GOONERSGUIDE EURO 2008 NEWS SECTION

This is our Euro 2008 news section where we provide any news items that might have a significant effect on the matches being played - or sports betting in general.

Euro 2008 News :: Euro2008 Buildup : Switzerland 2-0 Slovakia

Posted on 2008-05-24 by Gooner

UEFA EURO 2008 co-hosts Switzerland registered a morale-boosting 2-0 win against Slovakia at the Stadio Cornaredo in Lugano following four successive defeats in previous friendly matches.

Coach Jakob Kuhn had selected Slovakia as an opponent due to a a similarity in style (although not as strong) to the Czech Republic, who Switzerland will face in their opener in Basel on 7 June.

In a 4-4-2 formation, Kuhn opted for Alexander Frei and Marco Streller as his attackers while central defender Patrick Müller was back in action having recovered from torn cruciate ligaments.

His return gave the Swiss defence much needed stability that had been lacking in previous friendlies. Both teams had trouble creating anything dangerous in the first half although Frei was denied twice close to half-time by Slovakia goalkeeper Ján Mucha.

In the second half Switzerland picked up the pace in front of a crowd of 10,150 with Johan Vonlanthen firing over the bar after a backheel by Streller. Valon Behrami, growing stronger by the minute on the right side of midfield, opened the scoring when he pounced on a rebound off Mucha following a Gökhan Inler effort after 56 minutes.

It was Behrami again who set up Frei to make it 2-0 seven minutes later, when the BV Borussia Dortmund striker finished from close range.

Switzerland host neighbours Liechtenstein in their final friendly before they begin their UEFA EURO 2008 campaign in Group A.

Sourced From : Various

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