The Czech Republic's meeting with Portugal will revive memories of on of the country's most famous goals – Karel Poborský's lobbed winner at EURO '96™ which sent his side through to the semi-finals in their first tournament as an independent country. Portugal have enjoyed better fortune against Turkey, beating them twice in UEFA European Championships, and UEFA EURO 2008™ co-hosts Switzerland as uefa.com looks back at some notable previous matches between the four teams who will contest Group A next summer.
Czech Republic v Portugal
The only previous meeting was that game in Birmingham. Poborský later became his country's most-capped international. The Czechoslovakia team that won the 1976 European Championship beat Portugal 5-0 at home in the qualifying round.
Switzerland v Czech Republic
They have not come together since August 1999, when the Czech Republic won 3-0 at home in Drnovice. The two visits by the Czech Republic to Swiss soil have brought mixed fortunes – a 3-0 defeat in Zurich on 20 April 1994 and a 2-1 win in Basel on 01 June 1996. The latter was a confidence-boosting final warm-up prior to EURO '96™, where they finished runners-up.
Czech Republic v Turkey
The Czech Republic's first three matches with Turkey all resulted in victories by a three-goal margin – in Istanbul, Ostrava and Teplice. A fourth successive win looked likely in the most recent encounter, on 1 March 2006 in Izmir, until Turkey substitute Ümit Karan scored two goals in the last two minutes to salvage a 2-2 draw. They were the striker’s first international goals.
Portugal v Turkey
Turkey have encountered Portugal in each of their two EURO finals appearances, losing to them both in 1996 and 2000. Nuno Gomes scored both goals for Portugal in the last eight in 2000 – a game in which Turkey had a player sent off and missed a penalty. Turkey won the first meeting between the two countries, 3-1 in Istanbul in 1955, but Portugal have won all five subsequent matches.
Switzerland v Turkey
Their last encounter, a 2006 World Cup qualifying play-off in Istanbul, ended in disgrace after violent incidents between opposing players and coaching staff on the pitch and in the tunnel. Switzerland won the tie on the away goals rule to reach the finals in Germany at Turkey's expense – despite a second-leg hat-trick from Turkey striker Tuncay Şanlı. The decisive Swiss goal was scored by Marco Streller. Switzerland and Turkey qualified for EURO '96™ in tandem from the same group. It was the first European Championship finals appearance for both nations.
Switzerland v Portugal
Portugal are unbeaten in four competitive visits to the country. Their three matches against Switzerland in Berne have all resulted in 1-1 draws. Despite getting the better of Switzerland in the qualifying rounds for the FIFA World Cups of 1990 and 1994, Portugal failed to reach the finals of either tournament. The two countries have never faced each other in a finals. ©uefa.com
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