Injured Frei almost set to bow out Euro 2008

BASEL, June 7 (Xinhua) -- Switzerland's worries about their top striker Alexander Frei's injury are going to come true as team doctors admitted a serious injury in his left knee here on Saturday.

Swiss team doctor Adrian Knup has admitted that the 28-year-old,who was sent to hospital for MIR after the Euro 2008 opening match seeing Switzerland's heartbroken 1-0 defeat to Czech Republic, has sustained ligament damage.

Frei, the country's all-time leading scorer with 35 goals in 59caps, hobbled off the pitch tearfully with a strapped left knee, after a tackle by Zdenek Grygera in the 42nd minute of the European Championship opener.

Czech Republic won the curtain-raising match to record three points in Group A, through a 71-minute opportunist goal by substitute striker Vaclav Sverkos.

Frei now faces the fear of leaving the remainder of Euro 2008 due to injury.

The Borussia Dortmund star, who returned to the offside of the pitch and took his place on the bench later with crutches for the second half, was believed to have an injury as serious as to end his Euro 2008 participation.

Asked if that would mean Frei would not be able to play against Turkey in their next Group A match on Wednesday, Switzerland boss Kobi Kuhn replied: "Unfortunately, it looks like that's the case.

"It is a shock, a disaster to lose our captain in the first game. I can only hope it is not too serious," added Kuhn.