Ronald Koeman, team boss of Austria’s European Championship opponents the Netherlands, has criticized the European Football Union (UEFA) for reducing the squad at the European Championship from 26 to 23 players. “Not being able to choose 26 people is very strange. It’s absurd that you go back to 23,” Koeman said late on Tuesday evening after his team’s 2-1 defeat against Germany.
At the last European Championship finals in 2021 and the World Cup in 2022, squads with more players than usual were allowed due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. This no longer applies to the upcoming tournament in Germany (June 14th to July 14th).
“More injuries”
The 61-year-old bond coach even indicated that his association wanted to take action against it. “If a lot of countries do this together, I think they should listen to the association,” said Koeman in Frankfurt. For him, it’s not about avoiding difficult personnel decisions as a coach.
“You have to deal with injuries more these days. It’s about the resilience of the players,” said Koeman, who will play his first European Championship game with the Netherlands on June 16th in Hamburg against Poland. Then there is the group finale in Leipzig France on June 21st and Austria on June 25th in Berlin. The two best teams in the group are sure to make it to the round of 16. Even if you come third there is a chance of progressing.
