Swiss win friendly after Frei named captain

Keystone

Switzerland have beaten Jamaica 2-0 in a friendly in the United States – their first match under new captain Alexander Frei.

Thursday’s win during a training camp in Florida ended a string of defeats for the Swiss team.

Marco Streller and Gökhan Inler scored for the Swiss within the first 15 minutes of the game against a weak Jamaica.

The Swiss had plenty of chances to improve the score during a strong first half but were less impressive during the second half of the match.

Shortly before the game Swiss trainer Köbi Kuhn gave striker Frei, currently playing for German club Borussia Dortmund, the captain’s armband.

Frei takes over the captaincy from midfielder Johann Vogel who was dropped from the team two weeks ago. Kuhn said he had taken the decision “because the chemistry was no longer right, both on and off the pitch”.

The move is aimed at putting Switzerland back on track in their preparations for the European championships, to be hosted by Switzerland and neighbouring Austria in June 2008.

Rivals

Vogel, who plays for Spanish side Real Betis, was reported by the Swiss media to have fallen out with 27-year-old Frei following Switzerland’s exit from the last year’s World Cup after a penalty shoot-out against Ukraine.

Newspaper reports claimed there were also rival camps within the team and disputes between the French- and German-speaking players.

Vogel, who chose not to take a penalty, was blamed by Swiss fans for the overly defensive attitude of the team. Switzerland were the only team to keep a clean sheet, but also the only team not to score in a penalty shoot-out.

Frei has 54 caps and has scored 31 goals for his country, three shy of the national record held by Kubilay Türkyilmaz.

Frei was also the highest goalscorer in the French league during the 2004-05 season with 20 goals and was named Swiss footballer of the year the same season.

He played for Switzerland at Euro 2004 in Portugal and at the World Cup 2006 in Germany.

swissinfo with agencies

Key facts

Alexander Frei was born on July 15, 1979 in Basel.
He currently plays for Borussia Dortmund in the German Bundesliga as a striker.
In June 2006 he signed a four-year contract with Borussia Dortmund, who paid a transfer fee of approximately €5 million (SFr8 million).