Alexander Frei’s Hometown Dream Ends

Sadly, it will become one of the defining images of this tournament: Alexander Frei limping off the pitch in tears in his hometown of Basel, his European experience as a host finished because of torn ligaments in his knee. Worse yet, Switzerland played like victors, but ended the game with a loss, sending their knockout hopes into further disarray, a cruel post even failing to offer up the consolation of a draw. There could be no better example of adding insult to injury.

MRI results recently released show the ligaments and gave confirmation on what everyone knew, that Frei’s tournament was over just 44 minutes into the games. Switzerland’s all time goal leader and captain will have to be replaced, though the possibility of anyone approaching his contributions are slim and none. Kobi Kuhn agrees, and says this is nothing short of a disaster:

“It is a shock, a disaster to lose our captain in the first game…..This is football.”

Unfortunately it is football, a game which can be very, very cruel. Frei worked long and hard to get back to form and fitness this year after losing so much time with Borussia Dortmund due to injuries, giving him the chance to play at home. Now his dream is over, and a long road is ahead.

Perhaps he can look to the story of Václav Svěrkoš, as painful as it may be, for inspiration. Two years ago he lost his son and went on a long stretch without any on field productivity, understandably so. Now, in his first ever competitive cap for the Czech Republic, he’s the hero. After the goal he kissed his tattoo emblazoned with his son’s name, Maxim. No one in the stadium today deserved that goal more.

Here’s to a speedy recovery for Alexander.