International breaks have increasingly become frustrating interruptions in the flow of the regular club season. This year, in 2024, they seem even more disruptive, occurring almost every month. Clubs and players alike appear exasperated, with a noticeable rise in reports of “injuries” and “overloads” conveniently surfacing just before international duty. England captain Harry Kane has openly criticized players for these withdrawals.
Ahead of England’s Nations League away match against Greece, nine players from the Three Lions squad opted to sit out this break.
Among them are Aaron Ramsdale, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Levi Colwill, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Cole Palmer, Jack Grealish, Phil Foden, and Jarrad Branthwaite, as reported by multiple sources, including Sky Sports.
Gearing up for Greece ⚙️ pic.twitter.com/eKTAISdnt4
— England (@England) November 13, 2024
“England comes before anything else,” Kane asserted on the eve of the match. “England comes before club. It is the most important thing as a professional footballer.”
Having lost to Greece in the home leg at Wembley, England will aim to make amends in front of a reported 10,000-strong away crowd on Thursday night.
However, with so many withdrawals, there’s a question of whether morale might be affected. “It’s a shame this week, obviously,” Kane added. “It’s a tough period of the season, and maybe that’s being taken advantage of a little bit. I don’t really like it, if I’m totally honest.”
The 2024/25 season is shaping up to be the longest-ever for many top players at Europe’s elite clubs. Not only has the UEFA Champions League expanded its fixture list, but there are also more international breaks, and with the Club World Cup scheduled in June, it promises to be an exhausting stretch.
Injuries have been mounting, with key players like Éder Militão, Dani Carvajal, Rodri, and Bremer suffering season-ending ACL injuries, leaving clubs struggling to cope.
As the season wears on, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for players to ignore the relentless schedule. Some even considered going on strike, though that didn’t materialize. Instead, players and clubs are turning to alternative measures.
For example, some players are outright refusing to report for national duty, as Kylian Mbappé did with France last month. Others are developing “minor injuries” that keep them from representing their countries but clear up just in time for club matches.
Jack Grealish, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and others recently took a similar approach, prioritizing club football by opting out of the latest international break.
However, other stalwarts for England, like Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, and Kyle Walker, will be in the lineup at the Olympic Stadium in Athens.
