Major League Soccer (MLS) has been facing a significant challenge when it comes to accommodating international duty for its players. Unlike other top leagues around the world, MLS does not have a break during FIFA international windows. This has led to a growing number of teams experiencing player shortages due to national team call-ups.
Recently, the New York Red Bulls requested to postpone their upcoming match against Inter Miami due to both teams having several players away on international duty. However, MLS rejected the request, forcing both teams to go ahead with the scheduled fixture. Inter Miami’s manager, Gerardo “Tata” Martino, expressed his disappointment with the decision, highlighting the challenges teams face when key players are unavailable.
The clash between the Red Bulls and Miami will see both teams without six players each who have been called up by their national teams. Some notable absences include Miami midfielder Diego Gómez (Paraguay), goalkeeper Drake Callender (U.S. men’s national team), Red Bulls’ captain Emil Forsberg (Sweden), and defender John Tolkin (U.S. under-23). The absence of these key players raises concerns about the competitiveness of the teams.
Despite the significant player absences, Martino is confident in his team’s ability to remain competitive. He acknowledged that missing players like Lionel Messi, who was called up by Argentina but is now sidelined due to injury, creates challenges. However, Martino emphasized the importance of adapting to the circumstances and fielding a competitive team regardless of the challenges posed by international duty.
The focus for Martino and Inter Miami is on getting Messi fit for upcoming matches, particularly in the Concacaf Champions Cup. Messi’s early substitution in a recent match and subsequent injury have raised concerns, but Martino remains optimistic about the player’s recovery. The team is working towards ensuring that key players like Messi are ready for important upcoming fixtures.
The situation faced by MLS teams due to international duty raises questions about the league’s scheduling and policies. With key players being called up for national team duty during crucial league matches, teams are put at a disadvantage. Martino highlighted the need for the league to consider the impact of international windows on team rosters and competitiveness, suggesting that adjustments may be necessary in the future.
The impact of international duty on MLS teams is evident in the challenges faced by Inter Miami and the New York Red Bulls. As key players are called up for national team duty, teams must adapt and find ways to remain competitive. The denial of a request to postpone a match due to international absences highlights the difficulties teams face in managing player availability. Moving forward, it will be essential for MLS to address the implications of international windows on team rosters and competitiveness to ensure a level playing field for all clubs.
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