“I admit, the quality of most World Cup and other International tournament play pales to that of the highest-level European Club soccer.
Mainly because National teams don’t get all that much time to practice together and play together as a team.”
But I’m talking about ANY soccer game. The World Cup seemed to have more energy in the crowds and announcers so I can only imagine watching when not during the World Cup.
But I take your point that teams that are thrown together without much practice time together may play at a lower level. Teamwork and chemistry is a much overlooked part of any sport.
But you watch a Premier League game, and the speed of the game is light years ahead. It’s almost like watching indoor soccer at times.