Saturday, June 7, 2008

Euro 2008 Live Blog: Switzerland v. Czech Republic


It's finally here, the first match of Euro 2008 pitting co-host Switzerland against a strong Czech Republic squad from St. Jakob Park in Basel, Switzerland. I am thoroughly excited about the tournament, although I won't likely be able to watch every single minute of each match like I did with World Cup 2006. Stupid jobs and needing to make money.

This match has the potential to be a scoreless draw. The Swiss are known for keeping a tight back line having been ousted from the last World Cup without allowing a goal. The Czech team is led by its all-world keeper Petr Cech. But, the Czech team is missing some of its offensive firepower with Tomas Rosicky out injured and Pavel Nedved retired.

After the jump, the lineups

Czech Rep.
Petr Cech-G; Marek Jankulovski-D, Tomas Ujfalusi-D, David Rozehnal-D, Zdenek Grygera-D; David Jarolim-M, Libor Sionko-M, Tomas Galasek-M, Jaroslav Plasil-M, Jan Polak-M; Jan Koller-F

Switzerland

Diego Benaglio-G; Patrick Müller-D, Ludovic Magnin-D, Philippe Senderos-D, Stephan Lichtsteiner-D; Tranquillo Barnetta-M, Valon Behrami-M, Fernandes Gelson-M, Gokhan Inler-M; Alexander Frei-F, Marco Streller-F

0:00 The match is underway, but you know what sucks...not having ESPN Classic and only getting an Asian language feed. Gotta find something better.


6:00 Seriously, this is annoying. Compounded by some domestic disorder this morning, my day is not starting well.

Not even a fucking clock...Jeeezzus!!

16:00 Now it's french...I don't fucking speak french. Bastards.

20:00 Swiss Mister Frei with a nice touch on to free his teammate for a shot on Cech. But, the effort was lacking and Cech easily smothered it.

22:00 Wow! That was some pathetic defense on the Czech squad. Allowing the ball to bounce over his head letting Frei free, but Cech again saved the team coming off his line.

25:00 That was an ambitious effort from Sionko for Czech Rep. An off-balance turn at the 18 with no pace on the shot. Good idea.


27:00
The Czech squad seems to be having trouble stringing anything together. Just trying to power it in without any strategy right now. They should fix that.

30:00 Seriously, the Czech strategy seems to be hump the ball upfield and (1) shoot or (2) try to get it to Koller's head. Now, Koller is tall and it worked against the US two years ago, but really?

34:00 Foul on Fernandes. His name definitely sounds Swiss.

35:00 If Koller had been 6 inches taller, he would be playing basketball, but he might have been able to get his head on that. Who am I kidding, he would have had to be faster and younger. Tough to get to when your old as the alps.

36:00 The Swiss offense finally reappeared with an excellent long-range shot that Cech could only parry away but there were Swiss attackers in the area, that were offside. Lucky for the Cech.

41:00 The lone creative force in this match, Alex Frei, is down and has to come off to the sideline after a Czech player came in on a tackle and twisted his knee. Hopefully he can make a Paul Pierce like comeback. Otherwise, this match is going to be even less tolerable.

45:00 Well, we have our first man tears as Frei sheds a few as he walks back to the lockerroom with his knee wrapped in ice. This doesn't look good.

Halftime 0-0 Well, at least there have been a few opportunities.


So, is horseracing that popular that ESPN needs to cover all the races prior to the Belmont Stakes this morning rather than putting soccer on a channel that just about all cable systems in the US have? Just curious. I mean, there is only so many times I can stand to watch Big Brown bucking in his security stable this morning and hearing the question "Is this going to affect him?"...No you fucking asshole, it won't and if it does will it change your bet? Not likely you fucking degenerate gambler.

46:00 So Frei is off, Hakin Yakin is on for him. Bummer.

Precious Roy writes:

The real reason soccer will never be huge in this country?

Every time there is good buzz for the sport off something like the CL final, the very next match that people might tune in to is invariably something like this.


Thankfully this match is only on ESPN Classic. Those bastards.

47:00 A nice set play for the Swiss off the corner that gets Cech on the ground for the save.

That was a nice overhead camera shot prior to the corner. Like thos NFL sky cams. I'd like to see more of those shots.

51:00 Yakin has impacted the match since he stepped on the pitch. He is looking very dangerous.

In case your interested, Piazza de Spagna won the MSG Network Purse just now. Congratulations. Now switch over to a soccer match ESPN, you wankers.

57:00 Sverkos on for Koller...hopefully this will keep them away from Route 1 football.

59:00 Magnin, the new Swiss captain, becomes the first player booked in the tourney on a late tackle from behind.

60:00 Sionko gets a head on the ensuing free kick but it goes just wide right. A good opportunity and Sionko continues to impress.

62:00 Lichtsteiner made a nice run to the corner with the ball and weighted a nice cross to the middle of the box that Bernetta skied. I would really like to see a goal. But, nobody seems to have the finishing quality.

65:00 Yakin proves dangerous again getting his head on a cross but it goes wide right.

67:00 Frei comes out from the lockerroom on crutches. What a disappointment to suffer the injury. I hope it's not too serious.

71:00 GOALLLLL!!! 1-0 C.R. The sub Sverkos scores for Czech on some bad defending. The line let him slip by as the ball was chipped over and he loped onto into easily putting it in the right corner.

That's the first goal the Swiss have conceded in an international tournament since 2004.

75:00 Vanlanthen on for Lichtsteiner, who played well, and then Vanlanthen gets a yellow immediately. Well done, well done.

78:00 How unlucky can Switzerland get. They had Cech beaten with a rebound on a shot but the woodwork still beat them.

By the way, it looks like TIET was serious that she would turn off the match if Frei was out. Haven't seen hide nor hair of her since halftime. She is a principled woman.

82:00 Sionko off for Vlcek. I'd like to give this guy one of Sionko's vowels.

I think Magnin was an extra on the Caveman show.

87:00 Jarolim on for Kovac. I'm not going to even pretend I know a single thing about these guys. My Froot Loops have been more interesting than the end of this match. Did you know it has a new "Darkberry" Froot Loop? that might be mildly racist.

90:00 3 Minutes of stoppage time. I must say Cech hasn't looked great. He gave up an easy corner there and just seems out of synch.

90:00 +2 Hey, Shaq's at the Belmont Stakes. Is somebody going to ride him in the race?

Goal scorer Sverkos gets the stretcher after he ran into a Swiss ass. No, I don't mean Senderos.

90:00 +5: Barnetta gets booked and we have the final whistle. Czech Republic has to be happy with the win but somewhat concerned with their lack of offense. While, the Swiss are probably pretty down after losing Frei and creating the majority of the chances but failing to capitalize.

Well, see you all in about an hour for the next match between Portugal and Turkey.

58 comments:

BackBergtt said...

no deggen?

Precious Roy said...

Isn't Jan Koller older than Greg Oden?

TIET said...

Oh, is it starting? Those weird people dressed in boxes put me to sleep.

Philippe looks stressed already.

Precious Roy said...

"He is prone to the mistake"

Understatment of the day, Mr. Smyth. And the day just started.

Precious Roy said...

Apparently your Asian feed is a good 7 minutes behind the actual broadcast.

BackBergtt said...

its a shitty defenderoff here in basel between senderos and januklokoloawskwi

BackBergtt said...

how is being one of the favorites an encouraging 'statistic'

BackBergtt said...

heres a bunch of streams

(theres no chance of the word verification being off for these is there)

Goat said...

The Swiss have had the best chances at both ends.

Precious Roy said...

O/U on number of times the Cedric Benson arrest and Casino Drive info run across the scroll?

Precious Roy said...

I think Rosicky bought the team more whores, er, I mean 'enthusiastic supporters' last night.

Goat said...

Ludovic Magnin looks like Ron Howard's brother:
http://images.starpulse.com/Photos/th/Clint%20Howard-9.jpg

BackBergtt said...

its been conservative? the swiss have been getting aggressive chances the whole game, tommy is on the ball as always!

Precious Roy said...

Goat: Nice... he was the creepy tree-sitter in Arrested Development. Don't think he's ever gotten a part that his brother didn't give him.

Goat said...

That's the extent of my contribution to the discussion.

Goat said...

Stay tuned to find out who I think Jan Koller looks like.

BackBergtt said...

man i had no idea smicer had 27 goals for the national team

Precious Roy said...

A) Sweet camera shot from behind the goal through the opening in the stadium

B) The Swiss are much better than I anticipated.

Precious Roy said...

Jan Koller is the older stock guy from 10 Items Or Less.

BackBergtt said...

prediction: lichsteiner is one of the hot properties after this tournament, ive got a feeling


also, huge credit to frei for staying with the 'smaller' teams, pretty rare anymore for someone to do that

BackBergtt said...

the czech kits are pretty awful, especially the socks

Precious Roy said...

Playing Route 1 futbol to Koller probably ain't going to get it done for the Czechs.

Goat said...

Precious Roy, that's exactly who I was thinking but I didn't feel like looking for his name. I think you win some sort of prize.

Precious Roy said...

He's also the guy in the commercials about quitting smoking who is trying to drink a cup of coffee by pouring it in his lap or whatever.

I probably need to watch less televised sports.

Precious Roy said...

Funny part about it is, the first time I saw that show I thought "Man, he looks just like somebody" but I never put it together until today.

BackBergtt said...

jebus

Precious Roy said...

Wonder if the Czechs can make it through on 3 points with a trio of 0-0 draws?

Unknown said...

i am still drunk from the night before. watching this game is not helping matters one bit.

BackBergtt said...

your first terrible call of the tourney
get up frei

TIET said...

If Frei goes out injured, I'm turning this match off.

Precious Roy said...

Wow, even Cech is a bit unnerved.

BackBergtt said...

what the hell thats not even the leg he was 'fouled' on

Precious Roy said...

WTF? But you probably don't cry like that unless you think you are legitimately hurt.

Or Italian.

Zing!

TIET said...

Frei's crying. Welcome to Euro everyone.

BackBergtt said...

oh it definitely looks like hes hurt, but thats not from being hit, maybe he pulled a hammy or something

the rock is on encore, helloooo halftime flipto

Precious Roy said...

The real reason soccer will never be huge in this country?

Every time there is good buzz for the sport off something like the CL final, the very next match that people might tune in to is invariably something like this.

That, and the fact that this chicks in this country who watch the sport look like they just got out of an SCA meeting.

BackBergtt said...

respectfully disagree, i think its been a pretty exciting match given who is playing in it

Precious Roy said...

I'm an Arsenal fan, but I think the 6 mentions of the club so far are quite enough, especially considering the two players that would prompt a mention are either a) injured or b) suck.

Goat said...

Just wait until Johan Djourou comes on.

Precious Roy said...

Any of the Traore Swiss?

BackBergtt said...

insert really bad joke about djimi's defense being swiss as its full of holes

nay, id say thats a ... cheesy joke

Goat said...

I'll have to consult that always popular UF column, "Better Know A Traore"

BackBergtt said...

in net for the swiss ... jimmy fallon with fetal alcohol syndrome

Goat said...

He really should have done better with that.

Goat said...

Mike, how is that different from normal Jimmy Fallon?

BackBergtt said...

face is just pulled a litttle bit tighter

guess frei blew out his knee, that sucks

BackBergtt said...

BAM

Precious Roy said...

Did he just slap his arm like he was going to tie off and shoot up?

Goat said...

Did Senderos have anything to do with that goal?

BackBergtt said...

wasnt the back guys' fault, was a midfield turnover and they were caught stopping and starting when the czech was running right at the offside trap, perfectly executed

Precious Roy said...

Since he was on the field, I"m going to go ahead and say "yes."

BackBergtt said...

yellow card five seconds after you get brought into the game, momentum ftw!

Goat said...

Precious Roy, that was my first inclination.

BackBergtt said...

wait tommy just said it was senderos who led to the turnover, so i guess it was his fault.

thaaaats a shame

BackBergtt said...

GOOD LORD

unlucky

that was a handball

BackBergtt said...

jared leto in fight club entering the game

BackBergtt said...

and HERE is why this game doesnt catch on

winning team gets fouled near the end, automatically the guy acts like he was shot

still think stoppage time shouldnt be continuous clock

BackBergtt said...

is the darkberry grape flavored? thatd be pretty bad

still disagree, think its been a pretty exciting match