A rapid turnaround after the season’s end sees international football resume once more, much to the dismay of Frenkie De Jong who has hit out at UEFA in a sensational rant, ahead of the Nations League semi-finals.
The Netherlands go head-to-head with Croatia in the last four of the Nations League this week, with a place in the final up for grabs in what will be the climax of the tournament’s third edition.
Its introduction by UEFA in 2018 was predominantly to increase the number of high-level international matches, and eliminate friendlies which had long been criticised for interrupting competitive club football.
This season has, of course, been unlike any other with a winter World Cup in Qatar sandwiched between the traditional domestic calendar. Players who competed in the Middle East have endured a bloated schedule, which has ultimately been compressed as much as possible in order to stick with the usual timeline.
For example, Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez featured in 67 matches this season following a largely successful campaign, despite losing out in the Champions League final last week.
International football returns with very little respite after the season, which has angered Barcelona and Netherlands maestro Frenkie De Jong.
Speaking to Dutch publication De Telegraaf ahead of the Nations League semi-finals, he told journalist Mike Verweij: “Our schedule is just getting fuller. There is also a game for 3rd/4th place in the Nations League – literally nobody is waiting for this.”
The 26-year-old, who has featured across 48 games this term for club and country, also hit out at UEFA for re-formatting the Champions League, which comes into effect the season after next.
“There will be a new format for the UCL with more games just so that UEFA can earn more money.”
This is not the first time players have bemoaned the ever-increasing volume of games. Before this year’s iteration got underway last summer, Kevin De Bruyne said: “The Nations League is unimportant in my eyes. They are just glorified friendlies after a long and tough season.
“I am not looking forward to it.”
Meanwhile, De Jong’s compatriot Virgil Van Dijk also openly criticised Nations League fixtures being scheduled in the summer, saying: “It is strange that there are four Nations League games after a long season.
“I believe that, during these four games, there is more chance of injury after a long season.”
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