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The UEFA Nations League

Fowl!

Active Member
Oct 17, 2017
224
255
Definitely adds a bit of interest to the autumn friendlies.

But more travel, injuries and physical and mental fatigue for the elite players cannot be healthy.
 

Speedy

Active Member
Oct 22, 2005
642
887
Was just discussing this new format, which turns meaningless (missable) games into a hot contest. The real effect of this tournament will surely be the end of the Carabao League Cup for the premier league teams, because those players will choose England (or any national games) and choose to skip the League Cup to combat fatigue and injury primarily.

If a title challenging player has to currently play 60+ games and skips England duty (see Ryan Giggs awful Wales career) they will look to rest games which they deem the lowest value, exposure, match fees, etc and playing contracts will reflect this very quickly. Suddenly National games will have considerable value and prestige.
 

mpickard2087

Patient Zero
Jun 13, 2008
21,884
32,496
I can see what they're trying to do, but not convinced. I suspect the bigger nations especially might rotate heavily and rest players. There's also danger of it getting really samey, we (England) already seem to play the likes of France and Germany constantly already.
 

Locotoro

Prince of Zamunda
Sep 2, 2004
9,316
13,891
At least they are looking to shake things up. What I like about it is that whilst this editions leagues are determined by coefficients for the next edition the teams will start where they finished last. Eventually good teams will move up
 

SpaggyBoy

Well-Known Member
Sep 22, 2003
1,303
3,782
We need less international football, not more. Compared to the Premiership, International football is, and always will be, absolute shite. The players will give you the same tired, pre-prepared soundbite about "how it is an honour to represent their country", but I flat out guarantee you that secretly they do not give a shit. Why would they?? Raheem Sterling earns £300k a week and receives plaudits and adulation from fans when he plays for City. When he plays for England, he gets fuck all except for abuse, derision and the chance to play with mediocre tosspots like Jordan Henderson and be coached by Gareth Southgate.

It's not an honour to represent your country at International level. It's a millstone around your neck and the sooner International football is killed off for good the better.
 

nailsy

SC Supporter
Jul 24, 2005
30,534
46,625
England's first fixture in this is against Spain at Wembley on September the 8th.

The next game is away to Croatia in October. The FA website says this will be a behind closed doors match. That's going to be a strange match.
 

NinjaTuna

Well-Known Member
Jul 9, 2017
1,878
7,155
England's first fixture in this is against Spain at Wembley on September the 8th.

The next game is away to Croatia in October. The FA website says this will be a behind closed doors match. That's going to be a strange match.
How come it's behind closed doors?
 

Thewobbler

Well-Known Member
Oct 29, 2016
3,814
5,701
Wales about to have the easiest game they will ever play:

"Denmark have been forced to play Slovakia and Wales with a team made up of unknown lower-league and Futsal players.

On Sunday, the DBU rejected Spillerne's offer to play the two fixtures under the terms of their previous deal.

Instead, the governing body wrote to its domestic clubs in an attempt to compile a squad of new players who had never played for the national side before.

However, after those Danish Superliga and First Division sides opted not to make their stars available, the DBU selected a squad made up of players from the third and fourth tiers of their domestic league, as well as four who featured in the 2016 Futsal World Cup."

At least erisken will be getting some rest.
 

cwy21

Well-Known Member
May 11, 2009
9,431
7,922
I don't understand how a league can refuse to make their players available. These matches fall within the FIFA calendar. I thought players had to be released to the national team?

I can understand that the big players have a contract dispute, but does that include the Danish first and second division as well?
 
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