Belgium coach Domenico Tedesco has hit out at Euro 2024 organisers for the pre-match logistical problems his team faced ahead of their goalless draw against Ukraine.
The Red Devils arrived late at the MPH Arena in Stuttgart on Wednesday despite leaving their hotel an hour before kick-off which limited the team’s pre-match warm up.
Despite the delayed logistics, Belgium managed to advance into the round of 16 as the second-best team in Group E after a goalless draw with Ukraine.
“The circumstance as we arrived here, or how we arrived here at the stadium. I never saw this before,” Tedesco explained.
“I never saw this before. We took from our hotel around one hour with the police escorts. No blue light. The road was completely free. They slow down 20, 25 kilometres per hour. Every red traffic light we stopped.
“At the end I had a speech of two minutes. No, nothing. Warm up we had to reduce. It’s for me. It’s unbelievable.”
Prior to the tournament, concerns were raised over Germany’s transportation efficiency via rail and road.
There have been reports of travel chaos across the country since the start of the competition on June 14 as well as delayed train trips which have hampered fans’ movement to cheer their teams.
Meanwhile, Tedesco also defended his players from fans’ boos after their uninspiring result against Ukraine and he pointed that they achieved their assignment in Stuttgart.
He added: “The players tried everything. We can score more. We can score earlier at the beginning. But if the fans are whistling, we have just to accept.
“We can be disappointed because many players they don’t understand. We are qualified. And this is the most important thing for now.”
Belgium’s next hurdle is a round of 16 match against France on Monday as they target their first ever European title in Germany.
