Paris (AFP)
The coaches cast a wide net: faced with the pandemic, the teams qualified for the Euro have obtained to call up to 26 players, instead of the usual 23, which offers more choice ... but poses new problems in terms of of workforce and egos management.
UEFA's decision to authorize these extended lists is linked to the risks of Covid-19 contamination and quarantine which threaten to depopulate the workforce and hamper the smooth running of the great European meeting, scheduled from June 11 to 11 July.
In addition, like the rule of five changes per team and per match (instead of three), this measure should make it possible to spare the organizations at the end of an interminable season, which some started in May 2020 due to the pandemic.
These are "special rules" for the Euro, intended to guarantee "the smooth running and continuity of the competition in the light of the pandemic", clarified UEFA, and not the final adoption of a "List of Twenty-Six" in selection.
This expansion, unprecedented since the national teams went from 22 to 23 players at the 2001 Confederations Cup, was welcomed by most coaches, especially those of the big nations, favored because they have a very dense pool. .
Thus, the Spanish coach of Belgium, Roberto Martinez, was delighted to be able to "expand our lists in order to respond to the increased risk of player injuries in a busy and restricted season due to the Covid-19", deeming "opportune to d 'have an additional goalkeeper, defender, midfielder and striker.
- Internal conflicts -
But this extended workforce suggests its share of internal conflicts: it will be for the coaches to drive larger collectives, a task all the more delicate as it will be necessary to leave three players in the stands for each match.
It looks like a sword of Damocles not only for the trio concerned, but also for the ten or so substitutes present on the sidelines and threatened in every demotion game.
"Our goal, especially when we are in great competition, is not to lose anyone," coach Didier Deschamps warned at the end of May.
# photo1
"The first day, they are all happy, they all have the banana. After, each day that passes ... There are the preparation matches, then the + full +. We must grant as much if not more to those who play little or no play. "
This data pushed the coach of the world champions to abandon the reserve system, these players likely to be called in Blue in case of withdrawal just before the tournament.
"If I did not take reservists or substitutes, it is because not being in the 23 for these players (...), it is already difficult. There, if they are not in the 26, humanly it is practically impossible that these players talk to each other, "he argues.
The selected players assure themselves that they are first of all happy to be part of the adventure ... even if for some it means an entire tournament to paw the ground in the stands.
- Only 24 players for Spain -
"It's part of the game, we know that necessarily three players will not be on the scoresheet," notes the young French defender Jules Koundé, who says he does not want to "think too much about it".
"The objective is to be on the scoresheet. I am a fairly ambitious person so I come with the objective of not being in the stands", launches the Sevillian, who had his first selection last Wednesday against Wales (3-0) in a preparation match.
For other breeders too, these extended lists are a double-edged sword.
The English technician Gareth Southgate was for example opposed to this measure, believing that "choosing 23 players is a skill" to be valued for a coach, even if his list for the Euro includes 26 names.
# photo2
As for Luis Enrique, boss of the Spain team, he preferred to be satisfied with calling 24, leaving aside for example his captain Sergio Ramos, convalescent, probably to avoid endless controversies in the hypothesis where he would have relegated the charismatic Madrid defender to the tribune.
"We give a lot of importance to the fact that the players have the feeling of all being able to be on the scoresheet," explained the Spain manager.
"In previous tournaments we have found that we usually use 18 or 19 players. There will only be one player in the stands and we will train with fewer people," he concluded.
But that was before the announcement on Sunday of the positive test from his captain Sergio Busquets, who recalled the fragility of the health situation.
© 2021 AFP