The Euro 2008 Stats That Matter—Wednesday 11th June 2008

Ten reasons why Czech Republic will beat Portugal

1. Czech Republic had a better record in qualifying—winning nine, drawing two and losing just one.

2. Portugal have failed to win any of their last four encounters against the Czechs.

3. And in that period Portugal have managed to score just one goal.

4. Czech Republic may not have looked too impressive in their opener but they have lost just one of 13.

5. The Czechs won all three games in their Euro 2004 group—one which contained Holland and Germany—while Portugal lost to Greece.

6. Czech Republic also went unbeaten in 90 minutes throughout their 2004 campaign.

7. Euro 1996 was the only time the pair have met at a major tournament and Czech Republic won the quarter-final 1-0.

8. Czech Republic haven't lost a competitive game away from home since the last World Cup two years ago.

9. Portugal have won just two of their last five games.

10. Since the World Cup, Portugal have won just one of five games against teams who qualified for Euro 2008—their opening group match with Turkey.

Any other business

» Only once has the winning margin been more than one in an encounter between these two teams—when Czech Republic won 5-0 in 1975.

» Just one of Portugal's last six competitive games have boasted more than 2.5 goals.

» Only two of the first eight games in the tournament boasted more than 2.5 goals.

» In only one of the opening eight games have both teams got on the scoresheet.

Ten reasons Switzerland will finally win a Euro game

1. The host nation have never failed to win a match—it's either this one or Portugal for the Swiss.

2. Since the group stage introduction of 1980, seven of the eight host nations have won their second group game.

3. Switzerland have won two of their last three games.

4. While Turkey, despite qualifying for the tournament, have won just five of their last 16.

5. Switzerland have a great defence—they were the only team not to concede at the 2006 World Cup and have conceded one in their last three.

6. Turkey's is not so good, conceding two or more in three of their three of their last five games—against Portugal, Uruguay and, most worryingly, Belarus.

7. Switzerland qualified in place of Turkey for the 2006 World Cup—triumphing on away goals in their play-off tie.

8. The winner of their last five encounters has rotated between the two—it's now Switzerland's turn to be victorious.

9. Turkey have only once ever recorded back-to-back victories over Switzerland and that was back in 1969.

10. And don't expect a draw, only three of their 14 past clashes have been drawn, the last of which came back in 1985.