BVB keeper Gregor Kobel will only sit on the Swiss bench at the upcoming European Championships – an incomprehensible decision, says Kobel advisor Philipp Degen, who is particularly annoyed about the timing.
“This decision at this point in time practically overrides the performance principle,” criticized Degen, who was previously active at BVB Sky. “Gregor is one of the best keepers in the world and people tell him that his performances are irrelevant – I think that’s a really bad sign.”
Background: The Swiss national coach Murat Yakin recently confirmed that the long-time regular goalkeeper Sommer, who has been in goal at Inter Milan since this season, would be number one: “He will be in goal at the European Championships.”
Degen, in turn, suspects that goalkeeping coach Patrick Foletti is behind the decision because he “has an extremely close relationship with Yann Sommer, which has also been criticized several times by other Nati keepers. Of course that leaves a very, very bad aftertaste.”
Kobel is an absolute top performer at Borussia Dortmund. However, the 26-year-old only made five international appearances for the Swiss national team. Sommer has been the number one goalkeeper for the Swiss for years.
In the past, former Bundesliga professionals Roman Bürki and Marvin Hitz had not been able to get past Sommer, who had taken over from Diego Benaglio.
In an interview with NVV, Hitz claimed that Foletti said before Euro 2016 that Sommer was like a son to him.
Switzerland will face hosts Germany, Scotland and Hungary at the European Championships in June.