This weekend the English Premier League kicks off its new season. Serie A, La Liga, and Bundesliga will all start soon. The French Ligue 1 has just begun, and many others around the world are gearing up for their seasons. So WHY ARE WE HAVING INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES TODAY AND TOMORROW?
The World's largest friendly just happened in a month-long celebration in June and July. Yes, I know, not every team was represented, but 32 of them were.
I think I understand why club managers drink heavily.
Just when their World Cup players have finally made their way back to the club after their extra vacation time, now they are shipped off again THE VERY WEEK that the club seasons begin. STUPID!
Why am I making a big deal of this? It's very simple. These players are paid (very well) by these club teams to perform during the season. Their international experiences are not paid that well and it's mainly for love of country that they do it. Last year alone, Manchester United lost 10 players to injury...at one time. We had to call up two players from the Reserves just to fill a normal team at a Champions League away match. Vidic, Berba, O'Shea, and others were injured during friendlies and WC qualifiers. Rio Ferdinand is still on the injury list after he pulled up lame during his first practice in South Africa!
But we're not the only team dealing with this problem.
The doctor who performed meniscus surgery on Brasil star Kaka last week stated that "he had no business playing in the World Cup...he could have ended his career." Tell that to Real Madrid who paid 65 million for him just last summer, and will be without his services for another four months. The clubs invest gazillions to keep their stars healthy and fit to play, only to lose them to worthless friendlies and international competitions.
It isn't that I'm anti-international play, but we just finished the World Cup! The players are just now recovering from it, so is it necessary that we play at this time? The end of September would be better, when the teams are into their season. I can't imagine being a manager and sending off my best only to lose them for the first match of the season because they are injured from a match that has no bearing on any competition whatsoever.
I'm praying very hard that we don't lose anyone before our first match. At least Wes Brown was smart enough to announce this week his retirement from international play. Berbatov has done the same, and Vidic hinted that this summer's WC was probably his last. We can't afford to drop points like we did last year because of useless injuries.
FIFA has shown that they don't care one iota for the plight of clubs. Adding these worthless matches on top of the grueling schedule these teams keep, is just plain...well...FIFAesque.
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