03.09.2010 11:00

An extra day to prepare

Jesús Carrillo

Internationals matches have been brought forward 24 hours this season giving the coaches of club sides an extra day to prepare once the league resumes after the break.

The first example of this new change comes this week as FIFA’s new rule of playing on Fridays and Tuesdays takes place. Spain meet Liechtenstein in a Euro 2012 qualifier in Vaduz on Friday evening and then meet Argentina in Buenos Aires on Tuesday. Before now internationals were always played on Saturdays and Wednesdays.

Day light

Now players can return to their clubs a day earlier and FC Barcelona will benefit as Pep Guardiola is preparing his squad for the visit of Herculés to Camp Nou on Saturday, September 11, at 18:00.

On many occasions in the past the players that have played in midweek internationals have not been back in the Ciutat Contal until Thursday afternoon, if they had played in Europe, while those from elsewhere sometimes did not return until Friday. That meant that there was no time to join in with training or to prepare for the club’s next game.

All change

This change is now a permanent fixture as Spain meet Lithuania on Friday, October 8 and then play Scotland the following Tuesday in Euro 2012 qualifieres.