It's absolute nonsense! RIDICULOUS! - Steve Nicol on extra Nations League matches | ESPN FC

The ESPN FC crew sound off on the notion of injuries extra matches in the soccer calendar have produced, and discuss whether the Nations League should've even taken place.

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[mrdee]

To many matches kill the magic of international football

[NOLIMIT]

KDB summed up perfectly the other day saying they were nothing but “ Glorified Friendlies”

[yaman]

It's understandable that UEFA is going over the top. However, national teams managers and confederations are to blame here too, I mean, this competition is a good opportunity to try out the reserved players, who don't have the chance to represent their national teams often, yet, the national coaches keep choosing to rely on their main 11s, all for the glorified titles records.

[Kay-jgtf]

Norwegians doesn't think so.
We never get to watch Norway in a major tournament and nations league can be our ticket to the euros...

[willsaenz]

Imagine enduring an entire football season, a deep champions league run, one (or two) domestic cup tournaments, an impending World Cup competition, and also having to play in this nonsensical tournament.

These players should be on vacation with their families.

[znhait]

The Nations League is getting stale really fast. Seeing good teams playing against each other is fun when it happens on a rare basis.

[maudalmusicalmachines]

I'm with Jules... but they can manage it better by using players that *need* the minutes. If they used it as a means to try out players to fill out the 26 man roster for the World cup it'd be *very* useful.

For the US the 2 friendlies we're playing are super useful for our 1st 11. But going back to play more *concacaf* games? If Berhalter plays *any* of our key players in them I'm going to be *pissed* because the only thing we'd get out of it are injuries.

[Uzodesign]

There's needs to be a players' game per season quota. This will make it possible for the players who get less time to get playing time will giving the regulars a much needed rest.

[keltih]

I miss those days where waiting for a world cup/international football takes forever where nowadays it seem like a frequent occasion

[kim]

Again they manage in lenght to analyse the France - Denmark match without mentioning Danish teams role in the French down fall. What arrogance!

[kafkovgaming]

It's not ridiculous ...they make more games so the younger players can have an opportunity to play but the coaches still keep playing the same players so it's the coaches fault ...all these games are to help develop younger players .

[tharanidharan]

People talk like it's just friendlies but teams play with more intensity than just friendlies. Spain were full of energy like it was worldcup group stage.

[stevel]

good time for upcoming players to get experience. just dont select the ones who need a break

[welshed]

As a Wales supporter, I disagree. It’s great for small nations like us. We finished top of our league B group last time and now that we’re in league A, our players get to play and test themselves against Belgium, Holland and Poland. A better calibre of team than what we faced last time. It can only help us develop. Finishing top of our group also guaranteed us a World Cup play off place. So, I like this tournament. It benefits us.

However, I totally get why major football nations find it irritating. If it’s scrapped, there absolutely needs to be something to replace for smaller nations. Maybe just have the current nations league for nations ranked outside the top 16 in Europe or something like that. But then, it wouldn’t get the TV ratings.

[akas]

so according to these so called pundits when Portugal Drew with Spain they were rubbish and has no chance to go further in the world Cup but when France lost to denmark all ok a sudden Nation league is rubbish at least have some mouth to say the truth and not being bias

[mihaichiriac]

Nobody is forcing anyone to use the players with lots of games played within the past 9-12 months.
Just use others/youngsters, give the others/youngsters the chance of playing such games to learn and progress!!!

[Jesperladefoged]

Nationsleague is fantastic. I would rather watch Nationleague games than qualifiers for WC or the Euros. Or the group stage in Championsleague.

[spicetraders]

As a Canadian whose excited about this NOV/DEC, i say let the Uefa teams play each other into the ground!

[vipulsehgal]

Now just bcoz france has been defeated juls has a problem with the nations league last year when france won he was the most happy person in the crew man shut up france have such a deep squad they can play any player ahead of varane and mbappe still they will be a great team so don't give such comments when u have such a big squad.

[FloRiva]

Ngl I've never given 2 shits about the nations league