TTFD – Has UEFA Nations League improved international break

Besides the fact that watching my country South Africa play football being one of the worst things on earth. I really don’t see the point in friendlies, when there are more important things to play for during 90 minutes.

The list for why its a good thing has its limitations. Making a list of why it’s not beneficial to the footballing world is a longer list than that of being in favour. Before the third international break, the English Premier League and every other cup reached full throttle.

During the fully loaded month of club action, we were treated to some great challenges. A top-six battle almost every weekend, or a bottom-table fight for three points every other match – with so many teams in threat of relegation. Many meetings and upsets in the two European competitions. Now a break of two weeks and all that momentum has been lost.

For teams as strong as Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea, results are bit easier to come by on return from country duty. However, those minnow teams who finally broke their duck, or managed a run of promising results lose their strides, sadly.

Other than comparing the importance of the two professional duties for footballers. Deciding what importance does a friendly hold over a possible win to move up the table or progress in the cup, there’s the biggest setback of them of them all, injuries to key players during international break.

Missing your best players for important fixtures has always been the case. We’ve seen players who’ve finally made the grade, returning from injury, reaching great heights on that return, so much so, gets a call up to the national side, all to get injured again. A vicious cycle I tell you.

The UEFA Nations League

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I can honestly say English fans are loving this cup, as its proving to be a stage they get to see their beloved Three Lions improve each match and claim a semi-final spot over the those who were hotter favourites, all while having more meaning to the matches.

It has helped raise the bar to a new level of importance, but still is not more crucial than what is going on during club action. If we played all international matches like the Euros, African Cup of Nations, and other high-profile tournaments, like the World Cup (Basically setting it at the same time as the World Cup) we’d be on the right track.

If it takes four years before the next World Cup, why can’t the qualifying rounds be played around the same time as the World Cup, a season ahead of the major event? It wouldn’t take as long and would offer a break longer between international duty and club duty, as it will help remove some congestion from the league and cup fixtures. I can think of a many things this one change would improve.

This way, all players will be leaving like they were leaving and playing to make a tournament team. Players will no longer travel between different seasons, while moving in between countries. The possibilities are endless. African and South American players will never have to worry about choosing between their club and country as well.