SWITZERLAND: SOCCER/FOOTBALL - Two year wait almost over for fans of Euro 2008 co-hosts Switzerland

Record ID: 334841

  • Title: SWITZERLAND: SOCCER/FOOTBALL - Two year wait almost over for fans of Euro 2008 co-hosts Switzerland
  • Date: 8th June 2008
  • Summary: CZECH FANS WAVING CZECH SCARF AND WALKING AWAY/ TRAM PASSING
  • Embargoed: 23rd June 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Switzerland
  • Country: Switzerland
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAARHH2SLVVTFW28IBSFDCCHOW2
  • Story Text: Swiss and Czech fans gather in Basel to support their teams just hours ahead of the Euro 2008 opening match.
    A two-year wait for competitive football will finally end on Saturday (June 7) when Switzerland co-hosts launch their Euro 2008 campaign against Czech Republic (1600 GMT).
    Wearing the colours of their teams Czech and Swiss football fans gathered in Basel, waving their team's scarves and posing for photographs in front of the town hall.

    "We are from the Czech Republic but because today I think we are big winners. Yes absolutely yes. But I think that the Switzerland, the team of Switzerland will be a difficulty for us but in my opinion I think that we will win because we are the best, the Czech Republic are the best," said one fan.

    "The score? 2-1. For us," added a fellow Czech supporter.
    Turkish and Dutch fans could were also mingling in the streets.
    Turkey will face Portugal, hosts and runners-up four years ago, in Geneva in the second match of the day in Group A (1845 GMT).
    Tournament organisers and fans alike are hoping the forecast for rain is wrong.
    Preparations for Switzerland's big day in Basel have been overshadowed by the health of coach Koebi Kuhn's wife, who is in hospital after being placed in an artificial coma following a severe epileptic attack on Monday (June 2).
    Kuhn has been balancing the task of getting his team ready for their first competitive game since the 2006 World Cup in Germany with making regular trips to the hospital.
    Switzerland are co-hosting the finals with Austria.
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