Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer has shared his thoughts ahead of Switzerland’s Euro 2024 round of 16 clash against Italy. Speaking from the press room at Berlin’s Olympiastadion, the 35-year-old goalkeeper addressed several topics, including the prospect of facing Jorginho again from the penalty spot after his errors in the recent World Cup qualifications:
“No, I don’t want to face him from the penalty spot tomorrow. Those errors were two very important situations for us to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar, but they’re past situations, and tomorrow will be a different story. I’m not here thinking about those two penalties you mentioned.”
How are you preparing for penalties?
“For me, it’s important to prepare for the match, not so much for the penalty shootout. Before the match, I don’t study all the individual penalty takers; I focus on the game and on those who could be penalty takers during the 90 minutes, not those in the shootout. In that case, there’s the goalkeeper coach who will help me at that specific moment.”
How is Switzerland approaching this round of 16 match?
“The atmosphere in the team is really excellent; we all have success in mind. I’m really happy to face Italy; it’s a very important match, and I can’t wait to play in this beautiful stadium.”
How do your special glasses work during training? Who’s better, Retegui or Scamacca?
“We’ve prepared for all of Italy’s attackers. I know both of them, and they’re players of great quality, very strong in their finishing. We’ll need to be ready to face them. The glasses I wear in training for years help me give 2-3% more. They’re highly technological glasses that have helped me grow.”
Will you need to make even more saves tomorrow compared to what you’ve already done during the group stage?
“We’ll see. It’s always nice to defend with an unbreakable spirit. So far, we’ve played with great courage, and tomorrow there will be an Italy with great offensive quality, playing with vertical cuts and dangerous in their finishing. We’ll need a great defensive performance.”
Is it an advantage for you to play in Serie A?
“It’s useful to know the opponents, but I don’t know if it will be an advantage tomorrow. Italy’s players are well-known; they have a very broad and quality-filled squad. In the league, I’ve faced several of these players, I know them, but this won’t be what decides the match.”
What do you think of Donnarumma?
“He’s a really strong goalkeeper; I’ve already faced him in the past. He’s very young but has a lot of experience. He started playing very young, and he’s a goalkeeper I like to watch. The goalkeeper coach at Inter has trained Donnarumma in the past at PSG (Spinelli), and as a goalkeeper, it’s always a pleasure to observe colleagues with these qualities.”
Will Switzerland be the favorite?
“No, I wouldn’t say so. We’re playing against the reigning champions. Italy has won the World Cup several times, and Italy is still the favorite. We’ll be ready, very ready.”
Do you particularly feel the desire to progress, being one of the historical group of Switzerland? Have you talked with your Inter teammates? What do you think about Inter buying another goalkeeper?
“With this team, we’ve already qualified for the round of 16 in several tournaments, and tomorrow the goal is to advance. Details and episodes will count; it will also depend on the form, on how the episodes will go. We can have an impact on all of this, and the goal is to qualify. During the tournament, I’ve spoken several times with my Inter teammates. Now the contacts have decreased a bit, but we often talk, not only with the Italians but also with the foreigners. I’ll be happy to face them tomorrow. The three goalkeepers will change at Inter, Audero won’t stay at Inter: we’ll see what happens. Now I’m focused on the Euros, and my mind will return to Inter once the Euros are over.”
