Next Monday, the Swiss team should have met in Bad Ragaz to launch its Euro 2020 campaign. But the coronavirus has upset all plans.
Director of national teams, Pierluigi Tami, in an interview with Keystone-ATS, shares his feelings about a funny year that has for the moment deprived the Swiss team of major meetings against Belgium, Croatia, Germany and Italy. “Opponents who would no doubt have allowed us to take a step forward,” rightly points out the Ticino.
Pierluigi Tami, the football world has not stopped since last week with the resumption of the Bundesliga. How did you experience it?
“For me, there was always only one truth: no sport without an audience. But the pandemic forces us to a certain pragmatism. After two months without football, it is better to watch matches behind closed doors than no matches at all. .. “
What inspires you behind closed doors?
“In an empty stadium, you can have the feeling that the match is not a big match, that it lacks dynamism, rhythm. Not to mention the emotions. But that’s wrong. I saw the weekend last excellent meeting. I was surprised by the quality of the game presented. Now we must not forget that the German clubs quickly resumed training. This explains this a little. “
Are you in favor of a resumption of the Championship in Switzerland also?
“Yes. This would give a strong signal. But the question is whether a recovery does not involve risks as much on the financial situation of the clubs as on the health of the players. But I think that a recovery is possible in Switzerland if all health guidelines are followed. And if we understand that we can no longer behave in the same way as in the world before. But I am for a policy of small steps with the conviction of course that the risk zero n ‘does not exist in the situation we are going through. “
Today, the development of a new international calendar is not, it seems, the priority of UEFA …
“We have to wait until mid-June, the date of the next UEFA congress, to find out more. UEFA intends to organize the League of Nations as planned in September, October and December. There would thus be four dates for the League of Nations and two for friendly matches or for the play-offs for the Euro, which should have been played in the spring. Another option would be to close the League of Nations in October and to play only friendly matches in November . That would, in my opinion, make more sense. “
But will it be realistic to play international matches in September on dates when major championships may not have started the new season?
“This question is legitimate. This is why we, at ASF, put forward the idea of removing the September window to propose replacement dates in December.”
How did you react to the postponement of the Euro in 2021? Does this postponement not ultimately benefit Switzerland?
“A Xherdan Shaqiri undoubtedly welcomed this postponement with some relief. He was sorely lacking in playing time this season. For a Stephan Lichtsteiner, the situation is different. He will be 37 years old in 2021 … But in general , I do not think that this postponement benefits us. In 2020, we would have had the pleasure of facing great teams, starting with Belgium and Croatia in March in Qatar. This year should allow us to take a step forward . “
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