"Friendlies"

[ghostofcyberx13]

OK so I see on ESPN bottom runner the USA will play Brazil and Mexico in "Friendlies" games. WTF? What kind of game is that? Do they even have scoring? I understand exhibition games, is that what this is? In the NFL they have exhibition games but they aren't that friendly, teams just try and hold back their "Cheap Shots" and they also don't play their stars till maybe the last game of the four exhibition games. Thanks.

 

[Tranquility]

It depends on context and is not always the same. Generally, a friendly is as you describe. A game of a team brought together for some purpose (Often a national term.) from players of individual clubs where the point of the bringing together is not that particular game itself. It tends to be more "friendly" as the players have a loyalty to their own underlying club that has a desire to keep their loaned out players healthy.

 

[ghostofcyberx13]

It depends on context and is not always the same. Generally, a friendly is as you describe. A game of a team brought together for some purpose (Often a national term.) from players of individual clubs where the point of the bringing together is not that particular game itself. It tends to be more "friendly" as the players have a loyalty to their own underlying club that has a desire to keep their loaned out players healthy.

Thanks a lot for enlightening me as to what these games are about. Kinda like a neighborhood game at the park just minus the beer.

 

[Stu]

A friendly is any game that is not part of a competition or tournament. If national teams didn't play friendlies, they'd never get the practice that they need in order to prepare for the big tournaments. There are only a few tournaments for national teams, so they regularly schedule friendlies which are basically just practice games (the result doesn't really mean anything).

 

[ghostofcyberx13]

A friendly is any game that is not part of a competition or tournament. If national teams didn't play friendlies, they'd never get the practice that they need in order to prepare for the big tournaments. There are only a few tournaments for national teams, so they regularly schedule friendlies which are basically just practice games (the result doesn't really mean anything).

Thank you for your very informative answer, much appreciated.

 

[RUDE BOY]

even though these are friendlies don't expect the players to treat these as exhibition or practice games, and they won't be particularly friendly with the opposing teams. They didn't qualify for the word cup so they'll still be playing just as hard to win these matches as they would any other.

Just because these game aren't a part of league play they aren't always meaningless to those playing.

 

[Tranquility]

even though these are friendlies don't expect the players to treat these as exhibition or practice games, and they won't be particularly friendly with the opposing teams. They didn't qualify for the word cup so they'll still be playing just as hard to win these matches as they would any other.

Just because these game aren't a part of league play they aren't always meaningless to those playing.

There's all kinds of reasons to play hard. Doing well and getting that sweet, sweet, Nike cash is one of them. Personal pride might be another.

That doesn't mean the game has meaning.

My hardest issue when I coached was trying to get the players to pretend each game matters when, in reality, none of them do. While the money is bigger and the bragging rights more profound, I'm not certain a world cup final is any more meaningful than a U10 girl's 4 team tournament final between the Butterflies and the Lollipops.

 

[RUDE BOY]

That doesn't mean the game has meaning.

Personal Pride, team pride, national pride. Pride isn't really meaningless. is it?

In the long run whoever wins a game will always have that win over that team in the books, whether it's a friendly or not. Players at this level play to win.

to the team and to the fans every game matters.

 

[Tranquility]

 

[GetLeft]

To the U.S. team right now, which is going through a complete overhaul, friendlies mean everything.