Why Should Countries Pay Clubs For Players On International Duty

Meddling FIFA president Sepp Blatter is intent on leaving a lasting legacy to the wonderful world of football regardless of the effect it will have on the game. This time he has paved the way for the richest clubs in football to get richer still, through payments for their player who are on international duty.

The threat of legal action from the G14 clubs which include Manchester United, Liverpool & Arsenal, appears to have forced the hand of the top man in Football. The clubs were seeking compensation for players injured on international duty, however Blatter has given them a letter if intent which has satisfied them, causing them to withdraw their legal action and disband the group. UEFA will be happy to see the group gone as they had threatened to set up a break away European league.

Countries Could Go Bankrupt Or Competitions Could Disappear!

The details of the payments have yet to be announced, but the intent to pay does beg many questions. Currently the players get a match fee for playing for their country, in tournaments there are other bonuses and incentives for playing. Will these payments be diverted to the Clubs instead of the players? Or will there be a further financial burden on the countries coffers? A burden that could see the end of fantastic tournaments like the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA European Championships, or possibly the end of some glorious nations participation in the competitions because they could not afford the payments required to the clubs. How will the poorer African nations be able to compensate cash rich Chelsea for their highly valuable super stars like Drogba and Essien?

Why Should Clubs Be Compensated? Players Made Famous From International Competitions Make Them Millions!

Currently the International tournaments take place during the holiday/close season, with the exception of the African Cup of Nations, which could and should be rescheduled to suit considering the majority of players are playing their game in Europe. So what exactly are the clubs being compensated for? Being denied the ability to take that player on a tour of Asia or America? Surely the player is representing their club in some of the most watched competitions on the planet, if those players play well or win medals their value is raised, meaning the club can charge more for sponsors and branding. Just look at the new partnership between Manchester United and Kumho Tyres, where the Koreans will have paid a fortune to Manchester United so they can use effective sales tools like Wayne Rooney’s name in radio advertising. Their value is also raised on the transfer market, some clubs have been funded and built on the cash from selling a player who did well at a world cup. Damian Duff was sold to Chelsea for a fortune after his displays for the Republic of Ireland in 2002, Bayern Munich made a huge profit on Owen Hargreaves after he shone in the World Cup in 2006, is that not compensation enough for these teams?

Who Will Compensate The Countries If The Stars Are Unavailable For Tournaments?

Has a player ever had their career ended by an injury caused purely in an international tournament? Granted there have been a few long term injuries where clubs have had to pay huge wages during the recovery period, but who negotiated the contract with the players? Who agreed to pay them full pay during their sickness? More importantly if an international star is injured playing for their club and cannot play for their country will the clubs compensate the countries? If Cristiano Ronaldo is injured for the Euro 2008, could Portugal sue Manchester United for inhibiting their chances of winning the competition, reducing their potential revenues from sponsors? If so Wales could have a case against Manchester United as Ryan Giggs nearly always seemed to have a niggle when it came to international time.

It’s Time Players Took Responsibility, Instead Of Just Taking The Money

In the modern game that is awash with money, with players commanding incredible salaries in some cases in excess of £120k a week, plus endorsements. The responsibility must be with the players, they should insure themselves to compensate their clubs for injuries caused fulfilling their international duty. If not the clubs should continue to work with the risk and reward system that is currently in place, they take the risk of the player getting injured, but they also reap the rewards of the influx of cash from merchandise, sponsorship and transfer fees as a result of their player participation.

Welsh wing wizard Ryan Giggs has decided that this weekend’s game against the Czech Republic will be his last. Giggs is only 33 years old and was thought to have many years of international football ahead of him possibly playing until the 2010 World Cup Finals.

In a 16 year international career Giggs has won just 63 caps for Wales, partly due to the demands of his Manchester United career, which he will be able to concentrate on. Wales manager John Toshack will have to choose an new captain to lead his side.

The great Beckham debate has begun again, following his inclusion in Steve McClaren’s squad for the upcoming matches against Brazil and Estonia. All involved with brand Beckham will have been delighted at the increased elevation of his already massive profile.

Many pundits, fans and ex-pros have all had their say and their reaction is mixed. As many saying it was a bad idea as those saying it is good, their qualification to form their opinion is more debatable than the former captains inclusion in the squad.

Beckham has been an integral part of Real Madrid’s surge to the top of la Liga and they are just two wins from securing their first silverware in four years, thanks to their results against second placed Barcelona who have a much healthier goal difference. Indeed both his club manager and his team-mates feel that he deserved a place in the England squad.

So why the great debate? All McClaren has done is his job, even if it has reportedly upset his number two Terry Venables, pick players who will do the best job for England. Choose the players with the most skill and form, and harness those attributes and impart tactics on the players to ensure and English victory. Which is something he has not really done since he took charge of Sven’s England team after last years World Cup. McClaren cut Beckham loose after he stood down from his role as captain, but not for footballing reasons, but because he could not handle the brand Beckham roadshow. Although to be fair Beckham’s form was poor, but then so was the form of many of England’s other top talents, yet they remained part of the plan. Beckham could have helped develop some of the younger talent but he was tossed aside like last years kit.

For years players have been picked for England due to their name and reputation or for their commercial appeal. Some were picked and played out of position, others picked just to help them win appearance records, or because of their familiarity with their club team-mates. When really the player who has contributed most for their club in each position of the system that the England manager has selected should be the one who makes the team.

Maybe if McClaren and future England managers were to make the England team a meritocracy instead of a popularity contest among a club of old boys. It might better serve those who it matters to most… the England supporters!

In the last year there has been a World Cup in Germany, bungs in England, corruption and murder in Italy. There have been many other headlines that have rocked football and caused great debate, $250m transatlantic transfers, transfer rumours and illegal ownerships. There have been assaults and injuries to write about. The fiercely competitive nature of all of the major football competitons has kept us on the edge of our seats and compelled us to write about the games.

Everybody here at afunnyoldgame.com would like to thank a number of people, firstly our sponsors who have helped fund the cause. Secondly the writers who have contributed stories over the past year, but most of all we would like to thank our viewers. The people, who visit the site, share their comments with the world and provide us with a reason for existing and support our sponsors.

We have enjoyed bringing you the news and our views as events unfolded over the last year and we look forward to reporting on the summer transfer window and the beginning of the new season. We hope to keep providing you with the same service for many years to come.

In the longest four days in his football career Steve McClaren has had to deny rumours of a rift in the camp with players and backroom staff. Explain his being summonsed to Soho Square to explain the result and performance against Israel at the weekend.

He has also received the dreaded backing of the players with captain John Terry telling the press that he believes that McClaren is the man for the job. McClaren knows that he needs his team to provide a convincing win over footballing minnows Andorra in Barcelona, if he is to remain at the helm of English football.

The head quarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association will host its first international soccer match when the Republic of Ireland play Wales in a Euro 2008 qualifier. The amateur association had banned foreign sports from being played on its pitches around the country, however the ban was recently lifted after much lobbying when it was decided to redevelop Lansdowne Road which was home to both Irish Football and Rugby.

Croke Park dwarfs Lansdowne Road in capacity with over 82,000 compared with just under 50,000 in the old stadium. It is used to holding massive events the Special Olympics World Summer Games ceremonies were held there on their first venture outside the USA. There have been concerts by Robbie Williams and U2, it venue was even host to a Muhammad Ali fight.

A fight will be what is required of the players if they are to begin their ascent of the group table in the hope of qualifying for next years finals. Wales have little hope of qualifying and with the clubs putting pressure on manager John Toshack to rest their players he is not being helped. However the clubs and press know that he is too stubborn to do as he is told and will be sure to play his best eleven.

Staunton has mentioned how proud the players will be when they walk out on Saturday. Although Ireland’s form in the qualifying campaign so far has not invoked much pride, in fact it has made many question Staunton’s pedigree for such a high office. Like his England counterpart he knows that the next two games are must win.

Chelsea and England captain John Terry is rallying the troops in preparation for the crucial Euro 2008 qualifying games against Israel and Andorra. England are third in group E and are only ahead of Saturdays opponents Israel on goal difference.

Terry told SkySports News “There is a lot on the game, everyone knows we need to win the game” if only to give manager Steve McClaren a stay of execution, that will bring his tenure to an end should England fail to qualify for a major finals for the first time since the World Cup in the USA in1994.

England players are not just playing to save their manager, they must also put in a performance to win back the fans after a disappointing World Cup in Germany and some poor performances recently. Knowing this Terry said “The fans have witnessed that and to watch that has been heartbreaking so we owe them, we owe ourselves, and we owe everyone in England a good performance.” If the England players owe the fans then why not refund those who paid to witness the poor performances? Give back to those who follow and cheer them through thick and thin, and be more accountable to those who have put them high on their pedestal.

Looking For the England Squad against Israel & Russia?

Steve McClaren has announced his squad for the upcoming European Championship qualifying group games against Israel and Andorra. There are a host of usual suspects, McClaren has chosen to stick with a similar squad to the one that faced Spain in the friendly last month. There is one notable inclusion in the squad, David Nugent.

The Preston striker has been promoted to the senior squad from the under-21’s following the injury to Darren Bent. Nugent faces stiff competition if he is to make the starting line up and Steve McClaren needs goals if he is to get the six points that England’s qualifying campaign so desperately needs.

There will again be much debate about the midfield, especially now there is a fit again Owen Hargreaves available for selection. On suitability of position the four would be Downing, Hargreaves, Lampard and Lennon. However the England manager will probably opt for Lennon, Carrick, Lampard, Gerrard, playing the Liverpool captain out in his less favoured right-sided role.

The front partnership could provide similar problems as England will be without a target man with Crouch injured, McClaren will probably pick either Defoe or Johnson to partner Wayne Rooney. Opting to keep Nugent on the bench for a second half appearance.

The full squad is:

Goalkeepers
Paul Robinson, Ben Foster, Scott Carson

Defenders
Gareth Barry, Rio Ferdinand, John Terry, Jonathan Woodgate, Jamie Carragher, Micah Richards, Ashley Cole, Phil Neville

Midfielders
Michael Carrick, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Aaron Lennon, Stewart Downing, Owen Hargreaves, Kieron Dyer, Scott Parker

Forwards
Jermain Defoe, Andrew Johnson, Wayne Rooney, David Nugent

The Football Association have finally been given the keys to the new look Wembley Stadium. After two years of delays and spiralling costs the builders Multiplex have nearly completed the project.

The sides in the FA Cup quarter-finals will all be hoping to be the first to lift the worlds most famous club trophy in its new home. However for the stadium to be ready for the final on the 19th May, there have to be some warm-up events that help demonstrate the stadiums fitness for purpose. They will use limited capacity of up to 60,000 of the 90,000 that will be used for the final.

When David Beckham limped out of Real Madrid’s local derby with Getafe, he has provided England manager with the ideal excuse for not selecting him for the up coming Euro 2008 qualifiers with Andorra and Israel.

Beckham’s recent form has been impressive, he had to fight to get back into the Real Madrid side after a row with manager Fabio Capello. This determination and his performances on the pitch have made many reporters and pundits call for his return to the England squad.

There is no doubt that McClaren is willing to welcome back players in exile, he has already tried to get Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes to come out of international retirement. Scholes has been in his self imposed state of retirement for two years.

There is no doubt, David Beckham is better than some of the players who have been involved in the last England squad. Especially on recent form, he is a different class from the likes of Jermaine Jenas, Kieron Dyer, Gareth Barry, Michael Carrick, Scott Parker and Joey Barton.

Surely even McClaren can see that Beckham still has something to offer, but is he too stubborn to swallow his pride and welcome Beckham back into the fold? If McClaren wants to qualify for the finals in Austria and Switzerland next year he needs to change something to achieve the results that will give England the points total required for qualification.