Nothing

I watched an UEFA Nations League match yesterday and I still don’t get it. What are we, the supporters, supposed to be getting out of this? An end to international friendlies? It hasn’t even remotely done that: England played an international friendly against USA just the other day!

All that it’s done is added another pointless international trophy, just for European clubs. It’s like the thing that we do over here in the Americas, that cup that we have every two years, the Alexis Sanchez cup (Copa America). Or the FIFA Confederations Cup, or the Africa Cup of Nations, etc etc. It’s just another money spinning idea by the criminal gang that brought you the World Cup and the UEFA Cup. A tournament that player’s can’t refuse to play in (because FIFA forces players to play in any game that their country calls them up for) and in which players will actually be giving much more effort into because they think it matters (for now).

It was ingenious in that regard only, it has fooled people into thinking that this is good football (“well it’s better than friendlies”) when in reality it’s not. For 85 minutes against Croatia, the fans at Wembley were dead quiet. You could hear a hamster on his wheel. Then England Stoked in two goals (seriously, they scored on a throw in) and the crows woke up from it’s crapulous stupor and gave their all for the final five minutes.

This wasn’t great football. England have no midfielders. Eric Dier is an aptronym and Delph is ok at passing the ball safely. Barkley could/should be the number 10-ish player but really isn’t up to the job. The had 62% of the possession but Harry Kane only got 31 of their 792 touches. They just couldn’t get him the ball. Except on throw ins and corners.

Anyway, this article is almost as boring as the match. I should get to work.  There is nothing going on.

Qq

13 comments

  1. Stopped watching any international matches outside of world and European tournament. Even qualifiers.

    Not only boring, but as I watch more Arsenal matches I have started to really dislike many English players. Grates me to want them to win in any match.

    1. You know, that really is a shame, because many of us over here in the UK have a lot of time for USA footballers who make it into European leagues. In fact we admire all US sportsmen & women and wish them well.
      Have.A.Nice.Day

  2. Well the Burgermeisters might disagree with you. I was following on live text and by the time the Swiss had clawed their way back to 3-2 from a 0-2 deficit, I was (figuratively) holding my breath for each new report. I had to chuckle when the Hazard brothers ended up having to eat some humble pie, my only disappointment was that Xhaka didn’t score one of his 40-yard screamers.

    As for your point about pointlessness, the same observation could be made of any of the current competitions, national and international. If there ever was a point to footy, it surely had something to do with local pride and tradition, that gave spice to whatever entertainment could be found in watching 22 lads puffing up and down a muddy field. Now it’s more about seeing whose billionaire owner is willing to throw the most money at their team of millionaires. Yes, there’s entertainment in the skills on show, but it gets harder to care about the outcomes, when they seem to be bought and paid for.

    Now that Wenger has gone we can be more philosophical about his contributions to our club; my favourite (apart from his unfailing eloquence) was his ability to keep us competitive with the nouveau riche on a shoestring budget, while building the finest stadium in London. Merci, Arsene.

      1. The thing that turned me off qualifiers is the ‘fixedness’ of it all.

        Like it’s not enough that big teams get to avoid each other in tournaments, they also get to avoid each other in qualifiers too. They’re even covered in the case of qualifiers. It’s the opposite of fair competition and the longer it’s gone on the more it bothers me.

        Also, Martin O’Neil is our manager so you can imagine how exciting following Ireland is these days 🙁

  3. Well, I am one of those who say “better than friendlies”. Because it is — it is not possible to have it worse than friendlies. And also because, as you said, the players will be giving much more efforts.
    If the players believe it matters more, the public believes it matters more, then…. it matters more.

  4. I’m quite a fan of international football, and am still reeling from the summer World Cup. I’ve seen England countless times at Wembley and other stadia around the country and even when we just don’t stand a chance I’ll be there for the team. This competition is as the above comment says, better than friendlies because it just can’t be worse, but I take Tim’s point that we’re still going to be getting friendlies regardless of any other commitments.
    Just wondering if we’ve now seen the last of the mesmeric Modric (for more reasons than one) as a Croatia player.

  5. Meanwhile back at the ranch…
    Who cares?
    Arsenal Women are putting together an incredible season. If you want to watch something good, watch that.

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