The football international friendly - time to kill it off?

[RMCF]

Just listening to the amount of players pulling out of international friendlies this week and wondering why FAs bother any more.

I realise a lot of times its about money, but they are now being treated like a joke by the players and just a thing that gets in the way. They have no interest in international caps any more and their clubs are more important for them. All this inventing injuries is a joke and it would be better if they would just come out and say "I couldn't be bothered".

Scotland have, at present, 10 pullouts fo the game v Japan. If the players don't care then they are just taking the **** out of fans who travel or pay for tickets.

I know this is not a new thing. Ryan Giggs was always mysteriously injured for small teams, yet never injured if Germany, France, Brazil, Argentina matches came round.

Over recent years I have lost interest in even competitive international football, and the friendly is now dead for me. I rarely watch them any more, especially since they started making 10 subs during the game.

[Coffin]

As much as I loathe most international breaks, I prefer kids to have the dream of one day playing for their country, rather than follow the Adebayor route and plan their 'pensions'

[dazza74]

I'm looking forward to the England friendly against Brazil, assuming some joker doesn't stick it on the internet only

I think the mistake they make is the distance these players have to travel for some of these friendlies, I think Holland are going to Australia this week to play a game.

[ed_mcl]

Maybe restructuring them so they're not at inconvenient times during the football calender might be better. However, I think they serve a good purpose in the build up to competitive tournaments.