Judge Sends Knicks-Raptors Dispute To Silver
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)
Maxresdefault Thumbnail?mid=1NZUh W3v4 80jwZCy2V4lEalmgB GmrDThumbnail?mid=1a25iGtn ZLiaZSanT6geZ9FlRfGxjeUnIZySX1DbrwniZJ7TGcE305 ?ts=1706900061Thumbnail?mid=1IaW89ZTQRQhXz Gc2dBMVhzB0IfjYe8RunSignup Product Road Map 600x275 6745988 3666553 2024 Routemap Maxresdefault Thumbnail?mid=1NlhA3BBzJyaKZpKuAGi6YOVTZQ1O5XsGMaxresdefault Verygoodmaps 2023 Route Website 1704528428?v=1Dischem MapUpdated S366865341169104376 P2798 I22 W2592 ?width=640Maxresdefault I Cannot Wait For The 2024 Roadmap V0 Kxp47g303ncc1 ?s=d00cd5678968a2761d0919a64e517f3155265896Its Nearly 2023 Surely We Get A Road Map Update V0 Lgs6p5j7pwx91 ?auto=webp&s=e7abada65e9d70e1514d2f992304ba759d70e295Hqdefault Mapquest Route Planner Multi Drop ResizedImageWzEwNTQsNTcxXQ .webp2024 Roadmap V0 218o3eiml5wb1 ?s=1a1ee8ce8da78d9f442aaf76b204d9c7afc9a717Race41946 CustomSectionAttachment62d3276349aac1.39038337 Eeyf4to82tja1 3 3 1024x576 Maxresdefault 16 1024x576 Header@960w Thumbnail?mid=1ORlfguX RGVZa1JoPdjpy42ERWoMaxresdefault 1684882029094?e=2147483647&v=beta&t=EwnR5XdcHciyUpi7LHpvAarf9UZjrm61NQsViAkwO YSRC Route Map 2023 5km 1 Scaled 5K Map 2023 2 ?format=1000w6742272 CourseMap