05.06.2024 09:59
Men’s national team: second reduction of the squad – four players leave the Nati camp
Murat Yakin and his staff made the second reduction in the squad after the international match against Estonia. Despite good performances in training, Filip Ugrinic and Kevin Mbabu will leave pre-camp today and will not be traveling to the EURO.
“They were involved in an exemplary manner in the group, on and off the pitch, and contributed to ensuring that the quality and intensity of the last ten days of training was very high. Ultimately, I gave preference to other players in their positions for tactical and strategic reasons. Filip has a lot of competition in midfield. On the right side of the defense, I gave preference to Leonidas Stergiou, who capped his convincing season in Stuttgart with a Champions League qualification and who can be used flexibly both in a three-man defense as a defender central than in other systems on the right side”, explains Yakin to justify his decision.
Mbabu and Ugrinic will be on duty for the tournament. The same goes for Uran Bislimi and Albian Hajdari, who were still in contention on Sunday with FC Lugano in the Swiss Cup final. “We have agreed with them that they will no longer travel to St. Gallen for the remaining days of pre-camp, but that they will keep fit individually in order to be ready if we need them during the tournament “, explains Yakin.
As agreed from the start, the two goalkeepers Pascal Loretz and Marvin Keller also left the team yesterday after the match in Lucerne.
There is therefore still one position to be filled in the final selection for the European Championships. The ASF must communicate the final framework to UEFA until Friday June 7 at 11:59 p.m. If a player were to become injured before the first group match, a replacement could be named.
Kobel and Steffen also joined the group
In the meantime, goalkeeper Gregor Kobel (played in the Champions League final with Borussia Dortmund) and Renato Steffen (Cup finalist with FC Lugano) have joined the team.
ASF
