Long vacation during international duty has benefits and dangers, warns fitness coach | OneFootball

The three-week break for international duty is practically unheard of, so after Inter and Tottenham Hotspur gave players an entire week off, former Italy fitness coach Vincenzo Pincolini explains the benefits and dangers.

The new UEFA calendar was introduced this season after international managers complained they didn’t have enough time to work with their players before big games.

It combines two sets of Nations League fixtures, so they get to play four matches, but it means the domestic leagues are off until October 9.

This inevitably affects the club sides who have some players left, but probably not enough to do any effective tactical work in training.

International duty a minefield for clubs

Roberto Mancini speaks to the media at a press conference at Coverciano ahead of the 2026 September-October international break, which will see Italy take on Belgium, Turkiye, France and Turkiye again in the Nations League. (Picture: Lorenzo Bettoni).

Some, like Inter’s Cristian Chivu and Roberto De Zerbi at Premier League side Tottenham, have given the remaining players a whole week off to do as they wish.

Gennaro Gattuso gave Lazio five days for their vacation, with most teams varying between these two approaches.

La Gazzetta dello Sport contacted former Italy and Milan fitness coach Pincolini, who is now working with coach Paolo Nicolato’s Latvia, to ask about the risks.

TIRRENIA, ITALY – MAY 31: Vincenzo Pincolini athletic trainer of Italy reacts during an Italy U21 Training Session on May 31, 2022 in Tirrenia, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)

“Those players who aren’t on international duty have an important advantage, because they will have time to do what is no longer possible even in the summer, seeing as there are now such long pre-season retreats,” said Pincolini.

“Inter did very well to give their players such a long time off, because it’s not just rest, but giving them responsibility for looking after themselves. It shows the coach trusts them.

“There are gyms everywhere now, so they’ll have a schedule to stick to. I can work with you on the pitch, but if you don’t do the rest at home, eat the right things, get good rest, then it all gets wiped out.”

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 15: Roberto De Zerbi, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur, looks on before the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on September 15, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Some teams will benefit more than others from this time off, and we could see the effects once the league resumes on October 9.

“If you don’t have many players on international duty, you can train for three weeks without pressure, have a couple of relaxed friendly matches, and be ready against a side that had seven or eight players in four international matches,” added Pincolini.

“It’s longer than a winter break, it’s a sort of mini pre-season. Training can only do so much, but having a full 90-minute match is the most important training that a player can have. It’s never going to be the same.”