The tournament will commence tomorrow with co-hosts Switzerland pitting their promising inexperienced team against an experienced Czech Republic side keen to prove their best is not behind them.

Koebi Kuhn’s Swiss squad is one of the newest at these finals but include several members who have also experienced two other major tournaments.

“Our members have developed and ripened since the World Cup,” captain Alex Frei told reporters at the team’s base camp.

The former Czechoslovakia won the title in 1976 and recent successes for the side include an appearance in the 1996 final and a run
to the 2004 semi-finals.

But the international retirements of Karel Poborsky and Pavel Nedved along with the loss of former captain Tomas Rosicky have raised doubts over the pedigree of the squad.

“We have qualified for the last three tournaments in a row. That shows how strong we are and we will prove it again,” said midfielder David Jarolim at the team’s training ground in Seefeld, Austria.

But neutral fans will hope to see numerous goals with the opening game bringing together two of the tournament’s most prolific strikers.

Frei has scored 35 times in 59 matches for Switzerland while towering Czech forward Jan Koller boasts a record of 54 goals in 87 internationals.