The EC will be played in Germany this summer. Without Norway as a participating nation.
Months before the championship, several high-profile national team managers make harsh criticisms of UEFA. The criticism is based on the fact that the nations are only allowed to bring 23 players in the squad.
Rage: – Zero faith
In connection with the corona pandemic, the squad size for both the EC and WC was increased to 26 players, but they now choose to go back to 23 players.
– It is completely absurd to go back to 23 players. We are exposed to many more injuries nowadays. It’s about distributing the playing time among the players, says Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman to Reuters.
You don’t come across this every day on the golf course. Video: @Wendywoo.golf, Bård Sørø Olsen/Dagbladet TV-sporten
view more
England coach Gareth Southgate stated on Wednesday that it is a theme among the national team coaches that they would rather have 26-man squads and not 23 men.
– We have to make the right decisions with the knowledge we have. It has become true in recent tournaments. We must give the players the opportunity to recover. With 23 players in the squad it will be more difficult, says Southgate.
Took over: Clean down
In a statement, UEFA says that they have taken note of the comments from several national team managers, and that it will be a topic at a workshop in April.
– UEFA will listen to the views, says a spokesperson.
The heavy match load on the players has become a topic recently. Among other things, Fredrik Aursnes gave up on the national team recently. He is the player in Europe with the most games and minutes in Europe this season.
Warns Russian tourists
Erling Braut Haaland also answered about this in connection with the national team meeting last week.
– It is an individual who can withstand more fights than others. Some tolerate less. The problem is not playing the matches, but the quality. The quality goes down. You can’t expect me to sprint 70 games with over 1,000 meters of sprinting per game, Haaland said at a press conference.
Warns England
– Then there will be quite a few meters in the end. The quality goes down. There will be many matches. What should I do? I just have to follow the match program. That’s what the business is, I think, he continued.
The squads for this summer’s championship must be registered on 7 June. There is an opening match in Munich on June 14 with Germany against Scotland.
