Goalkeepers are proving insanely tough to crack at Euro 2020. From Denmark’s Kasper Schmeichel against England to Spain’s Unai Simon against Italy in the thrilling semi-final, there have been tall men’s disobedience below the crossbar. The best of them all in the competition so far was Yann Sommer of Switzerland, who was virtually unbeatable in goal, facing the skilful Spain and the formidable France.
Wearing the captain’s armband, composed and athletic, he proved why men standing tall in the goal could be trusted to do the impossible. To gain an insight into Sommer’s show and what makes a goalkeeper a capable captain due to his attributes, India’s first-choice mentor Gurpreet Singh was questioned about the Swiss star, who has been signed to Borussia Mönchengladbach in the Bundesliga since 2014. And was ready for a big step.
The Bengaluru FC custodian comes close to an Indian footballer’s first look at the European level. He participated in the Norwegian league called Tippeligen for Stabeck Football Club (2014–2017). Competing with two other goalkeepers for a first-team spot gave him experiences that would later prove useful in big games for India at the international level.
Gurpreet made an appearance in an away game against Qatar in Doha. After a 1-1 draw in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, Abdelkarim Hasan came to congratulate the Indian opponent who stood between his team and victory. The first Indian to play in the UEFA Europa League (2016 qualifier in Wales for Stabeck), his next assignment is the AFC Asian Cup play-off, defending a BFC goal against the Eagles this August.
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Among the many goalkeepers in action, Yann Sommer’s performance under the crossbar for Switzerland at Euro 2020 was special. From a goalkeeper’s point of view, what aspect of his show was remarkable?
Yan Sommer has been an important part of Switzerland’s setup for many years and has grown in stature over time. When I watch him play, I can see him arranging his backline, communicating really loudly with them, and having a vocal presence by his side from behind.
He has been the first choice at Borussia Monchengladbach and at the age of 32 is at the prime of his goalkeeping career. In an interview shortly after the tie-breaker win over France, he said that Switzerland ‘always believed’ they could upset, and that kind of mentality is truly remarkable.
Switzerland chose a goalkeeper as the team’s captain and Sommer’s performance under extreme pressure proved that the decision was right and almost took his side into the semi-finals. Do goalkeepers make excellent leaders?
It’s hard to answer, but what I would say is that goalkeepers have qualities that not many outfield players have.
This may be related to the fact that we are constantly watching the game from a point on the field that not everyone does. When you’re a goalkeeper, there’s a lot of talking, organizing, giving directions. Over time you assume the role of a leader, with or without an armband. However, I believe this is subjective.
From the personal experience of India and Bengaluru FC, does being a captain lead to better focus in a big game for the country or club than the responsibility of being the captain?
Personally, it does. No matter what happens, you can’t let your shoulders drop. I have had the privilege of leading my club and country on a few occasions and it is a matter of pride, but it also brings with it responsibility. It’s not like you’re less focused without it, but you behave differently knowing that your team turns to you during those little moments that can change the course of the game.
Qatar player Abdelkarim Hassan said that you are good enough to come to the Premier League. From firsthand experience in the Norwegian league, do you think young Indians have the potential to strive for entry into foreign leagues, perhaps in the lower divisions?
After the game (World Cup Qualifier 2022 in Doha) we had a good conversation. He had some nice things to say, which I greatly appreciated. Norway was a very special experience for me, with many positive findings. Regarding whether some of our young footballers are cut out to play in the lower divisions in Europe, the answer is yes.
There is a lot of exciting talent coming in and we are seeing it in the league and with the national team as well. There are a few names that I think will do well overseas.
AFC tournaments provide opportunities for clubs to make their mark. BFC reached AFC Cup Final 2016 and you were part of the team. FC Goa proved to be a tough team to face in the AFC Champions League 2021. Do you agree that Indian clubs have a better chance of making a mark in Asia than individual players trying to grab attention on the pitch?
Bengaluru FC has done well in Asia. The final in 2016 was historic and is still talked about, even if the result has gone the other way.
FC Goa, I thought, gave a pretty good account of itself in the AFC Champions League. These are great steps to get the attention of our clubs and players as well. Asian competition is very tough, as most people believe, so when Indian clubs do well in AFC competitions, it creates the right impression.
Your perspective on the BFC’s preparation for the AFC Cup play-offs in August
2021 against the Eagles?
We have had a long layoff from competitive football at the club level. It is important that we regroup as soon as possible before a very important game that seals our progress in the group stages. We’ve also had our fair share of players departing and new players coming into the club, which makes things interesting. BFC is in the process of a rebuild and this game will be a significant fixture to that effect.
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