Swiss captain Frei to end international career

Swiss captain Frei to end international career

Published Nov. 4, 2010 5:17 p.m. ET

Switzerland captain and record scorer Alex Frei says verbal abuse from fans has helped convince him to retire from international football at the end of the season.

Frei says he will concentrate on playing for his club FC Basel after a European Championship match against England at Wembley next June, even though Switzerland will still have three qualifiers remaining.

The 31-year-old Frei says he took note of those who ''openly said my time in the national team was over.''

Frei has scored 40 goals in 81 internationals but has become a regular target for abuse.

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Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld says he regrets Frei's decision, and described him as one of the best Swiss forwards in history.

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