How Can Football (Soccer) Teams Allow Their Players to Participate in "Friendlies?"

by RubaDub 6 Replies latest jw friends

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  RubaDub

  I could never understand how the best football (soccer) players are allowed to participate in these things called friendlies. Aren't the teams and owners afraid of losing their investments of 10's of millions of dollars (euros) to injury? And it appears that teams just make up their own schedules.

  In American football, there is no possible way a team would allow an extra game. Even in what we call the pre-season in our various sports, there is a limited, pre-determined schedule and that is it. That applies to all of the major sports.

  Even in the games, the better players will be playing very limited time if at all. Even most of the NBA (basketball) owners don't really want their good players playing in the Olympics or anything where injury is possible. Baseball allows the pitchers only a couple of innings in a 9 inning games and they are out.

  Pre-season games here are used primarily to look at new players and then give veterans some time to "warm up" prior to the actual season beginning.

  I just never really understood why international football takes the risk.

  Rub a Dub
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  Simon

  It gives teams a chance to try out new formations against real opposition, but not usually played at quite the same intensity where risk of injury may occur.

  It also can help with match fitness / sharpness as well as generate revenue from ticket sales.
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  RubaDub

  It also can help with match fitness / sharpness as well as generate revenue from ticket sales.

  Simon ...

  I agree, ticket sales are a big issue. I think the culture down here in South Florida also plays a big role. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) missed a "friendly" here in Miami against Napoli and so many people were upset.

  However, the stadium (Hard Rock) that holds about 65,000 was still full. In October, Chile played Peru to another sold-out friendly.

  To get 65,000 for a pre-season football game in the US you could have a half-time show with both Shikira and J-Lo pole dancing in the nude and I still don't think you would fill the stadium if the game didn't mean anything.

  Just the way we think here I guess.

  Rub a Dub
  
  
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  redvip2000

  To get 65,000 for a pre-season football game in the US you could have a half-time with show with both Shikira and J-Lo pole dancing in the nude and I still don't think you would fill the stadium if the game didn't mean anything.

  Well and the only reason why you get 65,000 to watch Chile vs Peru is because of immigrants would will drive from far to get to watch a rare appearance by their home country team.

  Friendlies are a way to get revenue and promote soccer. The US has become a big destination for friendlies because the high ticket prices they charge. If Real Madrid, Man U, Barca, etc etc come to the US, they can fill a stadium with high price tickets, many over $100 to watch a game that means nothing.
  
  
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  cofty

  International managers get a very limited time to work with their select squads. Friendlies are vital to developing the team for competitive fixtures.

  Club level pre-season friendlies are about fitness, tactical development and trials for new players. Often large clubs include tours to USA and the Far East or Middle East for commercial marketing opportunities.

  At youth level (U19s semi-pro) I lost more players to injury in pre-season than in the competitive season.
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  Tameria2001

  A long time ago I asked a similar question on why. I can't recall who told me this, but they said why this was done was because a very long time ago things would escalate between the teams, and the players would get into some pretty brutal fights. What this did was to shake things up a bit, and bring players of different teams together to play on the same team, to become a new team.
  
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  cofty

  I can't recall who told me this, but they said

  They were winding you up Tami