Swiss prospects bleak after double blow

By Mark Ledsom

FEUSISBERG, Switzerland (Reuters) - Defeat in Euro 2008's opening match and the suspected loss to a knee injury of captain Alex Frei made for a sombre mood in Switzerland on Sunday.

"The whole of Switzerland is crying with Frei," read the headline of the country's SonntagsZeitung broadsheet above a photo of the player limping off the pitch in tears at half-time during his country's 1-0 defeat against Czech Republic.

"Euro disaster," was the summary of the Blick tabloid. "It's enough to make you wail!"

The newspaper then attempted to rally its readers insisting that "there is no point hanging our heads ... the only thing that matters now is the next match against Turkey".

With two Group A games still remaining, against the Turks on Wednesday and then Portugal next Sunday, the Swiss do still have a chance to get themselves back in contention.

The problem is they will probably have to do so without Frei who last week became the country's all-time top goalscorer with a prolific tally, including Saturday's match, of 35 goals from 60 internationals.

HIGHLY DOUBTFUL

Coach Koebi Kuhn told a news conference after the game that Frei's participation in the tournament was highly doubtful.