Is there a breaking point coming between the clubs and countries in the near future? The current international break has seen several players go down with injuries. Manchester City has not been immune to this with Kyle Walker going down injured and the world champions sweating on his condition. Is it now getting to a point where there may be a tipping point between clubs and countries going forward?
Comments from Norway manager Stale Solbakken highlights the issue. Norway takes on Slovakia in a friendly on Tuesday evening. The Norwegian manager was asked if Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard would feature for Norway ahead of Manchester City’s weekend clash with Arsenal. Solbakken said Sunday’s game isn’t a factor in his decision-making for Norway’s game. He said: “I basically don’t take that into account. As a rule, I don’t take it into account other than common sense. There are five days until that match. I have spoken to both of them. Both are very eager to play the game. I think we should be happy about that.”
Stale Solbakken is correct that his players’ club commitments aren’t his responsibility. His job is to win games for Norway and playing Erling Haaland, and Martin Odegaard gives him the best chance of that. But there is a question about the wisdom of playing players who shoulder a heavy workload for their clubs in a friendly.
There is no doubt a place for international football in the game. The World Cup, European Championships, and other international tournaments hold a special place in the game. But with FIFA and UEFA increasing the amount of football played, it does appear that the game is heading towards a breaking point between the clubs and countries. At times, less is more, which may be evident with the Champions League and World Cup being expanded. How this looks at the end of the 2026 World Cup will be an interesting subplot.
Manchester City will be hoping their players return from the international break with no more injury concerns. Given what’s at stake this season, they will need their whole squad available to attempt to create history this campaign. But going forward, there does appear that something needs to be done about the amount of football being played by the players. The game doesn’t want to see a breaking point in the relationships between clubs and countries as the game and the fans will suffer as a result.
More must-reads: