Former Swiss captain Gökhan Inler has been left out of Switzerland’s 28-man provisional squad for Euro 2016, with 19-year-old defensive midfielder Denis Zakaria the only new face.
The Leicester City midfielder has struggled to make an impact at the club since arriving from Napoli last summer, making only five appearances for the club in all competitions this season.
“I’m sorry for Gökhan, he is a great player,” said coach Vladimir Petković. “I need to be consistent with my reasoning and actions. I had to make some tough decisions, but that’s what a coach is there for.” The coach today confirmed that the captain’s armband will now go to Stephan Lichtsteiner.
Other notable absentees are Fabian Lustenberger, Timm Klose and Valentin Stocker. Petković said: “If you close one door, another one opens.”
Provisional Switzerland squad for UEFA EURO 2016
Goalkeepers: Roman Bürki (Borussia Dortmund), Marwin Hitz (Augsburg), Yvon Mvogo (Young Boys), Yann Sommer (Borussia Mönchengladbach).
Defenders: Johan Djourou (Hamburg), Nico Elvedi (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Michael Lang (Basel), Stephan Lichtsteiner (Juventus), François Moubandje (Toulouse), Ricardo Rodríguez (Wolfsburg), Fabian Schär (Hoffenheim), Philippe Senderos (Grasshoppers), Steve Von Bergen (Young Boys), Silvan Widmer (Udinese).
Midfielders: Valon Behrami (Watford), Blerim Džemaili (Genoa), Gelson Fernandes (Rennes), Fabian Frei (Mainz), Renato Steffen (Basel), Granit Xhaka (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Denis Zakaria (Young Boys), Luca Zuffi (Basel).
Forwards: Eren Derdiyok (Kasımpaşa), Breel Embolo (Basel), Admir Mehmedi (Bayer Leverkusen), Haris Seferović (Eintracht Frankfurt), Xherdan Shaqiri (Stoke City), Shani Tarashaj (Grasshoppers).
Switzerland’s Group A fixtures
11/06: Albania v Switzerland (Lens)
15/06: Romania v Switzerland (Paris)
29/06: Switzerland v France (Lille)
Meanwhile, Turkey have also announced their 31-man provisional squad for the tournament, with the uncapped Emre Mor, the out-of-form Mevlüt Erdinç and the suspended Gökhan Töre the surprise names in Fatih Terim’s squad.
Mor, who plays for Nordsjælland in Denmark, makes the cut despite having made just one appearance for Turkey’s Under-21s, while striker Mevlüt Erdinç – who has had a tough season with Hannover and Guingamp, on loan – is also a surprise nomination.
Perhaps the most unexpected inclusion is that of Beşiktaş winger Gökhan Töre, who will be suspended for his country’s first two finals fixtures – against Croatia and Spain – having been sent off in Turkey’s last qualifier against Iceland.
“Gökhan has served us well in the past and he will help in the future too,” said Terim. “We didn’t want him away from us and I have included him on the basis we are very hopeful of making the latter stages of the competition.”
Provisional Turkey squad for UEFA EURO 2016
Goalkeepers: Ali Şaşal Vural (Eskişehirspor), Harun Tekin (Bursaspor), Onur Kıvrak (Trabzonspor), Volkan Babacan (İstanbul Başakşehir).
Defenders: Gökhan Gönül (Fenerbahçe), Şener Özbayraklı (Fenerbahçe), Ahmet Çalık (Gençlerbirliği), Çağlar Söyüncü (Altınordu), Hakan Balta (Galatasaray), Mehmet Topal (Fenerbahçe), Semih Kaya (Galatasaray), Serdar Aziz (Bursaspor), Caner Erkin (Fenerbahçe), İsmail Köybaşı (Beşiktaş).
Midfielders: Emre Mor (Nordsjælland), Gökhan Töre (Beşiktaş), Volkan Şen (Fenerbahçe), Yasin Öztekin (Galatasaray), Hakan Çalhanoğu (Bayer Leverkusen), Mahmut Tekdemir (İstanbul Başakşehir), Nuri Şahin (Borussia Dortmund), Oğuzhan Özyakup (Beşiktaş), Ozan Tufan (Fenerbahçe), Selçuk İnan (Galatasaray), Alper Potuk (Fenerbahçe), Arda Turan (Barcelona), Olcay Şahan (Beşiktaş).
Forwards: Burak Yılmaz (Beijing Guoan), Cenk Tosun (Beşiktaş), Mevlüt Erdinç (Guingamp), Yunus Mallı (Mainz).
Turkey’s Group D fixtures
12/06: Turkey v Croatia (Paris)
17/06: Spain v Turkey (Nice)
21/06: Czech Republic v Turkey (Lens)
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