Thibaut Courtois has already complained about the too busy calendar. In 2022 he will have to make do with a week of preparation for the start of the World Cup. — © BELGA
The internationals will only be released one week before the opening match of the World Cup in Qatar, according to a circular from the World Football Association FIFA that the French sports newspaper L’Equipe could read. Belgian national coach Roberto Martinez must therefore prepare for an ultra-short preparation for the upcoming World Cup.
Michael Van Damme
Wednesday, October 13, 2021 at 10:12 am
Due to the unbearable temperatures in the summer, the 2022 FIFA World Cup will take place in the autumn for the first time in history, from November 21 to December 18. So in the middle of a busy football season. It was known that the preparation period for that World Cup would be shorter than usual. But according to a circular from the World Football Association FIFA that the French sports newspaper L’Equipe could read, the internationals would be released just one week before the opening match, specifically on November 14. The opening match will be played by host country Qatar. The opponent will be determined by the draw for the World Cup final round. Qualifications are currently underway.
The circular is said to have been sent to the 55 European federations, including the Belgian football association. Belgian national coach Roberto Martinez therefore knows that he faces an ultra-short preparation with the Red Devils.
He has the advantage that he has been working with the current group of players for more than five years and that the qualification for the World Cup is almost complete. Martinez indicated before the consolation of the Nations League against Italy last Sunday that his preparation for the World Cup in Qatar has finally started.
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