Switzerland’s Yann Sommer addressed the press ahead of their crucial round-of-16 clash against Italy in EURO2024, scheduled for Saturday evening. After they went undefeated with a win and two draws on the road to the knockout stages, the minimum expectation for the Rossocrociati will be to put up a respectable fight against the current holders.
The goalkeeper, who has made five saves so far this tournament, revealed his penalty tactics, his training goggles and his thoughts on Italy ahead of their meeting at Berlin’s Olympiastadion.
What did Yann Sommer say?
In both FIFA World Cup qualifying fixtures against Italy, Sommer was lauded as Switzerland’s hero after saving a penalty struck by Jorginho in both games. However, the Inter Milan goalkeeper has stressed that he wouldn’t like to come up against the Arsenal man from 12 yards again tomorrow.
“No, I don’t want to face a penalty tomorrow night. They were two very important situations for us, in the matches that you’ve listed, but that’s water under the bridge.”
He added that “if there’s a penalty, then I will do my best to try and keep it out. I will prepare the best I can, but I am not here to think about those penalties.”
When asked how he would prepare for penalties if they did come, Sommer stressed the importance of making sure the game never hit that state, whilst snubbing the spot-kicks as pure luck. “I think it’s important to prepare for the game itself as opposed to the lottery of penalties,” he suggested.
“We know that there could be a match which goes to a penalty shootout, there is no doubt about that. Before the game, if I’m perfectly honest, I don’t necessarily study all of the individual possible penalty takers because there would be too much information to try and take on board before the match itself. I focus on the match and then I think about who the penalty takers might be in regulation play over the 90 minutes. If we do go to a shoot-out, then our goalkeeper coach has all the information which he will provide for me at the right time.”
Embed from Getty ImagesThe veteran then gave an insight into a pair of glasses he uses in training to give him a performance edge, explaining that “these glasses I have been wearing on the training ground for many years now, they help me to give a little bit of an edge, two or three percent, on the training ground thanks to the technology of these glasses. Patrick Foletti, our goalkeeper coach, has been using them with me for many years, and they have helped me to develop and improve.”
Sommer then gave his thoughts on his opposite number tomorrow night, Gianluigi Donnarumma. The Swiss international had nothing but praise for the former star of his current rivals, AC Milan, whilst he admitted to watching him at Paris Saint-Germain.
“Donnarumma really is a top class goalkeeper. I have already come up against him in the past in a number of matches, ever since he’s been playing at Paris Saint-Germain. He’s very young, and yet he’s got a great deal of experience. He started his career in the first team very young at Milan. He’s a goalkeeper I like to watch, I like to watch his performances. I have got a goalkeeper coach at Inter who actually trained Donnarumma at the past at Paris Saint-Germain, if I’m not mistaken. He’s a great goalkeeper to watch, he’s complete, he’s got great reflexes. It’s always nice to actually see another colleague,” Sommer quipped.
With 92 caps for his country, Sommer is considerate of Italy’s notable national history, as he surrenders to the idea of his side being favourites in the tie.
“We’re up against the reigning European champions. Italy have also won the World Cup in the past… Italy are the favourites. We will be ready, we will be in the right frame of mind, and we can’t wait to get out there, but we know that we’re up against the reigning European champions, and that says a lot.”
Switzerland have only ever progressed past the round-of-16 once, as they monumentally beat France on penalties in EURO2020, before Spain sent them packing by the same means just days later in the quarterfinals. However, Luciano Spalletti’s men will be aiming to stop them in their tracks, as they seek to reclaim the trophy and become the second ever side to win European Championship silverware consecutively.
You can follow Switzerland’s clash against Italy, as well as every side’s journey at EURO2024, here on FromTheSpot.
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