No. 1 Draft Picks In NHL History: Celebrini, Ovechkin, More
By Philip O'Connor
BERLIN, June 28 (Reuters) - Goalkeeper Yann Sommer is looking forward to re-acquainting himself with some of his Inter Milan team mates when his Switzerland side take on Italy in the last 16 at Euro 2024 on Saturday as contact has ceased since the draw put them on a collision course.
"I have spoken to the lads on a number of occasions over the course of the Euros, but not in the lead-up to the game. We've stopped contacting one another because both sides are focusing on the task at hand," a smiling Sommer told reporters at Berlin's Olympiastadion on Friday.
A 3-1 win over Hungary and successive 1-1 draws with Scotland and Germany set the Swiss up for their last 16 meeting with the Italians, and though they have not beaten Italy since May 1993, some see the Swiss as favourites in the tie.
"We're all focused on making it through to the quarter-finals ... every starting position is different in every major tournament. The opposition changes," Sommer said.
"We're very pleased to play against Italy in the round of 16 tomorrow night, it's a hugely important game for both sides. It's a wonderful stadium and the atmosphere should be great," he added.
Given that Italy have been involved in seven penalty shoot-outs at the Euros, Sommer might find himself the centre of attention if it comes down to spot kicks, and coach Murat Yakin said his side was ready.
"Everyone has taken a penalty in training, we've jotted down some notes but of course, it's not the same thing, taking a penalty on the training ground as opposed to taking one in a match situation with all of the pressure that pertains to that," Yakin told reporters.
"To be honest, I don't want to go to penalties. I hope we can win the game prior to that, because penalties are a lottery, and we know it's not particularly nice thing to go through. But yes, we have practised that as well. And we hope that if we go to penalties, we can win them as well," he added.
The Swiss coach said there would be some changes to the starting line-up, but that everyone is fit and ready to play.
"There's an excellent mood in the camp. And we have fought really hard to make it this far, and we can't wait to get out there and play against Italy," Yakin said.
(Reporting by Philip O'Connor, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
8 14 17 Home Sense STP Stores 0112 C6ad62f3489961a346fb71e0078b1773267dc06c23545008 Standard 422739 Standard O Ef57c4c44ed4c993e60a1831f4f58e63 Maxresdefault 052bd741fa58e4e3a77009cb8852da072e3dcb678b1a9506671170ee18502e71640e7661 636402999494623522 090517 HomeSense 0081 16497129.JPG3c29802160ae66cb51389cd324cbe297 Lamp%2BArea%2Bat%2BHomesense Maxresdefault Furniture%2Bat%2BHomesense 8 14 17 Home Sense STP Stores 0080 Homesense Furniture 1536205092 3510 Landscape 1504728998 Homesense 1 ?resize=768 *66c4b88b271a51b77c4a20404ff32f20 6ede21551fb6ff0365440e5675a3333a Celebrate Lg 1200x800 Gallery 1504732834 Homesense 10 ?resize=980 *8da1222496b5bf65eff7de78c1624ac5f2ee4ec069e26f3ba35969e6cabf81e9b79a02435326ab8209002f543faae1852d95015238e3d0b376a71093E676320e25a82a254a873c9d0198dfe8e34b9e6f A256ad2c3402c89c015643370f5e56a0 Homesense 712884 ?resize=3442%2C4740Maxresdefault IMG 20160117 140407 978742905eca974f6e946ff3c232ad33 Maxresdefault Homesense Vases Of A Bloggers Evening At Homesense Carnival Of Colour For Turquoise Vase Fe26f5f047a2e4152d287a8096e3a94e Hose Design 2023. Jhjkhjk 768x694 Maxresdefault