With the complaint in about FIFA and numerous players publicly bemoaning the football schedule it looks like something has to give. International football, especially mid-season, is always the target for fans of the English "big six". Could they get their way?
The fact is there is still a massive hunger for international football. Chile had 43k for their game against Brazil last Thursday. Argentina got 82k for a game with Ecuador in this WCQ campaign. Saudi got 56k for their match with Japan while 46k went to watch Australia beat China last week. Iraq got 44k and Uzbekistan got 38k.
Most of these countries don't get to see their best players in club football, most play in Europe. However, the figures for the "glorified friendlies" in Europe weren't too bad either. 79k went to Wembley on a Thursday night to watch a second tier game! The Greeks also filled their stadium for the match against Ireland. 68k treated themselves to Germany vs Netherlands last night.
Players pulling out of internationals and retirement from international football has always happened, but Kylian Mbappe saying he will only play in the 'important' games is a big statement from one of the biggest names in the world. Of course he is in a strong position to say that compared to the majority of others who if they made a similar stance would probably never play for their country again. But if more top players follow this then international football becomes a lot less attractive for the fan.
On the flip side international football is still a massive deal for many players, and we continue to see players making themselves available for teams they qualify for through a grandparent.
It seems certain we are going to see change somewhere. Domestically the League Cup could be under threat, a reduction to 18 or even 16 teams in the PL has oft been a though. Stopping mid-season internationals is another strong thought, although technically that alone wouldn't solve the issue of the number of games. It would give clubs a bit more control of a players schedule during the main season and cut the travel.
For many football fans and players across the world International football is still the pinnacle. There is still a hunger for it, but something has to give somewhere...
Is International Football at risk?
posted 10 hours, 35 minutes ago
comment by Fabián Caballero (U1734)
posted 1 hour ago
comment by Tyranny of the majority (SE85) (U21241)
posted 56 minutes ago
comment by meltonblue (U10617)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by Tyranny of the majority (SE85) (U21241)
posted 11 minutes ago
I'm probably in the minority but I wouldn't lose a seconds sleep if International football disappeared forever. I just don't have that same connection to the England team as I do United.
I don't particularly like cheering for Liverpool, City, Arsenal and Chelsea players either and I'm sure I'm not alone in that view.
Club football would be more than enough for me.
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Think a fair few fans of the bigger clubs would agree with you, most others wouldn’t.
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Utd make me miserable enough as it is right now....I don't need England adding to it. 😂
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You support the most successful side in English football history and England have just got to back to back euros finals...
-------------------------------a---------------------------------------
Barrys right. Again !
posted 10 hours, 10 minutes ago
comment by RB&W - He kicked lumps out of them (U21434)
posted 20 minutes ago
comment by Fabián Caballero (U1734)
posted 1 hour ago
comment by Tyranny of the majority (SE85) (U21241)
posted 56 minutes ago
comment by meltonblue (U10617)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by Tyranny of the majority (SE85) (U21241)
posted 11 minutes ago
I'm probably in the minority but I wouldn't lose a seconds sleep if International football disappeared forever. I just don't have that same connection to the England team as I do United.
I don't particularly like cheering for Liverpool, City, Arsenal and Chelsea players either and I'm sure I'm not alone in that view.
Club football would be more than enough for me.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Think a fair few fans of the bigger clubs would agree with you, most others wouldn’t.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Utd make me miserable enough as it is right now....I don't need England adding to it. 😂
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You support the most successful side in English football history and England have just got to back to back euros finals...
-------------------------------a---------------------------------------
Barrys right. Again !
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Literally the last major trophy available in English football was won by Man Utd. In England's last major competitive match, they were 4 minutes away from extra time in the final of the Euros....
Absolute misery. Such a terrible state of affairs in the grand scheme of the football pyramid at domestic and international level.
Name me a fan who has suffered more supporting their teams.
posted 9 hours, 43 minutes ago
People aren't fans, they live through the access of something they have no impact on. Hence the constant whinging and moaning rather than focusing on their own vapid life.
posted 9 hours, 26 minutes ago
Fans of wealthy football clubs, despite their teams’ frequent victories and trophy collections, often find themselves less content than supporters of smaller, lower league clubs. This phenomenon mirrors the broader concept that money doesn’t necessarily equate to happiness.
For fans of top-tier clubs, the expectation of success can lead to a sense of entitlement and pressure, making victories feel routine rather than exhilarating.
In contrast, fans of lower league teams experience a deeper connection and sense of community, celebrating small victories and enduring losses together, which fosters a more profound and enduring joy. This dynamic is similar to how, in life, those who focus on meaningful relationships and personal achievements often find greater satisfaction than those who chase material wealth. The joy derived from shared experiences and overcoming challenges together often outweighs the fleeting pleasure of financial success.
Supporting your national team can often be more like supporting a less successful club team, so those who do, are more accustomed to it and can take joy from relative success of the national teams.
Fans of the more successful clubs are not always able to cope with long periods of mediocrity associated with supporting certain national teams so they proclaim that they don't care about said national team.
This changes when the team is doing well of course, which obviously doesn't make them a very good fan.
posted 8 hours, 55 minutes ago
comment by Fabián Caballero (U1734)
posted 1 hour, 13 minutes ago
comment by RB&W - He kicked lumps out of them (U21434)
posted 20 minutes ago
comment by Fabián Caballero (U1734)
posted 1 hour ago
comment by Tyranny of the majority (SE85) (U21241)
posted 56 minutes ago
comment by meltonblue (U10617)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by Tyranny of the majority (SE85) (U21241)
posted 11 minutes ago
I'm probably in the minority but I wouldn't lose a seconds sleep if International football disappeared forever. I just don't have that same connection to the England team as I do United.
I don't particularly like cheering for Liverpool, City, Arsenal and Chelsea players either and I'm sure I'm not alone in that view.
Club football would be more than enough for me.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Think a fair few fans of the bigger clubs would agree with you, most others wouldn’t.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Utd make me miserable enough as it is right now....I don't need England adding to it. 😂
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You support the most successful side in English football history and England have just got to back to back euros finals...
-------------------------------a---------------------------------------
Barrys right. Again !
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Literally the last major trophy available in English football was won by Man Utd. In England's last major competitive match, they were 4 minutes away from extra time in the final of the Euros....
Absolute misery. Such a terrible state of affairs in the grand scheme of the football pyramid at domestic and international level.
Name me a fan who has suffered more supporting their teams.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
lol!
posted 8 hours, 44 minutes ago
comment by Fabián Caballero (U1734)
posted 34 minutes ago
Fans of wealthy football clubs, despite their teams’ frequent victories and trophy collections, often find themselves less content than supporters of smaller, lower league clubs. This phenomenon mirrors the broader concept that money doesn’t necessarily equate to happiness.
For fans of top-tier clubs, the expectation of success can lead to a sense of entitlement and pressure, making victories feel routine rather than exhilarating.
In contrast, fans of lower league teams experience a deeper connection and sense of community, celebrating small victories and enduring losses together, which fosters a more profound and enduring joy. This dynamic is similar to how, in life, those who focus on meaningful relationships and personal achievements often find greater satisfaction than those who chase material wealth. The joy derived from shared experiences and overcoming challenges together often outweighs the fleeting pleasure of financial success.
Supporting your national team can often be more like supporting a less successful club team, so those who do, are more accustomed to it and can take joy from relative success of the national teams.
Fans of the more successful clubs are not always able to cope with long periods of mediocrity associated with supporting certain national teams so they proclaim that they don't care about said national team.
This changes when the team is doing well of course, which obviously doesn't make them a very good fan.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Thing is it's a totally different style of support.
Win lose or draw Spurs is a religion/lifestyle to me.
England just happens to be where I was born.
If we had north v south England them I could get alot more up for it. The north can have Birmingham.
posted 8 hours, 41 minutes ago
comment by PawlBawron (U1055)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by Fabián Caballero (U1734)
posted 34 minutes ago
Fans of wealthy football clubs, despite their teams’ frequent victories and trophy collections, often find themselves less content than supporters of smaller, lower league clubs. This phenomenon mirrors the broader concept that money doesn’t necessarily equate to happiness.
For fans of top-tier clubs, the expectation of success can lead to a sense of entitlement and pressure, making victories feel routine rather than exhilarating.
In contrast, fans of lower league teams experience a deeper connection and sense of community, celebrating small victories and enduring losses together, which fosters a more profound and enduring joy. This dynamic is similar to how, in life, those who focus on meaningful relationships and personal achievements often find greater satisfaction than those who chase material wealth. The joy derived from shared experiences and overcoming challenges together often outweighs the fleeting pleasure of financial success.
Supporting your national team can often be more like supporting a less successful club team, so those who do, are more accustomed to it and can take joy from relative success of the national teams.
Fans of the more successful clubs are not always able to cope with long periods of mediocrity associated with supporting certain national teams so they proclaim that they don't care about said national team.
This changes when the team is doing well of course, which obviously doesn't make them a very good fan.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Thing is it's a totally different style of support.
Win lose or draw Spurs is a religion/lifestyle to me.
England just happens to be where I was born.
If we had north v south England them I could get alot more up for it. The north can have Birmingham.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You mean Bellingham?
posted 8 hours, 35 minutes ago
comment by Fabián Caballero (U1734)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by PawlBawron (U1055)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by Fabián Caballero (U1734)
posted 34 minutes ago
Fans of wealthy football clubs, despite their teams’ frequent victories and trophy collections, often find themselves less content than supporters of smaller, lower league clubs. This phenomenon mirrors the broader concept that money doesn’t necessarily equate to happiness.
For fans of top-tier clubs, the expectation of success can lead to a sense of entitlement and pressure, making victories feel routine rather than exhilarating.
In contrast, fans of lower league teams experience a deeper connection and sense of community, celebrating small victories and enduring losses together, which fosters a more profound and enduring joy. This dynamic is similar to how, in life, those who focus on meaningful relationships and personal achievements often find greater satisfaction than those who chase material wealth. The joy derived from shared experiences and overcoming challenges together often outweighs the fleeting pleasure of financial success.
Supporting your national team can often be more like supporting a less successful club team, so those who do, are more accustomed to it and can take joy from relative success of the national teams.
Fans of the more successful clubs are not always able to cope with long periods of mediocrity associated with supporting certain national teams so they proclaim that they don't care about said national team.
This changes when the team is doing well of course, which obviously doesn't make them a very good fan.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Thing is it's a totally different style of support.
Win lose or draw Spurs is a religion/lifestyle to me.
England just happens to be where I was born.
If we had north v south England them I could get alot more up for it. The north can have Birmingham.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You mean Bellingham?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
He was born in Dudley so with the Birmingham/Midlands being classed as the north he's one of theirs.
posted 8 hours, 29 minutes ago
It is interesting the excuses fans of bigger clubs come up with for not supporting their national team.
Rangers because they like the royal family for some reason
Liverpool because, I am not sure? Because their accent is different?
Man U as well. I think maybe we don't like the attention the media gives the national team when it is normally us getting the attention. Think it's a jealousy thing.
Can people not just admit the real reason, of being a glory hunter?
posted 7 hours, 7 minutes ago
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 5 hours, 36 minutes ago
Perhaps something like 60 games - 50 club and 10 international - would be doable.
====
I get where you are coming from but can see carnage! Imagine getting to the CL final and missing half your squad because they played 50 games because you had an injury crisis. Or a nation like Morocco doing better than expected in the World Cup, reaching the final but you have to leave out your core because you didn't expect to get this far and they played 4 massive games in qualifying just to get you there.
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Not fully thought through, obviously, but teams would just have to make the most of their options, hedge their bets and decide where to take more risks. A lot of top clubs already do that now, deciding how to spread games and minutes ahead of important fixtures; this would perhaps add a layer of complexity, but it would do so in order to protect player welfare, which is what is being demanded.
Also, it's not like the limit would suddenly fall on them out of the blue; they'd know at all times how many games each footballer's played and how many they'd still be eligible for. As for injury crises, teams have them even now and find it hard to cope at times.
Not saying it would as simple as an outright/absolute limit, but something along the lines couldbeworkable.