International Football - Is it still relevant?

[steken1]

In terms of standard the CL now far outweighs the major international tournaments for quality, excitement and as a spectacle.

Also, these days clubs are paying some players hefty wages and those same players are flying all over the world, coming back fatigued and injured and harming the chances of thier primary source of income.

Not to mention that no sooner are we up and running with the season than we are on hold for two weeks due to international qualifying. That two weeks could be used through the season to give our PL players a break which would reduce the chance of major injuries due to a ridiculous workload through the Xmas period.

On the other hand Football can lift a whole nation and build and restore national pride. It can unite a people and I love that when the world cup is on we can see nations whose styles are completely different competing against each other.

I know it's a bit daft to not answer your own questions but for me it's a maybe.

Massive qualifying slogs need to find a way to fit better with domestic football. Crazily scheduled tournaments that have no real value I.e. the Gold Cup need phasing out and the schedules need to be worked out to ensure that clubs who are paying the players get value for thier money.

 

[toffeejack]

i find it pretty boring to watch, but then that has come of years of watching the lack of quality in a wales vs albania type match. there should probably be a divide to make it more interesting, the fact that it's not very competitive is the major flaw. for example a lot of 8-0, 9-0's against mediocre teams like san marino in the european version is what makes it dull. especially when there is 2 or 3 teams like that in one group as is usually the case in qualifying.

however, i'd love to see wales finally qualify for something and it would be great, because there is a massive buzz around the rugby scene atm as they're doing so well. would never affect me half as much as an everton success would though

 

[BlueLlama]

Sadly I think most players agree with you, especially those who regularly play in the Champions League.

Most fans still love the major tournaments but friendly games are largely cack now

 

[RFUS]

I love all the major tournaments. The last WC wasn't the best but the Euros were good and I like the ACoN (although it shouldn't be in January).

It's the stupid friendlies that do my head in. This international break that happens in September needs to be scrapped. You start the season, get a bit of momentum and then stop for crap friendlies that loads of players withdraw from anyway, citing 'injuries'.

 

[icburns]

Belgians, lad.

 

[formerly manx toffee]

Meh...

 

[Phyllis Stein]

What will inflate English players prices if Internationals are null and void?
The issue with some players is that not being European means having to fly literally around the planet for a game or two, its not a 2 hour jaunt on Easyjet but 14 hour flights like what Cahill was doing for AUS.
Then there is the injured on International duty debate, regarding compo, who picks up the tab when a player gets crocked for their country? It used to be tough sh!t on the clubs but thats changed - but now ''smaller'' FA's complain about being potentially bankrupted having to cover a players wages instead of the club being burdened (I say, if you cant pay em, dont play em).
As far as quality goes, is it a new phenomenon that the CL makes a few better games than a WC? Or is it that because of CL saturation it just appears that way. The Euros were pretty poor fare, as was the last WC, but all sides go through cycles, luck is a big factor as is location. I dont reckon Chelsea were the best side in the CL but they won it. Italy seemed a good side rolling England and surprisingly Germany over but got walloped by Spain who I suppose were the best side but just didnt play like it till the final.

There is a lot of sentiment on here that England dont produce the caliber of players for the best sides, due to coaching and tactics, but have other sides moved on so much since Italia 90 and Euro 96? The tin generation that is just about passing should have been shuffled off years ago, but sponsors and internal politics kept certain players in the fold - and when corporations can exert influence on an International squad (specifically Englands) then its time to pack it all in. Beckham for England and team GB. Jesus!

France were the big cheese on the block for a bit after 98, all the focus on their academies and getting talent young and driving technique into them, but they havnt been all that and have self imploded much like the Dutch are famous for generation after generation.
For instance what are Barcelona doing at youth level that Man Utd arent? Or, is it more simply that they gathered a clutch of the best at around age 10 and brought them all through together - a bit like what Ferguson did with the likes of Scholes, Giggs, Becks, Neville.
There is a lot to be said for bringing a big percentage of a side through together then adding a gem or two via transfers to that bunch - think Keane & Hughes. (I cant be as specific about Barca cos I know they are filthy snides and represent a lot about football and more over cheating that I utterly despise)

 

[toffeejack]

I love all the major tournaments. The last WC wasn't the best but the Euros were good and I like the ACoN (although it shouldn't be in January).

It's the stupid friendlies that do my head in. This international break that happens in September needs to be scrapped. You start the season, get a bit of momentum and then stop for crap friendlies that loads of players withdraw from anyway, citing 'injuries'.

they're playing world cup qualifiers mate. i agree it shouldn't be now, should be in a month or so, but there would definately be no excuse if it was friendlies. to be fair countries don't play too many friendlies and they have to have the odd few considering they only play every 4 or 5 months

 

[sbbefc]

You cant scrap it but they should all play each other in may/june in their groups, have 3 weeks of football and be done with it, qualifying done and no friendlies. Then you could either have the season September to early may or August to April with a week or two break in the winter if they wanted.

 

[steken1]

Belgians, lad.

Marvellous contribution to the debate mate.

 

[steken1]

Meh...

Bettered only by this.

 

[RFUS]

they're playing world cup qualifiers mate. i agree it shouldn't be now, should be in a month or so, but there would definately be no excuse if it was friendlies. to be fair countries don't play too many friendlies and they have to have the odd few considering they only play every 4 or 5 months

Ah so they are. They still do this every year though, even if there aren't qualifiers.

 

[Del]

Used to love watching/supporting England when I served in the RAF and really looked forward to the games but after I got out I lost the love so to speak and now I am at the point where they get on my tits

 

[Deleted member 28206]

Maybe if it was more accessible to the majority, and included less bell ends ( I'm talking England here) I'd want to attend. Increased ticket prices, less games outside WEMBLEY and player wife incest has put me off tbh

 

[LTblue]

Hate, hate, hate the September international break as it just is a lull in going the game and football stuff going on every day to keep me interested in a quiet spell in work, it's also just after the transfer window has finished and you really notice the lack of stuff going on, however it's necessary to fairly decide who gets into the World cup and Euros, two tournaments I love. But I love Everton way more and wish these breaks would just be more often occurring midweek games allowing club football to happen every weekend or gtfo.