Swiss skipper Frei suffers ankle injury

Switzerland skipper Alex Frei suffered a right ankle injury on Wednesday which left coach Ottmar Hitzfeld praying that the problem would not be World Cup-ending ligament damage.

“I hope the ligaments are not damaged, that there is no fracture,” Hitzfeld told Swiss news agency ATS.

“I believe Alex will be on the flight with us tonight for South Africa even if it’s a bad injury. I leave in the belief that he will take part in the World Cup.

“He perhaps will not be ready for the first match but I will be able to call upon him after that.”

Frei suffered the injury when he tried to tackle teammate Steve Von Bergen in a training session. He remained on the ground for around five minutes before being taken to hospital.

Frei has endured a nightmare recent period with injuries having broken his arm in a Swiss league game in February, only returning for the Swiss Cup final on May 9.

He is not Hitzfeld’s only injury concern ahead of Switzerland’s opening World Cup match against European champions Spain in Durban on Wednesday.

Valon Behrami, who was injured playing against Italy, took part in training, but he was unable to run.

“If he can’t train at 100 percent by Sunday, he will not play in the first match,” said the coach.