8 players have withdrawn from the upcoming 2 international games, is it a case of club before country, do the players get assed by the FA to confirm they are unfit ?

Club first for me every time…bugger these pointless games which no one is interested in…when it comes to runners up status England have cornered the market.
There’s too many games at that level.

All these pointless friendlies keep money coming in to the F.A no doubt, be plenty of their reps at every game taking advantage of the free hospitalities.

gives the fringe players an opportunity anyways - ill be more likely to watch the games now as i like to see the other lads play and see how it sets up.

Not friendlies it’s the UEFA Nations League, no idea where that competition came from as we already had the UEFA Cup earlier this year.

Who gives a monkey’s toss about the UEFA Nations League……?

Just an excuse to make a friendly seem justified in my eyes. Bit like that competition we've swerved this season involving Premiership teams youngsters.

then what comes next. moaning about playing too many games. it actually devalues international caps with average players able to get more of them than the real stars of the past got. once an international game was an occasion. now they are like london buses.

To think teams at levels 3 to 5 are having to host these games against wealthier top tier clubs at great expense and cost to clubs who can least afford it sums up the F.A in a nutshell for me.

have always wondered what the break even figure is when clubs stage a night match and how many fans are needed at say £10 to make a profit.

You never see many players withdrawing from Champions League games or other European club competitions?

Supply and demand…does a comedian attend a top venue or the Slagthorpe Wheel Polishers Social Club over 80’s hearing aid gala if given the choice.

You’ve never seen a player miss a European club game due to injury?

Only genuinely injured ones.

think there is a list of priorities for players. euro competitions at the top and international football slightly above the fa cup with the league cup holding them all up until there is a final involved and then it becomes important.

Depends which competition has the highest win bonuses.I imagine.

Harry Kane voicing his opinion,
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/arti ... jr97r6e7jo

When you were working you’d go for the best paying contract….so why should they be any different…very few footballers are likely to look for other reasons.

Only genuinely injured ones.[/quote]
think there is a list of priorities for players. euro competitions at the top and international football slightly above the fa cup with the league cup holding them all up until there is a final involved and then it becomes important.[/quote]

Depends which competition has the highest win bonuses.I imagine.[/quote]
When you were working you’d go for the best paying contract….so why should they be any different…very few footballers are likely to look for other reasons.[/quote]


This is some thing I wasn’t aware of,
England players are understood to earn around £2,000 per game for the Three Lions.
However, since 2007, England players have been donating their match fees to the England Football Foundation.

The money is then distributed to charities, with England players having raised more than £15m with the initiative since it first started.

This means that the England stars will forego £14,000 for their efforts in Germany, should the team go the whole way and reach the Euro 2024 final on July 14.

I should think so too…it should be an honour to play for your country.

Has anybody else noticed how well England have been playing since the introduction of the "International Break"
And how "Club" football has not suffered one bit.

Whoever thought that up is undoubtedly a footballing genius, Hats off to Fifa, Uefa, The FA and all involved.
Wonder when the next round of the "Nations League" is, Can,t wait.

All these newish stupid games.

The right thing when teams win.

But a great excuse of tiredness for the losers.

Even though part time hours athletes play these games.

Definition of proper tiredness is.
Full time working.
Full time Mother/Father
Housework /Shopping.
Unpaid work outside of Employment.

You missed off the main tiredness Pools.

3500 England fans in Athens tonight.

Awesome.

3 0 up

Never mind your country, I found swimming for Brierton School to be an honour.

And later on playing football and Rugby for Peterlee Howletch.

I just couldn't believe that any fucker other than me fatha would turn up and watch us...!

that is true, but tell anyone they are looking tired and they,ll start to yawn and think they are.

England reserves were really good last night - maybe some of the stay at homes won't have to worry about inconvenient call-ups in future?

And Pickford showed again that he is far and away England's best keeper - will always be an annoying Mackem though.