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Substitute Vaclav Sverkos volleyed home to give Czech Republic a 1-0 win over co-hosts Switzerland in a lively match that opened the tournament at St Jakob Park earlier this evening.

The 24-year-old striker, who only made his international debut last week, beat the Swiss offside trap in the 70th minute to score his first goal for his country on his third appearance and complete a miserable afternoon for the home side.

His well-taken strike justified Czech coach Karel Brueckner's decision to replace the ineffective Jan Koller after 56 minutes as it brought the Czechs three points they rarely looked like collecting in the match.

The Swiss, who largely dominated a lively game, suffered a huge blow just before halftime when captain Alex Frei, who last week became their all-time top scorer with his 35th goal, limped off in tears with a ligament injury.

Kuhn said it appeared to be cruciate damage which was likely to keep him out of their next match against Turkey on Wednesday.

Frei left the field with his left knee heavily bandaged and did not return for the second half but went to the dugout on crutches 25 minutes before the end of the game.

The Swiss keenly felt his absence and the nearest they came to scoring was when substitute Johan Vonlanthen hit the bar 10 minutes from time. Hakan Yakin, who replaced Frei at halftime, had also put a free header wide.

Brueckner said: "It was always going to be hard against the Swiss at home. We played a tight game from the back, a very tactical game. But that could change in other games."

Czech match-winner Sverkos said: "I'm very happy and I think my team should also be happy because I think the Swiss were a little bit better than we were and we had a lot of luck."

Sverkos was carried off on a stretcher near the end of the match after a clash with a defender but should be fit for the Czechs' second match against Portugal in Geneva on Wednesday.

Swiss coach Koebi Kuhn said of his players: "They can walk out of the stadium with their heads held high because the performance was good. The defeat was undeserved, really. We had enough chances to at least get the equaliser, if not win it."

After a short quirky, opening ceremony featuring a snow queen, cows and skiers in an Alpine-themed show, Switzerland's players were quick to rise to the occasion when the match began.

They made the brighter start with Frei shooting wide and Valon Behrami firing straight at Czech goalkeeper Petr Cech.

Frei was on target in the 36th minute when Cech could only parry a powerful 30-metre drive and was lucky to see Marco Streller flagged offside just as he was about to unleash a shot.

Switzerland keeper Diego Benaglio was rarely tested and was blameless for the goal by Sverkos, the leading scorer in the Czech League last season.

Defeat for the Swiss means they now have a mountain to climb if they are to qualify from a group that also includes Portugal and Turkey.