DORTMUND, Germany (Reuters) – The Netherlands had their travel to Dortmund on Tuesday for the European Championship semi-final against England disrupted and were forced to abandon their original plans to travel by train, the Dutch football association (KNVB) said.
They will now fly to Dortmund from their base in Wolfsburg later on Tuesday.
The Dutch had previously travelled by train to their group stage match against Austria in Berlin. They planned to do the same for the trip to Dortmund on Tuesday, where they will stay overnight before their game on Wednesday.
“The train service was cancelled due to a blockage on the route,” the KNVB said.
They planned to travel at 16h00 but will now fly to Dortmund at 20h20 local time.
It means the planned pre-match press conference with coach Ronald Koeman at 19h45 is likely cancelled.
A UEFA official told Reuters nothing had yet been decided while KNVB said it was investigating an alternate way Koeman could address the media.
The Dutch had not planned a training session at the stadium, having competed their preparations in Wolfsburg earlier on Tuesday.
The rail system in Germany, usually held up as model of efficiency, has been criticised during the Euros for delays.
When the Dutch went to Berlin by train they were forced to take a flight back to Wolfsburg because of a limited service.
(Editing by Christian Radnedge)
