National coach Ronald Koeman is allowed to take 26 players with him to the European Championship

National coach Ronald Koeman may take 26 selection players to the European Championship next summer, it is reported The Telegraph. After the last international match, the national coach issued a cry for help that due to injuries it is impossible to go to the European Championship with 23 players due to the overcrowded matchday calendar.

It is the evening after Germany – Netherlands. When Ronald Koeman sends out a cry for help to UEFA. The European Football Association had decided to go back to the old rules: each country may call up 23 selection players for a final tournament. That didn’t sit well with the national coach: “I think that’s really ridiculous. I will also start a lobby for that, also because I know that many countries agree with this. Footballers are taxed so heavily. I find it absurd that this is not taken into account,” said the national coach.

Koeman’s cry for help was immediately supported by fellow national coaches Julian Nagelsmann (Germany), Gareth Southgate (England) and Roberto Martinez (Belgium). UEFA changed tack after Koeman’s plea. The plans only need to be officially approved by the executive committee of the European Football Association, but that is a formality.

It is not the intention that the number of substitutes will be increased. UEFA has yet to consider this. However, staff members on the match sheet may be exchanged for substitutes who can then take a seat on the bench. The members of the technical staff or reserve players who are not on the scoresheet must then take a seat in the stands.

Major financial consequences
It also means that UEFA will spend much more money than usual next summer. UEFA pays each club a fee for each European Championship participant. Now that each national team is allowed to call up three extra players, this also costs UEFA more money. Feyenoord can benefit from this.

Opportunities for Feyenoorders
This is also very good news for the Feyenoorders. The chance that we will see Leo Sauer and Quinten Timber at the European Championships, for example, has only increased. The internationals who are against the selection have a greater chance of being selected. Injured players also have a chance to be called up. Players who will no longer play this season can still be of added value at the European Championship.