What's Behind Bellingham's Struggles With England At Euro 2024?
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)
1*XADllA5jNVG8ACw Z6r1KQ 884b4b60e90f714cc8d50801297c319186 2024 Electoral Map.2x.rhorizontal.w700 2024 Map By Probability V0 S7s4ow0flkoa1 ?auto=webp&s=a705fa557615731d5d481a07b48bea256086a760What The 2024 New Maps Could Look Like V0 L2quqjueujta1 ?width=1328&format=png&auto=webp&s=6f9c7e93a6308d08a92b9a4563d9e226c725483a2020 Actual Using 2024 Electoral Votes My Way Too Early 2024 Projections V0 9m2n9hpeoy6a1 ?width=770&format=png&auto=webp&s=d7750b2d21bea4a0eade37eb84e6ececd42b72102024 Election Projection Maxresdefault 062923eleccollege Likelihood FCEUJPAWQAgYKF9 542x1024 Worldpopgrowth Feature Parliamentary Constituencies 600x300 The Classification Map Using The Maximum Likelihood Classification Method On Off01 Temp US Population Density 1024x634 Mle Vs Map Estimate Maximum Likelihood Estimation The Classification Map Using The Maximum Likelihood Classification Method On Landsat Q640 20200414011806 ?type=w773Dml6mygakl561 Screenshot 2023 05 09 At 13.25.15 1090x604 Aef2689b48975e333ee240921b3c184b RDI Map 1*5zN64YyGnpAkElp9MdwuIw Map Area12 1686583373582 ChartAxd.axd?i=dcp 39123bc4F & Guid =f8892e6a 54c4 4aa0 A6f7 Bcec5c71855aMaximum Likelihood 1.hires ChartAxd.axd?i=dcp 39123bc442 & Guid =44b14439 D3bf 4d1b Abe2 E231c1ea833eBiggest Tornado Day By State Maximum Likelihood Classification Map Insight2 Map1 1024x768 YpPav 0 Boundary Review
What's Behind Bellingham's Struggles With England At Euro 2024?
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)
