Xavi warns expanded international calendar is ‘asking for trouble’

Netherlands coach Xavi Hernandez has criticised Fifa’s expanded international calendar, warning that four Nations League matches in 11 days create unnecessary risks for players and clubs.

The Netherlands face Serbia in their Group A2 fixture in Eindhoven today with 23 fit players available. Brian Brobbey, Lutsharel Geertruida, Cody Gakpo and Jan Paul van Hecke have all been injured during their past three matches and returned to their clubs.

The current schedule combines what would previously have been two international windows in September and October. Rather than playing two matches across nine days in each month, teams must now complete four fixtures during a single, demanding period.

“This schedule is not good. Not for the national teams and not for the clubs that release their players and sometimes see them return injured,” Xavi told a press conference yesterday.

“Scheduling such a packed calendar three months after the World Cup is asking for trouble,” he added.

Xavi, who was appointed Netherlands coach in August, also pointed to the demands placed on players away from matches.

“You also have training, travelling, recovering from matches and things like that. It’s very strange to schedule an international window like this at this stage of the season.”

He called for the authorities to reconsider the format and said a shorter window would benefit everyone involved.

“I’d rather see us play two internationals. That would be better for everyone. But as far as I know, it was decided a long time ago that we will also have a block of four matches at this stage next year,” he said.

Coaches face increased demands

The extended window has presented national team managers with a workload they have had little previous experience of managing.

Germany’s new coach, Jurgen Klopp, selected 44 players across two separate squads, although results for the team have been mixed.

England manager Thomas Tuchel also highlighted the potential effect of moving players between club and international football.

“The shifts in training, work style, and play style between the national team and club inherently create certain risks. This format only heightens those risks rather than alleviating them,” he said this week.

Spain’s World Cup-winning coach Luis de la Fuente criticised the change last month, saying he preferred the previous arrangement because it offered players more time to recover.

“I don’t like the new format; I prefer the old one. It gave you more rest. In my opinion, it took better care of the players’ health,” he said.

The next three international windows, in November, March and June, will return to the usual nine-day format with two match days.

However, Fifa has scheduled a combined September and October window lasting 16 days for each of the next four years, continuing through to 2030.