If all international games are played with a competitive edge, we would improve when the harder tournament fixtures arrive. This effects the atmosphere and the turn out (only 62,000 in attendance vs Chile recently, which I attended). Whilst international games vs the Spains and Brazils of this world definitely are showpiece games which attract full houses and top sponsors, we have played a lot of games against mid level nations where we just show up or there are many squad drop outs. This annual championship was shelved in 1984 after 100 years of competition. In reality we got a lethargic struggle to get to 5 goals.Įarlier this year I came to the conclusion that we need more competitive internationals (not less or the removal of friendlies as many commentators have suggested is the answer) and that the answer is the re-instatement of the British Home Championship.

I took my son to the San Marino game a year ago, which we both expected double figures, which whilst not being competitive should have at least been entertaining. The Wembley games always seem to entice over 80,000 fans and the atmosphere in what is clearly one of the best stadia in the world is always of a reasonable level, its just what happens on the pitch is lukewarm. Now, I look forward to the games and even get excited for many of them, its just that the games are always a let down. Personally as an England fan I have become particularly bored with our international games. Add friendlies to mix this means that less that 50% of games have any true meaning or competitive edge. In addition to this the qualifying set up means that most major footballing nations will have 4 – 6 games over any given qualifying campaign which are basically walk overs. International football is a strange animal teams typically play between 8 and 16 games a year depending on their success at major tournaments with many of these games in close proximately with large expanses of time between get togethers. Northern Ireland beat England back in 2005 World Cup Qualifying and Wales participated in two keenly contested games with England during the previous Euro Qualifying rounds. Three months earlier England had entertained Republic of Ireland to a 1-1 draw also at Wembley in another competitive ‘friendly’. It was good wasn’t it? A genuinely competitive ‘friendly’ that the fans thoroughly enjoyed.

Follow the 14th August England Played Scotland at Wembley.

Football friendly match letter