Group A opponents are careful, the Swiss may surprise everyone by progressing to the quarter-finals. A key factor that will back the Swiss team is that the team will be playing all its group stage matches in Basel, Switzerland.