international football calender deserves more attention because to play for your country is important

I think there are just too many boring game in international football. All these friendlies and qualifiers, usually always such dross.

I do really love the tournaments though, am really looking forward to Brazil 2014, hoping to see the South Americans really turn on the style over a recently strong European threat.

I'd like to see a compromise between all parties. There's an us an them mentality. IMO the national side will go no where whilst this attitude is in place.

I only know a little about the way Rugby & Cricket do it. Could anyone, with better knowledge, perhaps put it into a reasonable football context?

Because there is no real money in Rugby/Cricket...money is reason for the club over country mentality in English football.

Arsene

Is it a case of having your cake & not being able to eat it then?

Why should the clubs punish the national side because they pay such high wages?

International RUgby/Cricket is also much bigger and more supported than their national leagues.

Isn't that a self fulfilling prophecy with football. The growth of the PL has led to the decline in interest in the national side?

It wont change anytime soon.

Man U, American Owners, Scottish Manager
Chelsea, Russian Owner, Spainish Manager
Arsenal, American Owner, French Manager
Man C, U.A.E Owner, Italian Manager
Tottenham, British Jewish Owners, Portuguese Manager
Liverpool, American Owner, N.Irish Manager

Who is going to care about the English national team?

That's true, but it's not just the England team.

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

Poor grassroots coaching and inflated prices are the reason for the demise of English players in the PL.

I do agree there are too many games in the international calender, but also perhaps in the club calender. Would a reduction in the number of teams in the PL free up more room for international games, as well as a winter break on top?

friendlies are very valuable in the same way a preseason is to a club.

you get a chance for players to work on planned changes, more time to gel with new members of the squad, a chance to try out fringe players with no risk, general bonding of the side.

calling them pointless misses a lot of important things that would hurt the side if they were missed out on

I think this highlights that their are too many club games, not international one's. However I don't wish for that to stop so I'm not complaining.

comment by RVP's Left Foot (U11781)
posted 29 minutes ago
I feel really bad for Hodgson, he's England manager and he just wants a strong team to qualify for the big tournaments.
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Is that why he left his best centre back out for footballing reasons?

He didn't leave his best centre back out. Rio is way down the pecking order for that accolade. That's why he hasn't played for England for a long time.

but why can't we adopt at attitudes of Cricket or Rugby,
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I would ask football fans that question too. You know the ones who abuse their own players and boo them when they play for the national team

MUDD

Totally agree. Leave club allegiance at the door.

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

He didn't leave his best centre back out. Rio is way down the pecking order for that accolade.

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You certanly do talk crap TOOR.

Anybody who thinks Rio is England's best defender needs their head checked VC. This isn't 2008, it's 2013. Rio has declined massively and not only that, has fitness issues and upon getting calle dup, pulls out of squads. Yes, he'd be good to have in the squad, his experience and cover would be valuable but to say he is the best English centre back is ridiculous...in my opinion.

Jolly R

Surely the fact that they only get a week together highlights the importance of friendlies. There is no other time that the national team can try out new tactics, blood new players, or perfect what they've done in training.

Club players get 9 months to bond. I don't buy them being off on internationals detracting from that.

Anybody who thinks Rio is England's best defender needs their head checked VC.

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Well he is certainly better than Terry, Cahill, Lescott and Jagielka.

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it's 2013. Rio has declined massively

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I guess you haven't seen him play lately. Either that, or football is something clearly beyond your understanding.

comment by Vidicschin (U3584) posted 4 seconds ago
Anybody who thinks Rio is England's best defender needs their head checked VC.

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Well he is certainly better than Terry, Cahill, Lescott and Jagielka.
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I disagree. I feel all four are better than him.

"I guess you haven't seen him play lately. Either that, or football is something clearly beyond your understanding."

I've seen him play, he's been good but then again, so has Carragher and he has declined also.

Rio is probably still in the top six English defenders in the country and thus of course, he should be in contention, considering injuries and Terry's retirement but to say he's the best English defender is madness and club bias, in my opinion.

Completely disagree about the likes of Lescott and Jags being better than Rio. There are arguably no other defenders in the league right now who read the game better than Rio.

Rio is still top for me