“…then I’ll stop immediately”: Genoni talks about the goalkeeping future of the Swiss national team

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The failure of the Nati in the quarter-finals of the World Cup against Germany (1: 3) is now seen as the goalkeeper’s wrong decision. Robert Mayer replaced Leonardo Genoni. Two days later, the surprise substitute said: “Without wanting to play down the performance of the Germans, we have to be honest. We don’t need to talk about the goalkeepers if we can’t beat a group fourth as group winners.”

That a good chance was missed also hurt Genoni. “We had a goal. But we chose the wrong day for our worst game.” And him personally? Has he digested that he, the seven-time champion goalkeeper, was not being bet on? “I hope so. Of course I was not happy. But you swallow it and move on.” Also for him.

Age does not matter

For Genoni, the thought of resigning is very far away. There are no old or young keepers for the EVZ goalkeeper, whose contract in Zug still has one season left. “Only bad or good.” He has always had the ambition not only to be among the good guys, but also to be among the best. Because he does, he has been an integral part of the national team for 15 years. And never consider not following up on a call when fit.

“If you get into the World Cup squad, it’s a reward for performance during the season. I see it as confirmation that I’m not doing everything wrong in my day-to-day work.” Anyone who speculated that Genoni was thinking about hanging up his Swiss kit after this inglorious World Cup end is unfamiliar with Genoni.

“I’m Not Too Worried”

There are three key words that are important to the 35-year-old: fun, ambition, performance. “My fun in hockey is the most important thing to me.” It’s unbroken. “If that were not the case one day, I would stop immediately.” Ambition and performance are also good. “There was never a moment when I had to say: I’m not against it.”

Nevertheless, after this World Cup, the future of the goalkeeper is being discussed. After Genoni, who will shape the next generation? Should we worry that the national team will one day run out of capable goalkeepers, partly due to the increase in foreign players in the penalty area? Not according to Genoni. “I’m not too worried.” He points out that seven different goalkeepers (Genoni, Hughes, Senn, Aeschlimann, Waeber, Mayer, Van Pottelberghe) were involved in this World Cup preparation. Reto Berra (Fribourg) is yet to be written off, and then there’s Akira Schmid in the NHL (New Jersey Devils).

Genoni understands that the situation is not easy with the increasing signings of foreign goalkeepers. “But we can stick our heads in the sand or grow from it and see it as an opportunity.” He does the latter. “If we come out stronger, I don’t see any problems for the national team.”

Source : Blick