Marcel Allemann and Nicole Vandenbrouck
With odds of less than 90 percent, Genoni and Berra did not keep what is expected of top goalies on the international stage. And yet: If the national team wants to continue living their medal dream and attack again in 2023, realistically, the proven goalie duo of the last few years will have to commit to staying in the program.
Retired as part of the rejuvenation like Raphael Diaz and Simon Moser before would be a lot more risky in this position. Genoni/Berra are still the two best goalies in the country and a solution for their successor is still not in sight.
Association wants to know what their plans look like
Sandro Aeschlimann did not convince in his World Cup debut. Melvin Nyffeler was already sorted out in preparation for the World Cup. Joren van Pottelberghe is recovering from a cruciate ligament rupture and will face competition from Finland’s star goalie Juho Olkinuora. Philip Wüthrich (24) and Akira Schmid (22) are inexperienced.
The sixth foreigner exacerbates goalie concerns
From the coming season, six foreigners will be eligible to play in the National League. And it is clear that Ambri, Biel, ZSC and probably also Lugano and Kloten rely on foreign goalkeepers. This further exacerbates the Nati’s goalie concerns for the long-term future. Lars Weibel views this development with concern. “But there’s nothing we can do about it, except to make sure that we work well with the goalies when they’re in the national team.” The Nati director continued: “In Finland I saw U18 goalies playing in the top two leagues. Unfortunately, things are going in a different direction for us.”
The foreign goalkeeper glut does not make seven-time champion goalie Leonardo Genoni happy either. But he also sees this situation as a challenge for his trade that needs to be tackled: “We could now throw up our hands because of the new foreigner regulation. Or we can take our hands out of the bag and make ourselves irreplaceable. On the one hand, it’s becoming more difficult for young goalkeepers, but on the other hand, it’s also good that a Swiss goalie has to fight his way through.” Looking back, Genoni even thinks: “Maybe it was sometimes too easy for us in the past.”
From the coming season, six foreigners will be eligible to play in the National League. And it is clear that Ambri, Biel, ZSC and probably also Lugano and Kloten rely on foreign goalkeepers. This further exacerbates the Nati’s goalie concerns for the long-term future. Lars Weibel views this development with concern. “But there’s nothing we can do about it, except to make sure that we work well with the goalies when they’re in the national team.” The Nati director continued: “In Finland I saw U18 goalies playing in the first two leagues. Unfortunately, things are going in a different direction for us.”
The foreign goalkeeper glut does not make seven-time champion goalie Leonardo Genoni happy either. But he also sees this situation as a challenge for his trade that needs to be tackled: “We could now throw up our hands because of the new foreigner regulation. Or we can take our hands out of the bag and make ourselves irreplaceable. On the one hand, it’s becoming more difficult for young goalkeepers, but on the other hand, it’s also good that a Swiss goalie has to fight his way through.” Looking back, Genoni even thinks: “Maybe it was sometimes too easy for us in the past.”
“We deliberately give Genoni and Berra some time to let the World Cup sit first. Patrick Fischer will contact them in the next few weeks and find out what their plans look like, »says national team director Lars Weibel on the subject. Due to the first participation in the European Hockey Tour next season, the starting position is a little different than in previous years: “We need the best goalies right from the start, but at the same time we have to make sure that the goalies moving up come to top-class games.”
Genoni: «My ambition is unbroken»
At least with Genoni, the number 1 in the national team, the association does not have to worry. He says to Blick in no uncertain terms: “My ambition is unbroken that I want to be the goalie that you have to pass.” Although he is not a person who thinks in Olympic cycles, he can well imagine staying with the national team until the Olympic Games in 2026.
And in general he thinks: “There are no old and young goalkeepers, only good or bad.” Reto Berra is currently on vacation and could not be reached for a statement. But Genoni is also counting on him in the future, saying: “For me and Reto, the goal must be that you can count on us because our performance is right.”