Hodgson defiant over Euro schedule

UEFA, which has increased the number of teams at the finals in France from 16 to 24, has also introduced new six-day international windows running from Thursday to Tuesday, with teams asked to play three double-headers over the qualification campaign.

That will involve games taking place every night in those periods and Platini, the Uefa president, has admitted the new programme was “a political decision” aimed at thrusting the international game back into the limelight given the strength of the Champions League and domestic competitions.