But for the men's England team, perhaps some of the shine has come off. Captain Harry Kane has openly criticised his fellow players for excusing themselves from international duty before matches in November 2024 against Greece and Ireland. Yet data suggests that fans ' and Kane ' should maybe give those players the benefit of the doubt. For the demands of the modern game in an overloaded football calendar are having a serious impact on players' wellbeing and performance. For example, one official review indicates a rise of 11% in player injuries in the Premier League during the 2023-24 season compared to the previous one. And aside from the physical damage, those injuries (most of which occur during the first half of the game) cost Premier League clubs '266 million on salaries for players who were unable to play. The new Champions League format has also introduced controversy in terms of the additional number of games it demands. Under the new system, teams are required to play...
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