Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren has labelled the Uefa Nations League as “ridiculous”, while also questioning the true competitiveness of the competition.
Following the World Cup, a new competition got underway in an effort to cut down on the number of meaningless friendlies accompanying the usual major tournament qualification campaigns.
Pitting similarly-ranked nations against each other in mini leagues and groups, while also including a relegation and promotion system, as well as a final round, Uefa had intended to give the lower nations equal opportunity to qualify for the European Championships.
But, echoing the thoughts of his club manager Jurgen Klopp, Lovren has admitted he sees the Nations League games as nothing more than friendlies.
“I agree with Klopp, the Nations League is a ridiculous competition,” he said (via Goal).
“There is no sense in playing these games. It’s not a real competition that you have to win.
“You can call these games whatever you want, but the fact is they are friendly games!”
Speaking following Liverpool’s goalless draw with Manchester City in the Premier League last weekend, Reds boss Klopp bemoaned the Uefa Nations League and the pressure it is putting on both club and national team managers.
“Now the players go off and play the Nations League which is the most senseless competition in the world,” he said.
“We have to start thinking about the players. You have to call the manager of any country and say can you leave players out and he says I am under pressure as well.”
Croatia face England on Friday night in a repeat of the 2018 World Cup semi-finals, which Lovren and his team-mates won 2-1 after extra-time.
Both sides experienced defeats in their opening Nations League games against Spain, with England losing 2-1 and Croatia 6-0.
Dejan Lovren’s strange post-World Cup
In the build-up to the World Cup final against France, Lovren backed himself as one of the best defenders in the world given his exploits for club and country.
But since the 4-2 defeat to Les Bleus in Moscow, the centre-back has seen his playing time at Liverpool cut short, first due to injury and then the form of his replacement Joe Gomez.
The Croatian has made just two appearances for the Reds this season, playing the full 90 minutes in both the 2-1 League Cup defeat to Chelsea and the goalless draw with Man City.
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