A player of Portugal (above) heads the ball during the Euro 2008 Group A soccer match against Switzerland in Basel, Switzerland, June 15, 2008. Switzerland won the match 2-0. (Xinhua Photo)
In the other Group A match, co-hosts Switzerland bid a dramatic farewell to the European Championship with a 2-0 victory over Portugal here on Sunday thanks to a double scored by Hakan Yakin.
A perfect-worked 71-minute goal and a penalty in the 83 minute by the Young Boys playmaker helped the Swiss beat Luiz Felipe Scolari's side in front of home fans at the St. Jakob Park in Basel.
With previous 14 efforts from the hosts having been blocked, Yakin broke the deadlock at 71 mark, thumping the ball past Portuguese goalie Ricardo after Eren Derdiyok's deftly flicked back pass flying into the path of Yakin.
The 31-year-old Yakin then converted a penalty with a left-footed shot to the top left corner after Tranquillo Barnetta was fouled by Fernando Meira in the box.
Swizerland's Hakan Yakin (L) shoots a penalty kick during the Euro 2008 Group A soccer match against Portugal in Basel, Switzerland, June 15, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)
Just two minutes later, Yakin was substituted by Kuhn and cheered by home supporters while walking off the pitch, received as a hero of the European Championship co-host country.
Another touching scene was after the final whistle by Austrian referee Konrad Plautz, all the Swiss players walked onto the pitch with a banner reading "Merci Kobi" to say good-bye to their coach.
The victory gives Jakob Kuhn's side a sound reason to exit from the Euro 2008 with holding their heads high, though the game had been deemed meaningless before it kicked off.
Portugal had already booked a quarterfinal place with two impressive wins over Turkey and the Czech Republic ahead of Sunday's match, while the Swiss, who lost both of their previous games, had been knocked out whatever the result of the final game.
Fouls and meaningless actions could been seen through the little-to-play-for match as a pair of yellow card were even shown to both the Swiss and Portuguese players involved after Barnetta and Pepe had a brawl against each other in Portugal's half in the 81st minute.
Ricardo Quaresma created the first chance of the match in the seventh minute, which could be one of the most utterly unnecessary moments of skill as the Porto striker, wide on the left, banged in an out swinging right-footed cross by wrapping his foot round the back of his left leg and fizzing it in.
Helder Postiga got his head on Quaresma's pass in the middle but was ruled offside.
Forward Helder Postiga had a goal wrongly disallowed for offside on 36 minutes, and Nani hit the left post with a right footed shot from the left side of the box in the 53rd.
With the last eight berth in hand, Scolari rested most of his regulars, including the entire midfield and attack, against Switzerland. The Brazilian coach only retained experienced goalkeeper Ricardo and defenders Pepe and Paulo Ferreira from the side that beat Turkey and the Czech Republic.
The Swiss made just two changes, sending on their second goalkeeper Pascal Zuberbuehler, who is also set to retire after the tournament, came in for first choice Diego Benaglio.
They made astonishing 17 shots throughout the match, with 9 of those on the target.
(Xinhua News Agency June 16, 2008)
