Attention, puzzle in sight for the coaches. According to information relayed this Tuesday by L’Equipe, which we can confirm, UEFA announced to the 55 European federations that the selected players would not be released by the clubs until a few days before the start of the World Cup which is taking place. will play in Qatar from November 21 to December 18, 2022.
According to a UEFA circular sent in July, it is only from 14 November that the internationals will be able to join their respective squads. The preparation of the Blues, as for the other nations, would then be shortened, on condition of qualifying for the World Cup, which is very well on board since a success against Kazakhstan on November 13 would validate the ticket of the Tricolores, holders of the title.
A single international gathering before the World Cup
On the other hand, under these conditions, it would be almost impossible for Didier Deschamps to organize a friendly match in order to prepare the Qatari World Cup knowing that only one international gathering should take place before, in September, with two matches of the phase groups of the next edition of the League of Nations on the program.
For the time being, the French Federation does not intend to communicate on the subject, especially since the holding of the World Cup in the fall will upset the entire organization of the calendars for the season in Ligue 1 and Ligue 2, and that this will be discussed this Wednesday during a board of directors of the Professional Football League (LFP), then the next day by the Comex of the FFF.
The calendars commission modeled two versions which will be offered to the members of the Board of Directors. Anyway, the question of the cadences imposed on international players has been debated in recent days and should continue to fuel exchanges. Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois mentioned it in particular after the Final Four of the League of Nations this weekend, denouncing the authorities on the insane schedule imposed on them.
