Murat Yakin may be thinking that he has been hit by a curse, given the number of injured people who have already withdrawn from the Swiss team’s Nations League matches against Serbia on Friday and in Spain on Monday. But the element that will confirm or refute the thought is the (in)ability of Gregor Kobel to play.
Will the national team goalkeeper be available for these two matches? That’s a real question. Kobel is in Zurich, where the internationals met on Monday. A sign, already, that it is closer to a presence than to an absence. But no one has any guarantees yet.
As a reminder, the Zurich native was injured two weeks ago in the German Cup, with his club Borussia Dortmund. Hit in the hip and thigh, he has not participated in any matches since. His return was hoped for against Mainz last Friday, and that was how Murat Yakin presented him when revealing his list the day before. It didn’t happen.
The fact is that there is uncertainty. On Monday, at the press conference at the start of the rally, the director of the national teams Pierluigi Tami wanted to be reassuring, without being able to give any guarantees.
“In theory, Gregor Kobel should be able to play on Friday,” said the Ticino. But the answer will come from the field. It is important that he trains regularly. The idea is that he plays, but we will have to see that in the coming days. All this should also be discussed with the Borussia Dortmund medical staff.
In other words, for a decisive match for the maintenance of the national team in League A of the League of Nations, Switzerland is really not sure of being able to count on its starting goalkeeper. Above all, he will not be at his best. And knowing that Kobel’s performances since he became number one (no wins, ten goals conceded in four games) are of concern, we have had calmer moments.
What if Kobel were to be absent? Then it would be up to Yvon Mvogo to keep the Swiss goals. The Fribourgeois (9 caps) has never disappointed when the national team had to call on him. But the Lorient goalkeeper plays in Ligue 2 (the Bretons are second), which is not exactly the highest level. Although this may have less impact for a goalkeeper than for a player.
Wouldn’t we miss Yann Sommer a little?
