During the recent World Cup qualifying build up and games, the media debated the club v country issue.
Initially the withdrawal of Stephen Gerrard from Capello’s options due to an operation on his groin, prompted debate as to whether Capello had been fully informed by Liverpool that this was to happen. Other withdrawals such as Hargreaves and Carrick also fuelled the suspicion that clubs were holding back and protecting their players.
Jamie Carragher’s autobiography added a new dimension by his public admission that playing for England was not as important to him as playing for Liverpool. The discussion also led to the proposition that England players did not give their all for their country, and showed more commitment to their club in terms of level of performance. Added to this, the debate moved on to suggest that international football is of lesser quality than top flight domestic football and that most players would look around the international changing room and consider themselves to be in a lesser team than their club team.
Let us consider these points.
The club owns the player and effectively loans the player out for international duty. The player is the clubs asset and like any valuable asset has to be protected.
Whilst it can be frustrating for the international manager that the clubs can withhold a player, most international managers would be more than familiar with this and the term “poacher becoming gamekeeper” springs to mind. A player’s fitness and availability is a footballing problem that exists. It is also wholly understandable from a club or country point of view. One thing for sure is that a fit player who is eager to play for his country will be ready and eager for selection.
Do players give their all for their country? In most cases I would say yes. I have always thought Jamie Carragher to be a very strong player and gives 100%. He retired from international football in 2006, but was an important squad player. I felt we missed him in the Euro Qualifying match at Wembley against Croatia. He always performed well for England and when selected gave his all. His decision to retire from international football is his own decision and that should be respected. Whether it be a training match, a five a side or whatever form a football match takes, players are competitive. Factors that can influence players performance is poor media and a crowd that is on the players back. Owen Hargreaves, Peter Crouch and the current in vogue player to jeer, Frank Lampard might be forgiven for thinking whether it is all worth it. The crowd should be behind the team. Any analysis of performance and selection can be done after the game.
The standard of the international game came under scrutiny. Don Revie once famously said that his old Leeds teams were far better than his then England team. Arsene Wenger has said that his Arsenal team could beat Brazil. Certainly there is an elevation and status given to the international game that perhaps is not completely justified. Afterall Andorra would have trouble in the fourth tier of English football if not the fifth.
The recent 1-4 victory over Croatia seemed to bring back the good times and put these debates into perspective. The cheer in my local pub when England scored the first goal seemed to convey relief, anticipation, renewal of faith and joy at the same time. As the game continued a realisation that English football was not in a complete mess happily dawned. The players were working hard and performing well, beyond expectations even.
The standard of football was high and the match was entertaining. After the game, a sense of euphoria and a sense of purpose had permeated within the nations football psyche.
International football is a different concept to club football. It is not every week and the media build up to an international, is more intense than any club game that would only have special significance to the two clubs involved.
There can be great chasms of footballing talent especially in the qualifying rounds. A football match though is ultimately 11 men against 11 men. At club level a team will have their legends and heroes. These heroes and legends are not universally popular. At international level however, household names are made, the nation unites and anticipation heightens. The 1990 World Cup semi final was an amazing evening even if it was to end in sweet sorrow.
A World Cup winning team will however have a legacy and status that no club achievement could surpass. If a player wishes to become a true legend and his status as footballing hero never to be challenged, being in a World Cup winning team is the only way to achieve this.
And the manager who delivers this….? Well………
