Corner Picks, predictions, best bets, odds: Inter cruise, goals in

21 October، 2023

18 1 minute read

I’m not a huge fan of international soccer outside of the premier tournaments. If it’s the World Cup, Euros, Copa America, or Gold Cup, I’ll go out of my way to watch. International friendlies and qualifiers, on the other hand? Maybe, if the matchup is right, or I have nothing else going on.

It’s why I don’t enjoy international breaks during the season. As a fan, my only goal every break is that none of the players on my favorite teams get hurt while they’re away. In that sense, this was a terrible break for plenty of us.

Neymar tore his ACL, and while his move to Saudi Arabia already felt like a retirement, this latest injury could mean we’ve seen the last of Neymar playing in an important match. No matter what you think of him, that sucks. Napoli lost Victor Osimhen for four to six weeks to a hamstring injury he suffered playing with Nigeria. Liverpool has lost Andy Robertson until sometime in 2024 due to a shoulder injury.

If we were to rank international breaks of the last few years, this one would rank near the bottom. Let’s hope our return to club play provides far more entertainment and fewer injuries.