Figure 1 The EPL takes a break for international fixtures - Source: Pixabay

Even after the drama and excitement of this summer’s World Cup in North America, international breaks are not universally loved. Critics point to the scheduling of the window for international games coming too soon at the beginning of the conventional FIFA-endorsed calendar and ruining the beginning of campaigns across the world.

For anyone trying to predict games, the international break offers thinking about players teaming up with unfamiliar colleagues and hastily put-together squads. For anyone concentrating on domestic competitions, like the English Premier League (EPL), it now means that there are no games for three weeks.

It is easy to see how the international break might affect EPL teams and predictors alike. Just like anyone using the BetOnline casino site might rely on tried and trusted strategies, predicting football games takes skill, and the inclusion of the break needs to be factored in. If you are putting your money where your mouth is, MyTopSportsbooks is the place to go to discover football betting sites. But you should read on first to find out how the international break might affect those games.

Time for a Break

The first obvious way an international break can affect a team is that it offers the chance of not having to play after a lean spell. Spurs and Fulham fall into this category at present, having failed to win a single game so far this season. Fulham may have slightly improved and drawn the last two games, but the players will be happy for the time off.

Clubs with more limited squads will probably also be keen for the current downtime. Wealthier sides are able to afford to assemble depth and strength, but for those on more manageable budgets, there is a risk of burnout for the players. Getting away from the grind of top-tier English football will be welcomed by some.

Losing Momentum

The flip side of those clubs are ones like Manchester City and Brighton, who have had impressive winning streaks suddenly brought to a halt. City will obviously have other things on their mind now, but Brighton will have seen the break as an unnecessary stop in proceedings. The Seagulls will now hope that their momentum is not lost.

Even though Arsenal lost its game – against Brighton – just before the current international break, it will not have wanted to wait three weeks to get back on track. There was momentum at the Emirates, even though Arsenal lost its last game, and Mikel Arteta will now need to get his players going again.

Injury Risk

An unfortunate aspect of players leaving their club sides for national set-ups is that they might come back with new injuries. Older injuries can also return as players train in different ways to those that they are used to. This is probably the biggest gripe head coaches have with the whole concept of the international break.

Injuries can happen at any time, of course, but a player suffering while on international duty does seem unfair to the club paying his wages. There are always reports of players coming back injured, and the extension of the international break this season to take in more games will only increase that risk.

Jetlag is Real

Even if a player returns from playing for his country without any injury concerns, there is always the issue of travel fatigue to deal with. Many players in the EPL come from outside of Europe and will have had to travel thousands of miles in a very short time in order to play for their own national side.

European nationals will be tired from the travel, but those players representing nations like New Zealand, Japan, and even the US will have to deal with recovering from the long-haul flights on top of the travel carried out during the international break’s numerous fixtures. Many clubs are forced to rest players when they return, omitting them from the first matchday squad back.

Training Boost

Not every club will complain quite as much as the big clubs who have to deal with the majority of their senior squad jetting off for international duty. Even though every single EPL side will lose at least one player during the window, there are some that retain more than others, giving them some extra training sessions to work with.

Although it is often the most talented and talismanic players that are missed, mid-table and smaller club managers get an opportunity to work with their players without having to play actual games. This is the perfect time to work on strategies, tactics, and formations, and integrate those new players who have only just arrived in England.

Figure 2 EPL fans might find that the players have ti adjust to being back at their clubs - Source: Unsplash

Fewer International Breaks

With the arrival of the UEFA Nations League and other confederation competitions, in recent years, international breaks have provided fans and players with more meaningful games. This may have resulted in more injuries and energy-sapping journeys, as well as making it far more difficult to predict those first games back.

The current break will be intensive and will undoubtedly have an effect on every EPL team, but there is good news as well for managers and head coaches. FIFA’s decision to merge the old September and October breaks into one has meant that there will be less interruption for the clubs in the opening months of the season. They will have to deal with their players being more tired and away for longer, but the season will not be broken up in quite the same way.

International breaks undoubtedly affect all EPL clubs and anyone trying to predict results. Taking into consideration what that all means for individual player performances and their teams is the only way to keep your forecasts successful.