Home > Football > England v Germany is just a B waste of time!
by Chris Goldsmith on 22 August 2007
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Tonight (Wednesday) sees another friendly between bitter rivals England v Germany. But what is the point?
The Premier League has only just started, as have many other leagues around Europe, such as La Liga in Spain, Le Championat in France and the Belgian Jupiler League. So why do we want to see friendly games played between nations? Isn't club football far more exciting?
Sadly, there is more passion shown by many players for their clubs than for their national team. Maybe the loyalty to club over country is down to who pays the wages.
The amount of injuries both teams have made reduces tonight's game effectively to an England B v Germany B match. Why risk more players getting injured before the new season is three weeks old? No one wants to see a poor manager such as Steve McClaren swapping players every five minutes and changing his tactics after every pass.
OK, there are crucial qualifying matches coming up for both countries but is it really going to be beneficial for them to play this game? The team will change so many times before the next match, anyway. And just think how many other Premier League players will be playing friendlies all over the world this week - and how many will come back with a 'slight knock' or a 'bruised ankle' on Saturday. Lots, is the answer. And you know if it's one of your team's players you will be gutted.
Club football is more exciting and passionate than national football unless it's played at a big tournament like the Euro Championships or World Cup. I will look forward to the Premier League matches at the weekend with baited breath. However, Coronation Street seems more appealing than England v Germany tonight!.
Look at how Blackburn's David Bentley has been punished for opting out of the England Under-21 team this summer. He's now been left out of the England squad and he's one of our brightest prospects. Ridiculous! What is McClaren thinking?
The only good thing that could come out tonight's match is if England get thrashed by the Germans and McClaren gets the boot. That would be worth it!Club football is more important than friendlies. Welcome back, Premier League!
Comments (4)
by Gareth Johnson on August 22, 2007
This is the first article I have read of yours, I will not be reading anymore! This is rubbish! Firstly, La Liga has not yet started so it is factually incorrect. Equally, while everyone is allowed an opinion, I would like to know why you feel Bentley should not be punished? You're only argument seems to be that he is a prospect. Does this mean discipline does not apply? You also seem to forget that Premier League clubs played pre-season friendlies. A friendly between countries is similar, a chance to be able to see your players come together before the big games. It is McClaren's ineptitude you should be writing about, not internationals.
by Richard Bagot on August 22, 2007
I agree with Gareth when saying this is a poor article that far from shows any originality what so ever. The age old friendly debate has to be put to bed once and for all. If we didn't have any friendlies then international football would seriously suffer. They may not be all that good to watch but they are necessary. As for the Bentley argument again I would have to agree with Gareth
by rover til i die on August 22, 2007
Richard, should Gerrard be punished for not playing tonight? After all, he was fit enough to play on Sunday and then "agreed" with Maclaren not to play tonight, how on Earth is that any different to what Bentley did (expect he did it to the U21s and not the full team). And I suppose Carragher was right to turn his back on England too eh? Just because he didn't play when and where he wanted too. Bentley is getting stick because he plays for Blackburn and for no other reason. If he was at Man Yoo and getting all the coverage they get, every England fan would be backing him but to most he's just that Arsenal reject who may get 3 mins on Match Of The Day if he's lucky. No other country has this attitude to their players. Kaka, Ronaldinho, Adriano aren't being "punished" for pulling out of the Copa America with fatigue and just the other day Eto'o asked not to be included in the Cameroon friendly because he wants to be fit for Barca. Of course you will probably claim that all these examples are somehow
"different" to Bentley's but in reality you are no different to Maclaren, you want the squad picked on popularity rather than actual talent.
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