Unlock Editor’s Digest for free
FT editor Roula Khalaf selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.
Professional soccer has always been a physically demanding job, but as competition organizers push to enlarge tournaments and add new ones, many elite players say they are close to their breaking point.
For the England and Spain teams heading to Euro 2024 Ultimately, the impact of these demands could be crucial, as players who have just finished intense seasons with their clubs risk suffering burnout while playing for their countries.
During the group stage, England manager Gareth Southgate said members of his squad were unable to play at the desired intensity due to their “fitness.” Last month, players launched legal action against FIFA, the sport’s governing body, over its plan to expand the Club World Cup, claiming the schedule was becoming “overcrowded and unworkable.”
As Sunday’s final in Berlin approaches, workload data suggests Spain should have a slight but crucial physical advantage over England.
A long season of national football
The number of minutes played by each team during the club season varies greatly between countries. Members of the host country Germany played the most minutes for their clubs this season, averaging 3,289 per player, which equates to approximately 37 matches.
That German tally was boosted by Borussia Dortmund reaching the Champions League final and domestic champions Bayer Leverkusen’s participation in both the German Cup final and the Europa League final. Real Madrid’s Champions League-winning squad also included two German internationals, Toni Kroos and Antonio Rudiger.
England came second, while fellow finalists Spain came fifth. England’s tally was slightly skewed by the inclusion of a handful of players who have not featured prominently during the domestic season, either through injury, suspension or not being in the favourites’ squad.
Increasing demands on top players
The number of footballers heading into Euro 2020 who had played more than 4,050 minutes in the domestic season was 31. This year, the figure has risen to 45 as a wider range of club competitions place greater demands on those playing for successful teams.
Of the top 10 players who have played the most minutes this season before the start of the tournament in Germany, three are with England, but only one with Spain. Three of the top 10 play for Aston Villa, the Premier League team that reached the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League, which was launched in 2021.
Although not in the top 10, the 16,033 minutes played by England star midfielder Jude Bellingham before turning 21 is the second-highest tally ever for a European footballer.
Following England’s last-gasp winner from Villa striker Ollie Watkins on Wednesday, Bellingham spoke of his relief at avoiding extra time. “I don’t know if I had half an hour left,” he said.
Southgate’s men spend more time on the pitch
The England manager has been criticised for his reluctance to make early substitutions to respond to opponents’ tactical changes, although Watkins’ late introduction in Wednesday’s semi-final proved a masterstroke. He has made just three substitutions before the 65th minute.
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente has been more willing to bring players on earlier in games, reducing the physical demands on the starting XI.
Spanish players benefit from more rest
The fact that the Spanish team was more rested may explain a key difference between the two finalists. Spanish players ran an average of 108.6 km per game during Euro 24, higher even than the competition average for the 2022 World Cup.
That tournament was praised for its exciting matches, which some attributed to a lack of fatigue (due to Qatar’s scorching summers, the event was held in the middle of the European football season).
England, by contrast, have been running much less, supporting Southgate’s concerns about the squad’s fitness.
Spain are the tournament’s top scorers, with 13 goals scored from open play. England have scored seven, including a Harry Kane penalty against the Netherlands.
Workload problems will increase
As international bodies push to increase the number of matches they can sell to broadcasters, domestic competitions are being forced to scale back. FA Cup replays in England have been scrapped to help “maintain player welfare”, while France’s top flight was reduced from 20 teams to 18 last season following growing concerns over player welfare.
The next men’s World Cup will feature 48 teams instead of 32, taking the number of matches from 64 to more than 100; the new version of the FIFA Club World Cup to be launched next year will increase from seven teams to 32; and the UEFA Champions League, the elite club competition, will expand from 32 teams to 36 starting next season.
Next season, the warnings from players are likely to become increasingly louder.