Inertnational Soccer - Does anybody care anymore?

[Lamh Dhearg Alba]

Can't agree with any of this at all nor with the general feeling on this thread. Last year's World Cup final featured two of the most experienced teams ever to feature at that stage - France v Italy. The semis saw Germany with players like Lehman, Klose, Ballack and Neuville pulling the strings. The Euro Championship qualifiers have always been fairly sub-standard. In 2000, France were extremely lucky to qualify, but won the tournament.

Ireland are poor to watch at the minute. That is really the gist of the argument on here.

Without doubt. Ireland are struggling at the minute but when they pick up again (and they will) the people who are slating international football here will change their minds. To suggest international football around the world is in a slump is clearly crazy though, the fact remains that no club event can much the World Cup (or even the European Championships to be honest). Scotland is going to come to a standstill when Italy come here on the 17th of next month for a winner takes all match, a club match could never have the same effect. Similarly the whole nation was lifted by the Scotland team doing the double over France, people really did have a swing in their step in the aftermath of that win in Paris (similarly there was a wave of depression after the Georgia game ).

International football is as relevant as it ever was.

[AZOffaly]

I think to the fans, international football will always be relevant, and good results or a good performance will always make you happy. You always want to see your country do well on an international stage, or at least I do.

I thought the question asked was related to the players. If I've understood it correctly, then I would say that, in general, it is no longer the peak of a players' career to appear at a World Cup finals or Euro championships or whatever. The Champions League and Premiership/Serie A/La Liga is where the players measure themselves, and where they want to perform and perform well. It's 80% down to money I would guess, and I would suggest that players, especially in this money era, will always put club (money) before country. There are countless examples of players retiring early to 'extend their club careers', or simply being injured on a Wednesday before a miraculous recovery on the Saturday.

It's harsh to say none of them care anymore, but I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that most of them care a lot less than they do about their club career.