International Competitions Good Any More?

[Justin_3d 1,140]

With the finishing of an amazing and breathtaking season of club competitions we are left watching the sport at international level.

And yet somehow I feel like I don't got that taste and excitement of watching a Euro cup match (Or even a World Cup) as I do watching any team in the CL, PL, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A etc etc.

So I wanted to ask the public, is International Football/Soccer good any more?

Are you passionate about your national team like you are about Chelsea or some other club?

And most importantly will you trade a World Cup trophy for a Chelsea Champions League trophy?

Last, a great article to add to what I am discussing:

In appreciation of the CL semifinals

Champions League provides many enduring moments -- though all before the final

By Michael Cox | Special to ESPN.com

It might not fit with the entrenched idea that international football is the highest standard of the sport, and it certainly doesn't tally with the format of a knockout competition. But it remains true -- Champions League semifinals are the pinnacle of modern football. It's at that stage, far more than the final, that we get the best moments, the biggest drama and the most symbolic stories.

It's hardly controversial to say club football has overtaken international football -- this is a long, slow process that has accelerated over the past couple decades. Clearly, modern football is based around cohesion and understanding, and club sides have longer to work on attacking moves. Comparatively, international football sees the majority of sides playing cautiously, which leads to poor games.

The abolition of the "three foreigner" rule was also crucial, and when combined with an ever-increasing revenue stream for Europe's top clubs, it means that they can assemble teams superior to international teams. Who would win between the best club side and the best international side? Well, do you want Lionel Messi on your team or not?

It is more controversial to say that semifinals are of a higher standard than the final. Of course, the final is the greatest stage, but it's rarely the greatest spectacle. It is nervy, cagey and quite often boring -- either one-sided or settled by a penalty shootout after a goalless extra-time period in which neither side attacked. When was the last genuinely great final? Probably Liverpool's comeback in 2005 -- and that was arguably the weakest side to win the European Cup in the modern era, demonstrated by how quickly Rafael Benitez replaced the likes of Djimi Traore and Milan Baros.

Semifinals are tense, but rarely cagey. The key difference is the concept of home advantage -- one side is always looking to take control, and as a result there are fewer nerves, generally leading to better games.

But people don't remember entire matches years after the event; they only remember individual moments. And it's the semifinals that have provided us with the best moments in recent years.

In 2006, there was Juan Roman Riquelme's late penalty miss against Arsenal. Riquelme was a wonderful player but was never quite appreciated in Europe because he played the game at such a slow tempo. He always wanted time on the ball, demanding that the side be built around him. If Villarreal had made it into the final, against a Barcelona side that had neglected Riquelme, he would have been the star. In the end, Jens Lehmann saved his penalty, and Riquelme was the villain. It was a brilliantly poetic way to sum up the European career of a modern great.

A year later, Milan's Kaka arrived at Old Trafford for the semifinal against Manchester United, prompting debate about who was the best player in the world -- him or Cristiano Ronaldo. "I agree they are among the top of their profession at the moment, but it's extremely difficult to say who is the best," Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said before the game. "That will be decided by the player who manages to determine the outcome of the game." He was right -- Kaka was superb and won the Ballon D'Or that year, beating future teammate Ronaldo into second place.

In 2008, it was Paul Scholes' turn. His tremendous 25-yard strike against Barcelona, the club whose players admire him so much, was the highlight of his career as he'd missed Manchester United's 1999 victory through suspension. Shortly after the game, Ferguson was so full of praise for Scholes that he declared Scholes "the first name on the team sheet" for the final.

In 2009, Andres Iniesta's late equalizer at Stamford Bridge remains possibly the key footballing moment of the century so far. The side that had cultivated its style over years, based entirely around possession, defeated a team whose temporary coach told it to defend for two legs. Messi's pass to Iniesta, as Graham Hunter put it in "Barcelona: the making of the greatest team in the world," was "the epitome of the Barcelona ethos."

But that ethos fell short 12 months later against Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan, which produced the most remarkably defensive performance you'll ever see at Camp Nou. "We didn't want the ball because when Barcelona press and win the ball back, we lose our position," Mourinho explained. "I didn't want us to have the ball, we gave it away." It was an incredible strategy, and Mourinho's postmatch run across the pitch toward Inter's traveling support, disrupted by Victor Valdes and the Nou Camp's sprinkler system, is an enduring image.

Last year, it was all about Messi. In a horrible, scrappy Clasico at the Bernabeu in which both sides were more intent on winding the other up than playing football, Messi decided he'd had enough.

for a goal that will be considered one of the all-time greats in the history of European club competition.

It is beautiful footballers -- Riquelme, Kaka, Scholes, Iniesta, Messi -- who always provide these moments. Finals are usually won by ruthless poachers (Diego Milito, Pippo Inzaghi) or surprise heroes (Juliano Belletti, Jerzy Dudek) or are just one-sided. Zinedine Zidane 2002 moments don't come along often.

So what have we witnessed so far in these semifinals? No particularly great moments yet, but two fascinating matches, and two tight wins for the underdogs. Bayern Munich's win over Real Madrid was a victory for cohesion and teamwork -- Jupp Heynckes learned his lesson from the previous weekend's title-ending defeat to Bayern in which his side was broken into six defensive players and four attackers, with no link between. Toni Kroos played in the advanced midfield role and made this a well-functioning unit. Meanwhile, Chelsea's win over Barcelona was excellently judged by manager Roberto Di Matteo. Barcelona had little luck, but Chelsea coped well by drawing heavily upon its near-perfect performance at this stage three years ago.

So nothing spectacular, but we're midway through the ties and in the ideal scenario for some key moments next week. The favorites are one goal down. They'll dominate possession at home next week, with the opposition sitting deep and trying to play out a 0-0. If the greatest players tend to decide the semifinals, it's time for Messi and Ronaldo to show their class.

[Shane 2,275]

I wouldn't put winning the Champions League over Ireland winning the World Cup but I think thats unfair really, You watch Chelsea week in week out and only watch your country once every couple of months. I like international football though, I'm enjoying the Euro's so far and the whole country is buzzing for the boys in green at the minute so in that regard I do think International football is good.

[Justin_3d 1,140]

I wouldn't put winning the Champions League over Ireland winning the World Cup but I think thats unfair really, You watch Chelsea week in week out and only watch your country once every couple of months. I like international football though, I'm enjoying the Euro's so far and the whole country is buzzing for the boys in green at the minute so in that regard I do think International football is good.

It just to see which you valued most.

I don't like International. It just fills the hole left by club sport.

[Shane 2,275]

It just to see which you valued most.

I don't like International. It just fills the hole left by club sport.

I agree to an extent, but in Ireland before its all doom and gloom, recession this and finace that, But now its all about the Euro's and everyone is talking about it. I can understand your view though, as everyone in the USA is probably talking about LeBron James!

[Zinedine Iniesco 172]

It all depends on the individual of course.

Personally my country is crap internationally, has no major history in football, and i feel no patriotism compared to other people, in certain contexts anyways.

70 percent of the reason i watch football is because of real madrid, albeit i love the beautiful game. Maybe i should bring the 70 down to 60 or even 50 percent, but anyhow the champions league has always been the priority for me.

I feel that as a fan, the idea of real madrid winning the cl is much more important than seeing the teams i follow internationally ( germany, spain) win the world cup, albeit its always special.

International football has arguably always been the same, in the end it comes down to personal liking and taste.

For me international football is there, simply put. Just There, its great.

But cl football and real madrid is above all.

As a player i'd even prefer cl glory i dare say, but it depends on what country i'd represent in world cup.

Im not a player though. Cl is king.

[Kezza 1,965]

Im with the guy above me.

International football here is crap. No one follows it. For me growing up, the only international sport to watch was rugby, cricket or sailing.

Don't get me wrong, would love for the national team to win the world cup, i'd be exstatic, but I could never replicate the feeling of Chelsea winning the champions league.

[Justin_3d 1,140]

I wonder what the English fan think?

Do they see WC as important any more?

Would they rather give up a Chelsea CL trophy for a England WC trophy?

So far it seems like I expected. Where the sport is not popular, we tend to favor Club lvl more then international cause not many people care about our national team or they suck!

[Zinedine Iniesco 172]

Im with the guy above me.

International football here is crap. No one follows it. For me growing up, the only international sport to watch was rugby, cricket or sailing.

Don't get me wrong, would love for the national team to win the world cup, i'd be exstatic, but I could never replicate the feeling of Chelsea winning the champions league.

Ya because there's actually something to care for.

Some people will feel happy just for the pure "patriotism", as big or minuscule as it might be.

I will always feel good and happy, even ecstatic possibly if U.S.A, Germany, Or Spain win the world cup, and happy if they win other internationals like the euro cup, and etc, i have soft spots for many teams, countries.

It's all about what someone cares about. Nothing has changed really. International or Club football, its all about the individual, thats why the thread title question seems a bit redundant in a way to me.

Real Madrid winning the cl above anything else. Winning La Liga MAYBE < Germany winning world cup.

[Justin_3d 1,140]

Ya because there's actually something to care for.

Some people will feel happy just for the pure "patriotism", as big or minuscule as it might be.

I will always feel good and happy, even ecstatic possibly if U.S.A, Germany, Or Spain win the world cup, and happy if they win other internationals like the euro cup, and etc, i have soft spots for many teams, countries.

It's all about what someone cares about. Nothing has changed really. International or Club football, its all about the individual, thats why the thread title question seems a bit redundant in a way to me.

Real Madrid winning the cl above anything else. Winning La Liga MAYBE < Germany winning world cup.

Well I was discussing with some friend about how I thought CL was better, and more important now then International competitions.

I told him that WC was the best till Maradona era, and ever since then it's been on decline.

He told me that no matter what WC would always be important and that he bet, that a million English fans would trade a Chelsea CL for a WC English cup.

Found it interesting and just wanted to see what the public had to say.

Like I said, I personally have no value for International cause it ain't competitive any more. Is like, would I rejoice if I followed Boca and won everything every year in a mediocre league? meh

It's like MLS, if NY Red Bull wins great....but it's the competitive nature that always attract me, and CL seems where I can get the best of the best.

Winning an FA Cup and PL is nice. But nothing like beating the best of the best in European stage.

The best coaches, like Mourinho, Pep. The best players like Ronaldo, Messi, Drogba and such.

[Zinedine Iniesco 172]

Well I was discussing with some friend about how I thought CL was better, and more important now then International competitions.

I told him that WC was the best till Maradona era, and ever since then it's been on decline.

He told me that no matter what WC would always be important and that he bet, that a million English fans would trade a Chelsea CL for a WC English cup.

Found it interesting and just wanted to see what the public had to say.

Like I said, I personally have no value for International cause it ain't competitive any more. Is like, would I rejoice if I followed Boca and won everything every year in a mediocre league? meh

It's like MLS, if NY Red Bull wins great....but it's the competitive nature that always attract me, and CL seems where I can get the best of the best.

Winning an FA Cup and PL is nice. But nothing like beating the best of the best in European stage.

The best coaches, like Mourinho, Pep. The best players like Ronaldo, Messi, Drogba and such.

Yep everyone has their own reason for liking things and thinking things are a certain way.

I stated that i found the thread title to be a bit redundant, or bleak because of the fact that personally i take it as if the question is asking in a general form, when in fact it is based upon opinion. International football declines or does whatever, when compared to something else, you get it? A better thread title would have been simply..Club Glory Vs International Glory..because for some people international football has been almost non existant, i think i make my point

[Spike 12,049]

Yes because Australia will never ever win a World Cup.

I prefer watching club football ot be honest.

[manpe 10,861]

Do players get paid for representing their country? I don't think they do. In club football you get players representing their employer, a company.. many play just for the money, no sense of pride wearing their team's colours. In international football they play for something else, for their nation and pride. International competitions hold more value also, since they are played and can be won only once every 4 years. That's 2, maybe 3 chances to win it in a player's career.

Yes, club games are much more exciting, but international games involve more honour and pride. I think most players would prefer the World Cup over CL.

[Strike 7,614]

i'm an indian. so i would put a world cup win over a CL win for the sheer comedy of it

[manpe 10,861]

One more point I would like to add. You can't buy success in international football, it's a fair reflection of how good a country really is.

And yes, I would trade Chelsea's CL for Estonia's WC in a heartbeat. It's unrealistic for us to ever win it, that's why I would choose it.

[capriccioso 2,545]

Yes because Australia will never ever win a World Cup.

I prefer watching club football ot be honest.

We are the greatest sporting nation on earth. If we give two shits about football and we do a Chelsea we could conceivably win one in about 30-40 years or so. Hell, it's only been 6 years since we were World Cup quarter-finalists but for a dodgy penalty given to the Italians.

And yes, a World Cup win for Australia makes the CL win for Chelsea look like a Community Shield.

[Aussiedan 154]

I love International Football. I must say I would rather Australia win a Would Cup over Chelsea winning the CL. Although it's not going to happen.

Players will leave football club and leave just because there going to get more money at another club, but with International Football it's not like that you play for you're from, representing your country. and there shouldn't be anything more special then representing you're country.

You're always going to find a club to play for, but to be chosen to play for your country is an honor.

[Kezza 1,965]

i'm an indian. so i would put a world cup win over a CL win for the sheer comedy of it

Isnt your football stadium bigger than the bernabeu?

[Madmax 9,219]

Isnt your football stadium bigger than the bernabeu?

The one in Kolkata is (Salt Lake Stadium). 100000 official capacity.

[Blue Armour 4,569]

The one in Kolkata is (Salt Lake Stadium). 100000 official capacity.

100k or 120k? Either way, its a shame it won't see a major tournament for at least a while.

[Madmax 9,219]

100k or 120k? Either way, its a shame it won't see a major tournament for at least a while.

Yeah 120k, apologies. Got things mixed up with the Eden Gardens. I don't know why we decided to shift the home India matches to the Ambedkar in Delhi.

There was talk of a Man Utd-Juve friendly there in August.