On Thursday, the 2022 groups were drawn. In the next editions of UEFA competitions we will play in groups with Belgium, the Netherlands and Wales. The strong rivals are the result of Jerzy Brzêczek remaining in the A division during his tenure. The Polish team met their opponents in next year’s League of Nations, but many questions remain unanswered.
The 2022 football schedule is extremely tight. All because of the World Cup in Qatar, which will be held on unusual dates: November 21 – December 18. In Western Europe, the 2021/2022 league season will end extremely early – in most leagues by May 21/22. The final chord in the form of the Champions League final is scheduled for May 28 in Saint Petersburg.
From the beach to the playground
A little over a week later, the League of Nations will start. The first matchday will be played on June 2-4. The Polish national team will play on June 3 against Wales (home), June 6 against Belgium (departure), June 10 against the Netherlands (departure), June 13 against Belgium (home), September 22 against the Netherlands (home) and September 25 against Wales (departure) . All matches will start at 20:45.
What’s the point of playing a League of Nations game in the middle of a football holiday? Most players (not counting the players of the two Champions League final players) will be on a holiday of at least two weeks when the UEFA national team starts. They will be brought to the pitch from summer holidays to play as many as four matches in the League of Nations in June. This is complete madness.
The players will not be ready to play. It can be suspected that many will look for an excuse not to come to the staff. Will they cover themselves with injuries? Since these are official UEFA dates, clubs will not be able to ban players from playing, but there are many indications that they will try to avoid absurd duties anyway.
The next season of 2022/2023 will start extremely early. Why? To play as many league rounds as possible before the World Cup in Qatar, to complete the group stage of the Champions League by then (which usually lasts until mid-December). The exhausted UEFA players are thrown in by one more ballast in the form of the Nations League in the middle of their holidays. Which genius came up with such a plan?
Without consequences
UEFA officials lack consistency. On the one hand, to raise the rank of the League of Nations, introduced, inter alia, the rule that the best teams from a given division will have special perks. And so in the play-offs for the World Cup in Qatar are the Czechs and Austrians – not because they took second place in their qualifying groups, but because of their good results in the Nations League. On the other hand, next year’s edition of the tournament was pushed by force in June, like some lower-class competition (most fans still treat it that way). Does UEFA want to increase the prestige of LN or on the contrary?
Why will there be four matches in June? Because in the fall there would be no time to play them. And so, after the intense games of 2021/2022, the players will go to the beaches for a moment, and after two weeks, without any preparation periods, they will play four matches in 10 days. It can already be predicted that bookmaker companies will not accept bets on injuries of players – injuries are too likely. Club doctors must be delighted with the schedule proposed by UEFA.
Four matches in June are like a small European championship, which our national team can benefit from. Who will guide her in these meetings? If Polish footballers are promoted to the World Cup in March, Paulo Sousa will remain in the position. However, if the Polish team dropped out with Russia or Sweden / the Czech Republic, Sousa will likely lose his job.
Poland will benefit?
Whoever replaces, will have six valuable meetings with strong rivals at the start. We should remember that if the Poles did not advance to the World Cup in Qatar, the next matches for points will not be played until March 2023, when the qualifying rounds for the 2024 European Championship will begin. The drawing of the qualifying groups will take place in October next year.
If, on the other hand, the Polish team play-offs for the World Cup, two months later they will meet again for the LN games. In full lineup? It can be suspected that without Robert Lewandowski, who will be given a rest by Paulo Sousa (or another coach) after the hardships of the previous season. However, matches with Belgium, the Netherlands and Wales are too important to put on a second suit. Anyway, the Dutch or Belgians can rotate or use substitutes, because they have many players at the national level. The Polish national team without basic players for matches with Belgium or the Netherlands? Fear to be afraid.
Source: Sport
Tristin is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his in-depth and engaging writing on sports. He currently works as a writer at 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the sports industry.
