Three months after the end of the World Cup, the Qualifiers for the European National Team Championship begin, which will be played next year in Germany. The curtain opens on a scene of change. Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands and Belgium have a new coach, while France regrets the international retirement of some historic players.
Three months from the World Cup final in Qatar, in which the most valuable trophy returned to South America after 20 years, Europe’s top teams are returning to the ring and for the points. This Thursday starts on Qualification for Eurocopa 2024 to be held in Germany, instance which serves to open a new stage in the national teams, both on the benches and on the campuses. Moreover, the most important aspire to redemption, after an unfortunate experience in the World Cup.
France , vice-world champion, is one of the castings that have the most continuity in relation to her project, still carried by Didier Deschamps. The news of Blues They are more related to absences than to presences. Following a notorious short-circuit with the selector, Karim Benzema has closed his stage as an international. To this we must add that some strongholds like the archer Hugo Lloris and the defender Raphael Varane they withdrew from the selection. The case of the Manchester United defender is striking, as he is only 29 years old.
Now without Lloris, the French cast will present a new captain: Kylian Mbappe. The Paris Saint-Germain crack takes on a new responsibility, which has not escaped controversy, as the local press assures that Antoine Griezmann is upset by the decision to give the PSG man the jumper.
Unlike the French, there are other greats in Europe who are going through a phase of change, especially after stumbling in the World Cup. An example is Spain . The elimination in the round of 16, against Morocco, was the condemnation of the work of Luis Enrique in charge of the Hispanics. His replacement is Louis de la Fuente which in his first call included players excluded by the former Barcelona coach, such as Kepa Arrizabalaga (Chelsea goalkeeper), Nacho (Real Madrid defender) and Iago Aspas (Celta striker). The one who decided to quit the national team was Sergio Ramos. European Red play Norway on Saturday, who will be without Erling Haaland due to injury.
In Qatar, Morocco has been the executioner of several leading players. If in the second round he took Spain out of the race, in the quarter-finals he did it with Portugal . Fernando Santos has left and his replacement is Spanish Robert Martinez, ex DT from Belgium. One detail is not the least: he is the first non-Lusophone technician to take over in Portuguese. Exselected are his squires on the coaching staff. They are former defender Ricardo Carvalho and former goalkeeper Ricardo Pereira. The one who remains firm as selected is Cristiano Ronaldo, who is aiming for the Euro at 39. “What we are experiencing in the national team is very positive. The intensity is good, it’s different. I’m sure the team will be prepared for whatever happens and Portugal will be a more attacking team,” said CR7.
If it is the Eurocup, the title holder is Italy . The realisation of Azzuri at Wembley he was quickly forgotten due to his failure to qualify for the World Cup for the second time in a row. Despite the blow Roberto Mancini continues to command the selection and offers the campus new alternatives. The most striking thing was the call of the Argentinian Mateo Retegui, scorer of the Tiger, who preferred to defend the transalpine rather than the world champion. “We lack players who score goals,” said the DT. Italy make their qualifying debut this Thursday against England at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium in Naples.
Regarding the English, Gareth Southgate He has decided to remain in charge of the Three Lions team and relies on a base of young players. The one not nominated is Liverpool winger Trent Alexander-Arnold. also follow Movie Hansi with Germany, the organizer of the Euro next year. The main absentee from the Teutons is Thomas Müller. This Saturday they play a friendly match with Peru.
After the end of Louis van Gaal’s stage, The Netherlands He turned to a former tenant of his workbench: Ronald Koemann. The former Barcelona strategist has again taken command of the Orange and its relaunch will take place on Friday, nothing less than against France. The Dutch have several injuries, such as striker Luuk de Jong, who has withdrawn from the national team. Your neighbor presents many changes.
Belgium saw Roberto Martínez leave and replaced him with the Italian-German Domenico Tedesco. References like Eden Hazard, Toby Alderweireld and substitute goalkeeper Simon Mignolet are gone. On the other hand, Thibaut Courtois, Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku follow. Ahead of Hazard’s international retirement, the Manchester City midfielder became the Red Devils’ new captain.
follow on Jock
Source: Latercera
I’m Scott Moore, a professional writer and journalist based in the US. I’ve been writing for various publications for over 8 years now, and have been working as an author at athletistic for the past five years. My work has been featured by some of the leading sports websites and magazines across Europe.
