Bierhoff Suggests Playing Next UEFA Nations League As Mini-Tournament

3 Min Read

German football federation (DFB) director Oliver Bierhoff has suggested playing the next edition of the UEFA Nations League as a one-off event at a single venue.

SEE ALSO: Popular Radio Host Reveals He Has Advanced Lung Cancer

The former Germany international said this would be better than a series of round-robin group matches.

“That would be an alternative. A sort of mini-tournament could be an idea,” he said on Tuesday.

The Nations League is due to start again in September but with fans not expected to be allowed into games due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“The national associations could be more willing to play at a neutral venue,” said Bierhoff.

“You will prevent unnecessary journeys and can … better control the players.”

Germany, says Bierhoff, would be available as host if the suggestion is taken up.

“We have the know-how and a top organisation in the DFB. We have proved that repeatedly,” he said. “If such a model helped (European football governing body) UEFA, I will say: `Yes, we are ready’.”

Munich will host games in the pan-continental Euro 2020, delayed to next year because of the coronavirus, and Germany is sole host of Euro 2024.

Germany avoided relegation from the last Nations League due to restructuring and will meet Spain, Ukraine and Switzerland in their top tier group next time.

UEFA did not want to comment specifically on the proposal, but said its next executive committee meeting on June 17 would discuss the format of the tournament.

Currently teams play home and away in four-team groups with two rounds scheduled for each of September, October and November.

The winners of groups in the top A League should then have contested the finals in summer 2021 —- a space now reserved for the European Championships.

National teams have not been able to play this year because of the pandemic which halted all action shortly before a series of March friendlies and Euro 2020 play-offs.

These are ties that must also still be played.

Share this Article
Leave a comment

Leave a Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.