By Andrew Warshaw
September 27 – UEFA’s decision to expand the European Championship finals in 2016 from 16 to 24 teams, criticised in some quarters for watering down the tournament, had to happen eventually says the organisation’s outgoing technical director Andy Roxburgh.
Critics suggest it will be too easy for the average countries to qualify for the finals, leading to poor-quality matches, but Roxburgh (pictured top) said this was unfair.
“All I would say here is that we’re now going to this increased number as standards in Europe are rising all the time,” Roxburgh told reporters after a three-day meeting of national coaches in Warsaw.
“If you ask I think nearly any coach, when they go to play in some of the so-called smaller countries now, they don’t look forward to doing it.
“Some of the small countries will never be Spain.
“But coach education and development, and player development, and all these things going on in Europe, all of that is helping to raise standards.
“I think European football at the moment is very healthy, even in some of the smaller countries, which are capable of springing a surprise.”
UEFA’s decision to deploy two extra referees’ assistants at Euro 2012 was a resounding success, helping slash the number of fouls by 20 per cent, Roxburgh said.
The footballing public have never been convinced by UEFA President Michel Platini’s pet plan but Roxburgh argued the deterrent factor was important.
“You don’t get as many incidents in the box, or elbowing or pulling jerseys or pulling people to the ground,” he said.
“The linesman can concentrate entirely on his job of offside.”
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