A round of upcoming international fixtures will be marked by the usual complaints about the omission of one and delight at the inclusion of another. There will be plenty of fans who feel their full-backs are deserving of England call-ups ahead of the usual mainstays in Roy Hodgson’s team. After all, aren’t we supposed to be looking at something a little different in the England squads? Regardless, there are far too many supporters who appear to walk this line between wanting the best of both worlds: the international stage needs to acknowledge and appreciate their club’s star players, but don’t they dare return injured.
Arsenal fans would scream bloody murder if Robin van Persie got a call-up to the Netherlands squad. The reaction was even more menacing if he returned to London Colney with an injury. Where was the sense in taking Abou Diaby along for a couple of France internationals so soon after returning to the first team at Arsenal? One of those France games was a meaningless friendly.
Supporters want to see their players represent their country. Why, what’s the point? How many people really say they look forward to a round of England internationals over a London derby followed quickly by a Champions League night. Santi Cazorla is putting in consistent and outstanding performances for Arsenal, should that warrant a place in Vicente De Bosque’s side? Yes, absolutely. But why do fans need to see it. It’s of no use to Arsenal if the player returns from a pointless trip to South America absolutely burnt out and unable to perform in the next league game. But that doesn’t stop plenty sounding out how good he has been and how deserving he is of a call-up.
Can you really blame Alex Ferguson for taking up such a strong stance over his players and international tournaments. International football is becoming a nonsense, and the only reason the World Cup and European Championships are so warmly received is because there is nothing else to watch (unless you fancy baseball during the summer) and also that so many “neutrals” embrace it and become die hard football fans for a few weeks.
Kieran Gibbs may be called up for the England squad at some stage in the near future, but is that what Arsenal fans really want? Do supporters really need the England manager to acknowledge just how good the player is at the moment? Where’s the regard for his own injury worries of the past? What kind of reaction will be had all over Twitter when the player picks up an injury that rules him out for a considerable chunk of the season?
Andre Santos was picked by Arsene Wenger in the final group game of the Champions League last season, despite the team being down to the bare bones in terms of defenders. The manager stated that he wanted to show plenty of respect to the game and the opposition. Well forget all that respect malarkey, what kind of respect is Wenger shown when Uefa dish out all those fines? What about the persistent knocking on the door by international managers who want to take another one of his walking wounded away for two weeks.
Santos’ case last season in the Champions league highlights that these injuries can indeed happen at Arsenal just as much as they can when the player is away with his national side. But why run the risk? Why do Arsenal fans keep talking up the impact Jack Wilshere, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Kieran Gibbs will have for England? Honestly, there’s a real sense of double standards about many fans.
Gervinho will be lost for around a month when he travels to the African Cup of Nations in January. Everyone saw the effects the tournament had on him last season following his penalty miss in the final. Andrey Arshavin looked a broken man when Russia failed to qualify for the World Cup. Meanwhile, there is still a season going on. The African Cup of Nations is thankfully being moved to the summer following this season’s tournament, but that’s something that should have happened a long time ago.
The international fixtures in the calendar should be marked with red circles signalling danger. Everyone should stick they head in the ground and hope for the best when they emerge. Maybe it’s just an excuse for some to watch a round of internationals. But really, why all the fuss when so many clearly stand in the corner of their club in the “club over country” debate.
