Will Manchester City gain a huge advantage in the title race? The first stars of the competitors are taken to the national team in the middle of the season | Sport

Mohamed Salah, Son Heung-Min, Victor Osimhen. A number of star players from the European football leagues leave their club teams for even weeks in the middle of the season.

The reason is the African and Asian championship tournaments played in January-February. Both are played practically at the same time, at a difficult time for the club teams: the African championship will be played from 13 January to 11 February. and the Asian equivalent will be played from 12 January to 10 February.

The African championships hosted by the Ivory Coast were supposed to be held in the summer of 2023, but they had to be moved due to the rainy season, to its traditional place until the beginning of the year.

The Asian Championships to be played in Qatar were initially scheduled to be held in China in 2023, but due to the country’s strict corona policy, they was given For Qatar, where it would have been too hot to play in the summer.

In the African tournament, the last group games will be played on January 24, in Asia, the group stage ends a day later.

The players selected for the tournament from the Premier League are on the sidelines for at least one match.

As the national team succeeds, the number of missed games increases. Those advancing to the finals will miss four Premier League games.

Those playing in Germany, Italy and Spain may miss 5-6 main league matches.

“Is not fair”

Having won the African Championship with Nigeria in 1994 Jay-Jay Okochan according to January is a difficult and unfair time for African players.

– I know a lot of coaches who refuse to sign African players because of the games, but the Brazilians are fine because the Copa America (South American championship tournament) is played in the summer. It’s not fair, Okocha told the BBC.

Urheilu’s football expert Miika Nuutinen sees tournament schedules as part of a larger hand-wringing over top-level soccer game days.

– The number of games is increasing, and everyone wants to get their share of the top players. Limits will come at some point, there are not enough days for everyone. The problem is not simple and it is difficult to give any straightforward solution, says Nuutinen.

For example, it has been decided to expand the World Cup tournament for club teams, and the number of Champions League matches will increase due to the new tournament system in the 2024–2025 season. The number of participants in prize competitions has also increased.

Goal scorers are needed

Liverpool, who lead the Premier League, will go to the January tournaments with the number one player, Mohamed Salah (Egypt), who shares the top spot in the league’s goalscoring market, and a new acquisition in the midfield. Wataru Endo (Japan).

Salah, who scored 14 goals and eight assists in the Premier League this season, has completed the lion’s share of his team’s goals, so Liverpool’s scoring ability will be tested.

The next most hits from the red shirts are By Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jotafive each.

– The fact that Liverpool is in the top fight is really largely thanks to Salah’s good season again. He has been involved in practically half of the team’s goals scored in league matches. It says everything essential, says Miika Nuutinen.

Liverpool head coach Jurgen Klopp’s according to the club is prepared for the tournament, where Salah and the silver team of the last games, Egypt, can enjoy themselves for a long time.

– We knew that the African championships appear from time to time and “Mon” has to go. We have to deal with it and we will, the German pilot said.

Tottenham’s Son Heung-Min, who holds the third place in the goal exchange, is on his way to represent South Korea, which is one of the toughest teams in Asia.

Sonkin is the clear number one striker of his club team with 12 hits. Team-mate Richarlison has hit the goal posts six times.

The South Korean has become my companion Harry Kane after leaving became even more important for Tottenham. From Tottenham too Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr are leaving.

Australian coach of the club Ange Postecoglou coached his home country to the Asian Championship in 2015, when Australia defeated Son and South Korea in the final.

Postecoglou appreciates the tournaments and compares them to the European Championships.

– I hope “Sonny” gets silver again when Australia wins. I would be really happy about that, Postecoglou would break down about his top player Son.

According to the news, both Son and Salah are completely irreplaceable for their teams.

– I think that both organizations have their fingers crossed that the teams of their top players do not advance all the way to the finals.

Will City benefit?

The setup may favor the reigning champion Manchester City, who started the season a bit shakily, because not a single player is leaving their ranks, and at the same time their playmaker who has been injured for a long time Kevin De Bruyne is getting back into the game.

In the Premier League, in addition to City, only the occupation of Newcastle and Burnley remains unchanged.

The most Premier League players will go to the games from Nottingham, which is five points above the relegation line: six. The team’s defense will be put to a tough test, as its African players have played an important role in their own end.

What about the other top series?

Among other top European clubs, the tournaments will especially affect Bundesliga leader Bayer Leverkusen, which has five players starting, including the team’s top scorer, Nigerian Victor Boniface.

The runner-up of the series goal exchange, Guinean, leaves Stuttgart from the third place in the series Serhou Guirassy.

The team’s best scorer will also be seen in national team action from Serie A reigning champion Napoli, when Victor Osimhen plays in Nigeria’s shirt.

The most players from the main European leagues leave France. For example, a PSG defender Achraf Hakimi see you at the African championships.

In La Liga, the big clubs Real Madrid and Barcelona, ​​as well as Getafe and Osasuna, will survive without changes.

A different kind of footy

Sadio Mane starred Senegal won the previous African Championship in 2021, when they defeated Egypt with 4–2.

For example, Morocco, which was the first African country to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup, is also among the early favorites.

In the previous Asian final played in 2019, Qatar defeated Japan 3–1.

Miika Nuutinen does not start evaluating the winning favorites, but predicts interesting things about the games.

– It is very typical that unexpected things happen time and time again in these tournaments, and that is why they are interesting to watch for us, who see much more European football. These tournaments have their own charge.