Portugal and the Czech Republic won the first games of the European championship finals in Austria and Switzerland to confirm their status as group A favourites.

In the first match of the tournament, which followed a 15-minute quirky opening ceremony that featured cows, waltzes and skiers, the Czechs won against co-hosts Switzerland, 1:0 in Basel.

Switzerland looked the better team for the first hour and has repeatedly tested Petr Cech through Valon Behrami, Gokhan Inler and Alexander Frei. Even after losing Frei, the team's biggest star, to injury, Switzerland looked more dangerous in attack.

Switzerland's all-time top-scorer Frei had to hobble off with apparent knee damage shortly before half-time, which could put an end to his participation in the tournament.

The Swiss continued to pour forward, paying less attention to defense, and on one occasion they paid for it. A rushed clearance from a corner, during which the defenders were too slow in moving forward, allowed substitute Václav Svěrkoš to beat the off-side trap and slot the ball into the net in the 70th minute. It was his first goal for the national team in just his third appearance.

The hosts continued to attack and could have equalised ten minutes later, only for Cech to save Behrami's shot, with Johan Vonlanthen clattering the bar with the rebound. The Swiss were also denied an iron-clad penalty in the last minute of added time, when Tomáš Ujfaluši handballed in the penalty area, but Italian referee Roberto Rosetti waved play on.

In the evening's late match, Portugal beat Turkey 2:0, although the scoreline did not reflect the superiority that Portuguese enjoyed, hitting the woodwork three times and having another goal disallowed.

Centre-back Pepe's towering header in the first half was flagged off-side, but the defender still got himself on the score-sheet in the 60th minute, scoring in typical forward fashion with a mis-hit lob over the goalkeeper after a one-two with striker Nuno Gomes, who slipped the ball behind three Turkish defenders.

Portugal added a second in the added time, capitalising on a quick break that saw Cristiano Ronaldo pass the ball to Joao Moutinho, who did a 360-degrees spin to beat a defender and feed the incoming Raul Meireles to score into an open net.

The next round of matches in group A, on June 11, will see the two favourites - Portugal and Czech Republic - clash for the top spot, while Switzerland and Turkey will both need a win to keep their hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages alive.