The national team is performing brilliantly in Germany. But not all the players are winners. Lugano star Renato Steffen imagined his role as a substitute to be totally different. blue Sport reveals how he deals with his unexpected role as an extra and what he does about it.
No time? blue Sport summarizes for you
- The national team has impressed in every respect at the European Championship in Germany so far: Italy played them to the wall in the round of 16. Players like Rieder and Aebischer are the big winners.
- Where there are winners, there are also losers. One of them is Renato Steffen. The Lugano star, a regular on the pitch in the qualifiers, has only played one minute so far.
- Steffen tells blue Sport how he is dealing with this unexpected extra role. Honest and direct, just like he plays football. "My role has been on my mind for the last few days," he admits.
Renato Steffen has played in nine out of ten games in the European Championship qualifiers, often from the bench, but not always. For a long time, he was seen as someone who never gives up and always throws everything into the game, as Murat Yakin's wonder weapon. When he needed energy, Yakin let Steffen loose. Whether on the left, right, defensively or offensively.
Of course he has hopes of playing European Championship minutes - especially as he also led FC Lugano to the runners-up spot and the cup final with convincing performances.
But things turned out differently in Germany: Steffen was only on the bench in all three group matches. In the 2-0 win over Italy in the round of 16, he played one minute on the pitch. Others such as Fabian Rieder and Michel Aebischer are given preference. And they deliver.
Where there are winners, there are also losers. Steffen talks to blue about his unexpected role in Germany. And he talks about how he plays: straight ahead, with an open visor.
«I'll fight for my chance until the end»
Renato Steffen, you probably wished for a different role at the European Championships. How difficult is it for you?
Renato Steffen: Honestly, it's something that's been on my mind for the last few weeks.
How have you reacted?
I spoke to Murat Yakin and asked him why. He explained them to me very clearly. Then I had a choice. I could either say: 'Okay, then that's the way it is and hang on'. Or I could say: 'I'll keep going'.
And?
Anyone who knows me knows what I chose. I keep going full throttle and try to help the team.
How do you do that?
Being positive. And also be nasty in training. Challenging and pushing the players who come on.
But that's hardly enough for an ambitious player like you.
Of course, I always hope to get some playing time. That's obvious.
Did you actually know when you came on that the bench was waiting for you?
No, on the contrary. I went in with a good feeling and then realized that it wasn't what I had imagined, that I was meant to play a different role. I arrived a little later because of the cup final. That can be an advantage or a disadvantage, depending on the situation. For me, it was a disadvantage. But I'm not the type to give up. I will keep fighting for my chance. Until the end of this tournament.
Steffen has an unfortunate record at the European Championships and World Championships
Particularly bitter for Steffen: It doesn't seem to be working out so well with the big tournaments, because although the winger was able to make his national team debut back in October 2015, this would be his first major tournament. He missed Euro 2016 due to a torn muscle fiber. He did not make the squad for the 2018 World Cup and an ankle injury put him out of action at the 2020 European Championships. At the World Cup in Qatar, he played 31 minutes against Brazil - no more. He switched to FC Lugano especially for the World Cup to gain match practice.
At the fifth finals since his national team debut, things have not gone according to plan for him personally. Nevertheless, Steffen is naturally delighted with the national team's success. After the show of strength against Italy, he says: "At first I wondered whether we could maintain this rhythm over 90 minutes. You could see that we were much hungrier than the Italians. They were so lethargic, as if their heads were somewhere else. I don't think we've been this good for a long time."
