Do international friendlies do more harm than good?

This weekend saw another round of international games, some important like the playoffs for the final positions at the World Cup, but all too many were unimportant games that counted for absolutely nothing t should the top players be excluded form playing in them to avoid injury?

I know that this brings up loads of potential problem like who do you classify as a top player etc. etc. but a lot of the time it is quite clear that some players are not needed and that as long as they keep their form up for their club they will play for their country.

International friendlies do have their place but that shouldn’t be just before Christmas when the fixture schedule is already tight and the next competitive international match is not until next summer. Friendlies should occur just before the competition when you know what players are fit at the time because there is a good chance there will be at least one injury that will cause a player not to make the World Cup.

Chelsea due John Terry and Frank Lampard both picked up injuries during their trip with England and Robin van Persie looks to be sidelined for 6 weeks after lasting only 10 minutes playing in a friendly for the Netherlands. These loses to Chelsea and Arsenal could put their title bids off track, which is bad enough for the supporters and club when they got injured in a game that mattered but injured in a friendly that could have been avoided makes the whole thing seem a little pointless.

The obvious answer to the problem is only to have international friendlies in the weeks before competitive games with the only other solution being a second string getting the call up in stead of the top players but ultimately these players still have clubs who need them fit to play so this only protects the big clubs and not the small ones.

I have never been a big fan of international football but I do understand the importance of it to players who want to represent their country but sometimes I feel a little more common sense needs to be adopted when arranging the fixtures of non-competitive international matches.

Written by Mark Ferguson, a sports writer who blogs about cheap football jerseys

Ecuador vs Brazil Highlights: World Cup 2010 Qualifiers

Cristian Noboa scored  late to snatch a ponit for Ecuador against Brazil in a 1-1 draw in a World Cup Qualifying match.

Julio Baptista came in for Ronaldinho in the 71st minute and the first ball he kicked found the back of the net at the Estadio Olimpico Atahualpa in Quito.But Noboa pounced on a rebound two minutes from time to snatch a draw for the home side.

Ecuador kept Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar busy all evening, but it was Brazil who had the first chance to score when a fourth-minute attempt by Marcelo was denied by Cevallos.

From then on it was all Ecuador, with Julio Cesar making the first of his many saves in the 15th minute when stopping an Edison Mendez free-kick with his legs. Joffre Guerron got the rebound but Julio Cesar cleared again with his feet.

Wigan midfielder Antonio Valencia hit the post soon after before Giovanni Caicedo also went close. Guerron then forced Julio Cesar to make a spectacular save, but Luis Fabiano showed Brazil still posed a threat by testing the Ecuador stopper Jose Francisco Cevallos.

Julio Baptista opened the scoring seconds after entering the game with a shot that deflected off the post and Cevallos on its way in.Luis Fabiano then hit the left post, but Noboa pounced on Cristian Benitez’s saved shot to snatch a point.

Cristian Benitez could have won it for Ecuador in injury time but Julio Cesar denied him again.


Moldova vs Switzerland Highlights: World Cup 2010 Highlights

Switzerland moved level on points with World Cup Qualifying Group Two leaders Greece after victory over minnows Moldova, but they were made to work hard in the second half.

Goals from captain Alexander Frei and substitute Gelson Fernandes moved Switzerland on to 10 points, the same total as Greece after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Israel.Switzerland were clearly the stronger team at the Republican Stadium, and controlled the game from the early stages. The results means Switzerland wil occupy the second spot in Group two on goal difference
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Israel vs Greece Highlights: World Cup 2010 Qualifiers Highlights

Greece maintained their position at the top of World Cup Qualifying Group Two by grinding out a well-fought draw against Israel at the Ramat Gan stadium in Tel Aviv.

Theofanis Gekas put Otto Rehhagel’s team ahead three minutes before half-time with an opportunist strike but the 2004 European champions were pegged back when Omer Golan equalised 11 minutes after the break.The result means Greece stay atop of Switzerland – 2-0 winners in Moldova today – on goal difference with both teams having picked up 10 points from five games. Israel lie third, one point adrift, ahead of the next meeting between the two sides in Crete on Wednesday.

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