International Weekends - What Is The Point?

[StevieDay1983]

So we arrive at that time of the year once again when all club football at the elite level is put on ice so that the international fixtures can take place. Now, the general feeling towards international breaks ranges from excitement to apathy to hatred. Some fans see it as a welcome distraction from their club's trials and tribulations where as others feel it is boring and should be scrapped.

Is it time to take a look at how the international fixtures are scheduled? So many managers moan about their players coming back from international matches injured or exhausted. Would it be better to have 1-2 international windows a year when international sides play 4-5 games over the space of a month? Is it workable? If domestic leagues cut their divisions down to 16-18 teams per division, would that be better and reduce to risk of burn out for players?

Do you have any ideas of how they could re-structure international football to make it less tedious and disruptive on club football?

[Sir Puntalot]

I think it upsets the general form of teams for a game or 2, I'm hoping to prove this one way or the other in the new year with an article and a lot of research.

I like the sound of 4-5 games all in one period, makes more sense to me - so it would be more like a winter break, just from club football.

[Division]

I would also be a fan of an extended international break where 4 or 5 games are held.

From a betting point of view these current breaks are a disaster as the internationals are complete guesswork as you don't know how players will gel after only a couple of training sessions and when they come back to Europe from Africa and South America there has to be an element of fatigue and simply disruption to their routine.

I don't think an international friendly at this point in the season brings tangible benefits. More or less a revenue generating exercise which is why it won't be changed by the powers that be.

[arsenalfh]

Qualification for international tournaments is boring and predictable. Either spice it up or play them all together at the end of the season or in the new year after the Christmas fixtures.

[Shade34]

whats the point of the holiday if I have to work next morning at 5 am independently of my country hiolidays, oh god. ZzzzZzzz