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A friendly during qualifiers?

SpursManChris

Well-Known Member
May 15, 2007
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It just seems so unecessary to me. Why are friendlies set up during a qualifying year? Just for testing? Please don't tell me it's because of money.
To me it's simple. Injuries to the right players can lead a team to fail to qualify. England have had friendlies this year but they have been quite spaced out between qualifiers, France on the other hand may have just qualified, but they dangerously played a friendly just four days before their qualifier against Finland. It defies all logic for me.
 
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OmarsComing

Mentally Disturbed Individual!
Jan 2, 2011
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Bruce,

You answered your own question within the first two sentences of your post.
 

Danners9

Available on a Free Transfer
Mar 30, 2004
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I think they would have been better off having a group get together to discuss tactics and train properly rather than playing friendlies. Run through some plans, mini games between the players and practice set pieces, movement and set up some scenarios that have been prepared in advance.

Too many times England play as if they have only met each other in the changing room before the game.
 

SpursManChris

Well-Known Member
May 15, 2007
5,347
2,458
The France example kind of stands out for me though. There is a big difference between playing potentially injury causing friendlies during a qualifying year and playing potentially injury causing friendlies 4 days before a qualifier. To me that just defies logic. Has anyone ever heard of an example such as this?
 
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