Taking stock in Stockholm

By Mark Chaplin in Stockholm

Technical trends
Each of UEFA's 52 member associations has been invited to send its technical director and the head coach of the senior national team to discuss the tactical and technical trends in Portugal. UEFA always holds this keynote conference following each major final round, to give the technical sector the opportunity to exchange views on the developments that took place and look towards the future in the élite national-team game.

Focal points
Many of the game's coaching luminaries - including EURO finalists Otto Rehhagel (Greece) and Luiz Felipe Scolari (Portugal) - will be at the meeting in Sweden. Focal points at the three-day conference in Stockholm will include issues such as coaches' tactical choices and changes, squad management, how the coaches reacted to and dealt with crises, and how they themselves experienced guiding a EURO team and carrying the hopes of a nation's football fans.

Romantic side
UEFA's technical study group, which will present its report on the tournament, has identified the combination of skill and speed as key components for success in the modern game, as was shown in Portugal, and felt that Greece's surprise march to the European title helped enhance football's 'romantic' side, in that it will act as a spur to many more associations, coaches and players to believe such achievements are possible.

Vital ingredient
In addition to the EURO review, the conference also gives UEFA and the technical community the chance to examine the future of the national team game. UEFA considers this to be a vital ingredient of football, as it unites fans and provides a source of national pride, as well as often helping players and coaches to heighten their media identity and enhance their own market value.

Concern expressed
UEFA is at the forefront of the debate within the European football family about the number of foreign players plying their trade in other countries, in particular in Europe's major leagues, which the European body feels is having a detrimental effect on national team football. The European body has expressed concern that clubs are fielding too many foreign players who bar the way to the first team for young players.