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USL Social Page - The Game Taken from the booklet 'Let the conversation flow' published by Martell Cognac. FOR THE GLORY OF THE CLUB
Some football clubs are actually superior to some national teams. Understandably, players want to play for the best possible side.
Generally, the payment received for playing for your country is far less than for playing for your club. In your job, would you accept less for a fortnight's work far from home?
The Champions League provides the biggest stage on which to perform. Facing top European professionals is a greater test than playing amateur national sides like Luxembourg or the Faroe Islands.
Friendly matches are sometimes viewed as pointless because a manager is allowed to practically change his whole team at half time through substitutions. Players then find themselves on the field for short amounts of time and do not really get a chance to perform.
Players representing their country in friendly matches run the risk of getting injured and missing important club games, or maybe even having their career ended. Such an occurrence would be devastating for a player and, potentially, his club.
FOR THE LOVE OF COUNTRY
Playing for your country is an honour that all footballers should treasure. It proves that they are the the cream of the entire nation.
By playing consistently for his country, a player can raise his footballing profile throughout the world and launch a highly lucrative career - as in the case of Michael Owen at the 1998 World Cup in France.
Players should want to meet up with their national side as often as possible. They get to know each other as personalities, not just players. How else can they develop team spirit, which is crucial to winning a major tournament.
Even in low priority matches, when supporters see their best national side playing, they're assured that the players are motivated to play for their country. This further encourages fans to get behind the team for the 'crunch' games.
When a manager has his full strength team playing for him in friendly matches, he can put tactics and set plays into practice a lot better than on the training ground. He can also see how the players perform as a unit. It's a must.
*Please note that Martell do not accept responsibility for the beliefs, opinions or indeed the factual accuracy of the information contained in their booklet. Likewise, statements of belief, opinion or fact do not represent Martell's own assessment and interpretation of the facts available and no responsibility is accepted by Martell in respect of them. |
