Switzerland coach Kobi Kuhn was left shell-shocked after seeing his side lose 1-0 to the Czech Republic in the opening game of Euro 2008, with captain Alexander Frei also suffering a serious injury.

Striker Frei, his country's all-time leading scorer, lasted only the first half of the game in Basel, with a knee problem likely to have ended his tournament already.

Kuhn admitted: "It is a shock, a disaster to lose our captain in the first game.

"I can only hope it is not too serious, but I am worried about Frei's participation in the following games.

"He is in hospital already and they will look at the test results. We will wait and see but perhaps it is a rupture of his cruciate ligament. This is football."

Kuhn added of his side's overall display: "I congratulated my team on their performance.

"I told them they can leave with their heads held high. We have to go forward and forget about this game. I am more than satisfied with what they did."