Photo via Reuters
Arsène Wenger is not a fan of the Nations League.
The former Arsenal boss thinks the UEFA tournament is a waste of time and should be scrapped because the average fan either doesn’t understand it or doesn’t care about it.
The Nations League began in 2018 and was conceived as a way to replace normally meaningless international friendlies with ties that have more significance.
Here’s a brief explanation on how it works:
The tournament involves almost all European countries, who are divided into groups within a series of mini leagues based on ranking.
Teams are then either promoted or relegated to higher or lower leagues according to the results within their group.
The winners of the four groups within the highest league then play in the Nations League Finals, to decide one ultimate champion.
Now, if you’re struggling to wrap your head around it, well that’s exactly the point Wenger is trying to make.
He says the structure of the Nations League is simply too confusing for the man on the street, and therefore, it needs to go.
As an alternative, Wenger is proposing that the World Cup and European Championships each be held every two years instead of four.
He says these two tournaments are hugely entertaining, everyone understands how it works, and it gives participating countries plenty to play for.
Wenger is also aware that some people are concerned that having the World Cup and Euros so often would make them less special.
He explained that what makes a tournament special is not how often it is played, but the quality of the competition.
He summed it up by saying, “After all, people also watch the Champions League every year”.
Good point, Arsène.
by Kyle Roshen Jacob
