Match 01 - Switzerland v Czech Republic / Editor / 06 June 2008 / Leave a comment

EURO 2008: SWITZERLAND V CZECH REPUBLIC

Half-Time

The HT draw, as well as the FT draw, is a big runner in the opening group games, when teams are anxious to avoid defeat and games are usually very tight (2.0 average goals per game in European Championships since the current format was adopted in 1980).

At the seven Euro tournaments since 1980, 25/40 (63%) of the opening games have had HT draws, which indicates that backing the HT draw across the board has some merit as it is odds-against in seven of the eight opening group games this year, including this match where it's [2.08]. Of those 25 HT draws, 19 were 0-0, five 1-1 and one 2-2.

Switzerland have never trailed at the break in 11 competitive home games under Kobi Kuhn (six HT wins, five HT draws) and overall under Kuhn have been behind at HT in just 4/30 competitive games (of the other 26 games, there has been an even split of HT wins and HT draws).

The Czech Republic show similar first-half resilience under Karel Bruckner, trailing at HT in just 7/25 outside their homeland, with 10 HT wins and eight HT draws. Against teams ranked in the top 20, however, they have trailed at HT in 4/8.

At the three European Championships since the expansion to 16 teams, meetings between two teams ranked 11-20 have produced a HT draw in 5/9.

HT/FT

With the propensity of draws in opening group games, it is not surprising that the most common HT/FT outcome is D-D, which accounts for 12/40 (30%) of opening-game results since 1980. On the overall figures, therefore the D-D [5.0] looks too big.

In 11 competitive home games under Kobi Kuhn, the most common HT/FT result for Switzerland has been W-W (5), followed by D-D (3).

The Czech Republic's most common HT/FT result outside their homeland under Karel Bruckner is W-W (10/25), followed by D-W (5), and they are unbeaten in 18 when not losing at HT (all four defeats outside their homeland have been L-L).

At the three European Championships since the expansion to 16 teams, meetings between two teams ranked 11-20 have produced a HT/FT D-D in just 1/9. The most common result has been D-W (3/9) for the lower-ranked team (in this case, Switzerland).

Switzerland clean sheet

Switzerland have conceded in 7/11 competitive home games under Kobi Kuhn, including 3/5 against teams ranked in the top 20, though overall against top-20 teams they have kept a clean sheet in a respectable 5/12.

The Czech Republic have scored in 19/25 outside their homeland under Karel Bruckner, including 6/8 when the opponent is ranked in the top 20. In tournament games under Bruckner, they have scored in 5/8 (two of the failures coming in their last two games of the 2006 World Cup when they were chronically short of attackers). On this basis, the market looks about right.

Czech Republic clean sheet

The Czech Republic have kept a clean sheet in 10 of their last 12 away games, and under Karel Bruckner they have won 10/11 on the road when shutting out the opposition, so a clean sheet is important to them. In tournament games under Bruckner, they have kept a clean sheet in 5/8.

Shutting out Switzerland will be difficult, however, as the hosts have scored in all 11 competitive home games under Kobi Kuhn, and in a respectable 8/12 overall against teams ranked in the top 20. Again, the markets look well set.

About the SOS Rankings

SOS consider FIFA's rankings unreliable, as they are based upon criteria clearly weighted to favour countries playing in weaker regional areas. SOS have therefore developed their own system of international football rankings, to give a more accurate guide of teams' relative strengths - and provide a more valid basis for their analysis.

The SOS rankings are based on a sample universe of more than 25,000 international matches, are updated every month, and attach a much greater weighting to both the relative importance of matches (friendly, competitive, major tournament) - as well as the relative strength of opposition and overall match supremacy. Allowance is also made for the game venue, not just in terms of simple home, away or neutral - but also in relation to the country's home continent. Points gained decay over a period of four years, the natural cycle of international football.

For the full SOS Rankings, click here, where you can also view previews for all matches.
All analysis, unless where noted, is based on competitive internationals since the start of the 1998 World Cup Finals.

For the full SOS Rankings, href="https://www.statsonsport.com/en/1/fbeuro08rankings.mxs">click here, where you can also view previews for all matches.

Tags: Euro 2008 bets, Euro 2008 betting, Switzerland football