COLUMN: International week provides an unwanted distraction from domestic scene

Just when your team gets into a rich vein of form suddenly there is the prospect of England playing an international outpost on a Thursday evening.

Granted, Roy Hodgson’s team were in action against Germany and the Netherlands which provides slightly more glamour than the usual international break.

But the concept is still the same.

And it’s even worse that it falls on Easter weekend.

Therefore the possibility of two rounds of fixtures in the Premier League and Championship have gone begging.

Obviously fans of League One and Two clubs will argue that they are given much more exposure with a blank weekend in the top two divisions.

But international football has a way of creeping up on players, supporters and the media.

It’s a necessary evil when it comes to qualifiers but is there really a need for it at this part in the season?

Surely most people would rather see another gripping weekend of action in the top flight, and if Leicester can continue their unlikely march towards the title.

Whilst in the Championship it’s anybody’s guess as to who will be promoted.

The second tier of English football is arguably the most open and unpredictable in Europe and yet on numerous occasions throughout the season we are subjected to watching terrible mismatches on the international stage.

I came up with an idea of revamping the international calendar that would possibly tie in with a fluid league schedule,

How about grouping as many games together as possible, shoehorning three of four qualifiers within a two-week timeframe near the end of the year?

Do this two or three times a season and that should do the trick.

Since this time last year there have been six separate international breaks.

Halving that total would increase the fluidity of domestic football.

And, as this week has shown, we would be able to enjoy some competitive matches at the business end of the season rather than dead rubbers on the world stage.