Frei and Streller withdraw Switzerland services
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
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Switzerland will have to negotiate the remainder of their UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying campaign without Alexander Frei and Marco Streller after both retired with immediate effect.
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Switzerland strikers Alexander Frei and Marco Streller have announced their retirement from international football with immediate effect.
The FC Basel 1893 pair's decision comes after they were criticised by a section of the Nati support over recent performances for the national team. The 31-year-old Frei is Switzerland's all-time leading scorer with 42 goals in 84 appearances, while Streller, 29, has struck 12 times in 37 caps.
A joint statement from the Swiss Football Association (SFV-ASF) and Basel said the duo had "arrived at the conclusion that it is not possible for them to perform at an optimum [level] for the national team anymore".
Switzerland are in third place in UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying Group G, six points behind England and Montenegro. Their next match is at Wembley on 4 June.
Ottmar Hitzfeld, the Switzerland coach, said: "We have a key match against England in front of us for which I now have to plan under different conditions. I thank Alex Frei and Marco Streller for their immaculate commitment to the national team."