Yann Sommer’s bad memory: beware of this Israeli super talent

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Yann Sommer is in goal in the European Championship qualifier against Israel on Wednesday – and has to watch out for Oscar Gloukh. Sommer already has his experience behind him: Just three weeks ago, the teenager from Tel Aviv beat the Swiss goalkeeper in the 1-2 draw between RB Salzburg and Inter Milan in the Champions League with a remarkable shot.

“The most emotional blow of my career,” said Gloukh – resolved by the feelings and thoughts of the Hamas attack on Israel. Before the war, he scored the 2-0 winning goal against Benfica at the start of the group stage. It was the big moment for the 19-year-old super talent in the premier class.

Gloukh made headlines a year earlier when he led Israel to the final against England at the U19 European Championship (1:3). The closely fought final was only lost in extra time, after he had earlier fired his team into the lead in spectacular fashion – and later received the award for the goal of the tournament.

Praise from compatriot Dabbur

The Gloukh show impressed the scouts of Europe’s top clubs. But Red Bull won the race and the can club gave him the certainty that as a young man he would fit perfectly into the club’s concept.

So they lured the prodigy with a five-year contract and transferred seven million euros to Maccabi Tel Aviv. “We are happy that Oscar has chosen us despite numerous other offers and that he wants to take his next development steps in Salzburg,” former Salzburg sports director Christoph Freund (now Bavaria) said at the time.

His compatriot Munas Dabbur (31), who now earns his money as a striker in Dubai, thinks it is a good investment for both parties. “Oscar is a very exceptional player – a huge talent,” says Dabbur. The former classification attacker also chose Salzburg as a stopover, after which he reached Seville and Hoffenheim. “If everything goes smoothly, Oscar will go a lot further.”

Better Real than Barça

Fast, agile and tricky – the skills and physical demands of the Austrian champions’ attacking midfielder invite comparisons to Lionel Messi. Both 1.70 meters tall and, despite their childish appearance, precocious in terms of football. The Argentine world champion was also a teenager when he first caused a stir away from Barca.

Messi is now 36 years old and ends his career in the retirement paradise of Miami with Inter. A comeback for the Catalans is out of the question, Camp Nou has lost its prodigal son forever.

Viewers are all the more hungry for a new messiah; Rumors about Oscar Gloukh have filled the newspapers in recent months. Until the day when the new star in the Israeli football sky sends a clear signal. ‘I have always been a Real Madrid fan. My biggest dream is to play at the Bernabeu.” A bitter message for Barça – and flattery for their arch-rivals.

European Championship qualification instead of championship

But the golden boy will have to be patient before he makes the jump to Spain. Salzburg now sets the pace for the next transfer; even though Gloukh plays first violin after just one season in Mozart’s city. “He takes responsibility and is a great anchor for us,” says Gerhard Struber enthusiastically. How much the coach of the Austrian champion needs his playmaker became clear last Sunday when the leader could not get further than a 0-0 draw against Austria Vienna without him.

Gloukh was missing because he responded to the national team’s call to make up the postponed European Championship qualifier against Kosovo. But Gloukh did not bring Israel any luck this time. The match in Pristina was lost 0-1. A serious setback on the way to the 2024 European Championship. Gloukh could have equalized shortly before the end, but that failed because of Arijanet Muric, a goalkeeper from Switzerland.

Raised in Schlieren, now under contract with FC Burnley in the Premier League, Muric (25) once played, like Sommer (34) and Kobel (25), at the Grasshopper Club – even together with the same-old Gregor in the GC youth team. Motivation enough for the two Nati goalkeepers to emulate their former colleagues and follow their example with a clean slate. Switzerland would do well after seven goals from four games.

Source : Blick