A way to make international football more exciting.

[War]

Martin Samuel: In, out, in, out... it's hokey-cokey football for England | Mail Online

This thread has been sort of inspired by this Martin Samuels article.

Firstly for me the Club vs Country rhetoric is something that mainly a English debate (Since im pretty sure for Brazilians for example playing for Brazil & winning a world cup for their stars is worth more that winning the champions league with some major European club). In which many English fans these days feel more affection to their clubs than the national team. While the success of the premier league clubs although its been great its killing the national team, given as most know only 33% (or something like that) of the player in the premiership are English, you compare that to Spain, Italy, Germany where the amount of local players is 70%+.

So with England a balance needs to be found somehow with maintaining the best league in the world & having at least 50%+ of the players in the league to be English.

However thats not to say other little countries dont have problems in losing top players to retirements to club football as highlighted in the article:

Countries are scared to push claims too hard, for fear of losing a player to retirement. In January, Park Ji-sung of South Korea announced his withdrawal from international football, shortly followed by Tiago of Portugal; both men are still in their twenties. New names quit every month now and have been doing so for several years. Edwin van der Sar will walk away from Manchester United at the end of the season, but quit being Holland's goalkeeper three years ago. Dimitar Berbatov is the Premier League's top goalscorer this season but, to English relief, no longer plays for Bulgaria.

So i was thinking maybe incorporating a cricket-style international tours of lets say 3-5 internationals @ the end of every club season (if its not a world cup or EURO year of course) for all nations, which would certainly bring some nice excitement to international football.

For example Spain could tour England at the end of May/June for 5 international @ Old Trafford, Anfield, Stamford Bridge, Emirates & Wembley & visa versa.

Thoughts??

 

[Bevab]

Obviously yes. The only way to promote International football.

 

[Auwais]

Maybe even include another team and have a triangular football series, a la cricket's triangular ODI serieses. They should really get rid of friendlies during the season (maybe have a couple during a season that leads up to the WC or EC) and have mini-tournaments/leagues etc during the end of the season.

Just something new to refresh the stale international football scene would be good enough. A new concept, a new idea, anything. Sadly the FA's are too worried about arranging friendlies in far away places to get a few extra dollars.

The Home Nations thingy they brought back was a small step in the right direction. Maybe if England swallowed their pride and got involved in that and they moved that towards the end of the season, we'd start getting somewhere.

 

[pcfan123]

my suggestion:

put on some pads and pick up the ball

 

[War]

Maybe even include another team and have a triangular football series, a la cricket's triangular ODI serieses. They should really get rid of friendlies during the season (maybe have a couple during a season that leads up to the WC or EC) and have mini-tournaments/leagues etc during the end of the season.

Just something new to refresh the stale international football scene would be good enough. A new concept, a new idea, anything. Sadly the FA's are too worried about arranging friendlies in far away places to get a few extra dollars.

The Home Nations thingy they brought back was a small step in the right direction. Maybe if England swallowed their pride and got involved in that and they moved that towards the end of the season, we'd start getting somewhere.

Ye a few tri-nation football series like the ones in cricket at end of every football season (season that aint a WC or EURO year of course) would be nice.

During the season friendlies should also definitely be scrapped, they have certainly become fairly useless.

Im not a massive fan of the home nations tournament coming back TBDH. I much rather as we suggested a tri-nation tournament with ENG/SPA/GER for eg..

 

[War]

Uefa explores internationals shake-up with Nations League plan | Football | The Guardian

Well its a interesting and weird idea at the same time, but any new idea to bring some life to international football is worth considering as i noted when i made this thread a while back.

Friendlies don't necessarily have to be scrapped entirely, but they sure need to be reduced. But club football has a bit too much prominence, we need a better balance. International football matches outside of world cup, continental cups & its qualifiers can still have meaningful competitive matches.

 

[War]

This national league idea like its becoming a reality, interesting development and thoughts here:

England ready to play in new Nations League as revolutionary Uefa plan earns unanimous backing - Telegraph

MARTIN SAMUEL: Platini's secret plan to alienate the England faithful with plot to change the way YOU watch football... and he doesn't care | Mail Online

What's wrong with international friendlies? by Uli Hesse - ESPN FC

 

[War]

BBC Sport - Nations League: New European tournament to be confirmed

'Nations League' to offer World Cup places - ESPN FC

 

[Lee1981]

Ban England from playing matches that is a good start, nothing more boring than watching our pathetic attempts to play the game the right way.

 

[War]

BBC Sport - Nations League: New European competition to start in 2018

UEFA approves 'Nations League' tournament - ESPN FC

All confirmed now, think its a good idea, i've always felt club football has taken too much prominence in last 15 years, the game needs a fairer balance between club & international football.