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Swiss goalkeeper Sommer retires from international football

Switzerland goalkeeper Yann Sommer announced his retirement from international football on Monday after a 12-year career in which he made 94 appearances for the national side.

Published: 19 August 2024 13:33 CEST

Swiss goalkeeper Sommer retires from international football

Switzerland's goalkeeper #01 Yann Sommer looks on during the penalty shootout at the end of the UEFA Euro 2024 quarter-final football match between England and Switzerland at the Duesseldorf Arena in Duesseldorf on July 6, 2024. (Photo by KENZO TRIBOUILLARD / AFP)

The 35-year-old played all five of Switzerland’s matches at Euro 2024.

His last international game was the quarter-final defeat by England on penalties.

“My time with the national team has meant a lot to me,” Inter Milan’s Sommer said in a statement released by the Swiss football association.

“I look back with pride on the many unforgettable moments, the exciting matches, the victories celebrated together and the challenges we have overcome together.”

Sommer has been a key figure for the Swiss since taking over from Diego Benaglio as their number one a decade ago.

Switzerland have made the knockout phase at the last six major tournaments.

Sommer made the deciding penalty save from France’s Kylian Mbappe in the Euro 2020 last 16 which sent his team into their first major quarter-final since 1954.

Sommer is the second player to retire from Switzerland’s national team recently.

In July, midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri announced his retirement from international football after winning 125 Switzerland caps and becoming the only player to score in each of the last three World Cups and European Championships.

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Shaqiri ends Switzerland career after 125 caps

Midfielder Shaqiri, 32, who now plays with Chicago Fire in the United States, is Switzerland’s second most-capped player after team-mate Granit Xhaka on 130 caps.

The former Bayern Munich and Liverpool winger made his international debut in March 2010 aged 18. He represented his country at four World Cups and three European Championships.

In what was his last game for the Nati, Shaqiri scored in the shoot-out as England beat Switzerland 5-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in their Euro 2024 quarter-final in Düsseldorf on July 6th.

“Seven tournaments, many goals, 14 years with the Swiss national team and unforgettable moments. It’s time to say goodbye to the national team. Great memories remain and I say to you all: thank you!”, he said on social media.

Shaqiri retires as Switzerland’s fourth top goalscorer with 32 goals, behind Alexander Frei with 42 and Kubilay Turkyilmaz and Max Abegglen on 34.

The Swiss Football Association (SFV) said most of his goals were “bangers”.

Shaqiri first scored for Switzerland in a 3-1 defeat by England in Basel in 2010, in his seventh appearance.

He scored all three as Switzerland beat Honduras 3-0 in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

His final international goal came at Euro 2024, pouncing on a loose ball and blasting in the equaliser from outside the penalty box in Switzerland’s 1-1 draw with Scotland in the group stage.

The strike means he is the only player to score in the last three World Cups and the last three Euros.

‘Special moments’

The SFV governing body paid tribute to Shaqiri’s imprint on the national football team.

“With Shaqiri, a big part of the Nati’s history is gone. In recent years, the attacking midfielder was the man for special moments,” the SFV said.

“We thank you with all our hearts for the many unforgettable commitments and the wonderful goals and assists in the national team and wish you the best for your future, and much success.

“You have touched and conquered our hearts with your game and your goals.”

Nobody has scored more goals for Switzerland in finals tournaments than Shaqiri with 10: five in the Euros and five in World Cups.

“Only six other players have scored five or more goals at both the Euros and the World Cup: Michel Platini, Jurgen Klinsmann, Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry, Cristiano Ronaldo and Romelu Lukaku,” said the SFV.

Born in 1991 in Kosovo, which was then part of Yugoslavia, his family emigrated to Switzerland in 1992.

Besides his international exploits, Shaqiri won the Champions League and the Club World Cup with both Bayern Munich and Liverpool, plus three Bundesliga titles and the Premier League.

He also won three Swiss league titles in his early years with Basel, in a career that has also taken him to Inter Milan, Stoke City and Lyon.

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