Ordinarily, an early season international break is met with a chorus of sighs; just as the new domestic campaign has gotten underway, the build-up of excitement is shattered by an abrupt halt and any advances are put on standby. Teams that start the season well are frustrated that their momentum could be lost, while sides which struggled to register many points in the opening few fixtures are left to dwell on a dismal start that little time longer, without an opportunity to rectify the early errors.
For the international scene though, said breaks are vitally important. They provide coaches of national teams with the opportunity to make regular assessments of what they have available to them and to test out players who’ve hit a purple patch in their domestic form. It also ensures players have frequent run-outs with their national counterparts and this enhances the chemistry between the groups.
Most importantly of all though is the fact that it supplies us, the supporters and viewers, the chance to see how teams have adapted and changed in the wake of a major tournament and what the new gaffers are trying to introduce to their group. As the dust settles after hectic Euro and Copa America campaigns, a lot of squads have undergone rapid revamps and a handful have even seen changes in managers and playing styles.
Has Big Sam got a ‘Big Plan’?
Roy Hodgson was never a particularly popular man as England manager but when Iceland steered their way past the Three Lions with a 2-1 victory in the last 16 at this summer’s Euros, it was clear that the slight discontent of his presence would morph into roaring disapproval and the 69-year-old resigned moments after leaving the dugout.
The FA opted for the prickly, old-school Sam Allardyce, who had just rescued Sunderland from a relegation dogfight in the 2015/16 season. His appointment has split opinion but, whatever you think about him as a manager, one thing is for certain – England are now destined for change.
Ultimately it has been a leaky defence which has cost England the most in the past decade at least and this is one area we can expect to see amended. Big Sam will ensure every individual knows their role in open play and especially at set-pieces.
A flat 4-4-2 can be expected and, call it prehistoric if you will, but we will most likely see an incredibly direct approach, potentially through long balls and quick wide-men. Tall and predominantly physical centre-halves will play priority ahead of defenders who can play the ball out on the floor (sorry Pep), potentially reducing the risk of sloppy errors of which we saw far too many during Hodgson’s time.
This international break signals the beginning of a new era for England under Allardyce. Their first World Cup qualifier comes in the form of a trip to Slovakia on Sunday. The squad was very similar to the group that disappointed in France, but the surprise inclusion of Michail Antonio re-iterates that Allardyce wants quick wingers with an eye for a cross in his side.
Players are unlikely to be deployed out of position under the 61-year-old; he’ll instead be looking to play each individual in their traditional roles.
French fiasco
So England may be a completely different team now that Allardyce is in but Didier Deschamps’ men have made minimal changes to the side that fell short of glory to Portugal in the Euro 2016 final. After defeating Italy 3-1 on Thursday night, Les Bleus are preparing for their opening World Cup qualifier against Belarus on Tuesday.
Poster boy Paul Pogba could see his career flourish following his move to Manchester United, while Moussa Sissoko is expected to improve at Tottenham and begin to force his way into the starting eleven more regularly.
This international break is the first time the group will have met up since that heartbreaking night at the Stade de France and it will give a real measure of their character seeing how they perform.
With a relatively youthful group, and following a rather successful Euro tournament, the only direction this French side can possibly go in is forwards. Targeting World Cup success is what will be on Deschamps’ mind and now is the time for experimenting with squad selection.
Prior to their withdrawals from the squad by virtue of casualties, Alexandre Lacazette and Nabil Fékir both received call-ups as Deschamps looks to reshape the French front-line, while Samuel Umtiti and Raphael Varane, could form a formidable partnership at the heart of Les Bleus’ defence and now could be the time to begin testing the pair’s resolve.
Red Devils Under new management... no, not Mourinho!
A golden generation, heaps of expectations and a tournament practically in their own backyard – despite all this, Belgium disappointed tremendously at this summer’s Euros. Eden Hazard was the nation’s stand-out performer and, although the tournament rejuvenated his career, the rest of the squad has been left needing serious examination.
Marc Wilmots was swiftly shown the exit door and the interesting pairing of former Everton boss Roberto Martinez along with invincible, Arsenal legend Thierry Henry as manager and assistant manager is being critically analysed in the midst of this international break.
Martinez has already caused a slight stir by naming a squad absent of any players from the Belgian league, a first in the nation’s history, that was until Marouane Fellaini’s back injury required the Spaniard to call up Anderlecht’s Leander Dendoncker as cover.
Also read: Thierry Henry becomes an instant hit with Belgium national team stars in first training session
He has also used his own wage to employ goalkeeping coach Inaki Bergara who worked alongside Martinez at Swansea, Wigan and, most recently, Everton. We expect to see a high tempo, possession-orientated game played by Belgium under Martinez, while Henry’s input should instill the squad with a winning mentality while his presence should render the frontmen more prolific than in the past.
Defeat to Spain wasn’t the best start but the break as a whole allows Martinez to identify the bronze in a supposed ‘golden generation’.
Argentina metamorphosis
New Argentina boss Edgardo Bauza is a man familiar with exceeding expectation; the 58-year-old has won the Copa Libertadores on two occasions, leading an Ecuadorian side to the title for the first time ever as well as guiding San Lorenzo to a shocking triumph.
Expectations surrounding his nation’s football side is at an all-time low after the defeat to Chile in the Copa America final. A complete shake-up could be on the cards; the current international break has handed the coach a first chance to experiment. The inclusion of Paulo Dybala in the nation’s win over Uruguay on Friday may have seen the Juventus forward head for an early bath after picking up a red mid-way through the game, but it shows things are going to change.
Bauza’s biggest coup so far has been persuading Lionel Messi to reverse his decision to retire, suggesting his plans for the future must be intriguing if they appealed to the five-time Ballon d’Or winner. He will make every player track back and will demand as many pile forward as possible when a chance arises, encouraging an intense, energetic game from the Argentines.
There are multiple class managers in Argentina at present, many of whom are plying their trade in continental competitions as well as domestic leagues, so Bauza has to perform and the biggest stumbling block will be the mentality for a side which hasn’t won a major trophy in 23 years.
He’s calm and collected and this is an important factor considering the chaos the Argentinian FA have found themselves in recently.
