Czech Republic opened Euro 2008 with three points as they defeated co-hosts Switzerland 1-0 at St Jakob-Park.

Second half substitute Vaclav Sverkos scored the only goal of the game on 71 minutes to settle an underwhelming curtain raiser in Basel.

The first half was a tight affair, but it was Switzerland who created the best opportunity midway through proceedings as record scorer and captain Alexander Frei was denied by Czech goalkeeper Petr Cech from close range.

However, that was to be Frei's last contribution as the striker limped off in tears on the stroke of half-time with a serious knee injury which could well have ended the Borussia Dortmund star's tournament.

The Czechs lacked a cutting edge in the first 45 minutes and that bluntness continued after the interval to bring about the introduction of Sverkos in place of the ineffective Jan Koller.

And Sverkos made an almost immediate influence upon the game as he broke the Switzerland offside trap at a half cleared corner to poke in his first international goal.

Switzerland could have snatched a point in Group A with 10 minutes remaining as Cech palmed a Tranquillo Barnetta drive, but substitute Johan Vonlanthen could only rattle the rebound against the cross bar.

Switzerland coach Kobi Kuhn revealed Frei's injury is a serious on and described it as a "disaster".

"It is a shock, a disaster to lose our captain in the first game," said Kuhn.

"I can only hope it is not too serious. But I am worried about (Frei's participation) in the following games.

"He is in hospital already and they will look at the test results. We will wait and see but perhaps it is a rupture of his cruciate ligament.

"This is football."

Czech Republic coach Karel Bruckner insisted bringing Sverkos on was no tactical masterstroke.

"We had looked at several options, but fast players are more important in the second half," he said.

"We weren't as successful with our high balls to Koller in the first half so we replaced him with a different player who knows how to score.

"You just have to read match from the beginning and see how it develops.

"It is an excellent start for team, but this was not our best performance."

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