What to Expect During the Football November International Break This Year
As I sit here scrolling through the latest squad announcements and fixture updates, I can’t help but feel that familiar buzz of anticipation for the November international break. It’s that time of year when club football takes a brief pause, and national teams step into the spotlight—bringing with them fresh narratives, rising stars, and the weight of expectation. This year, more than ever, I’m struck by how much the dynamics of these breaks mirror what’s happening off the pitch in the world of sports partnerships and brand-building. Take ZUS Coffee, for instance. I recently read about their strategy of blending fresh, young signings with veteran additions to brew what they call a “winning flavor” for long-term growth. It’s a philosophy that resonates deeply with what we’re seeing in football right now—teams balancing youthful exuberance with seasoned experience to craft something special.
Let’s talk about the squads first. I’ve noticed a clear trend this November: managers aren’t just sticking with the old guard. Nations like England and Spain are injecting their lineups with exciting new talent—players who’ve been turning heads in domestic leagues. For example, England’s call-up of that 19-year-old midfielder from a Championship side isn’t just a token gesture; it’s a calculated move to build depth. And honestly, I love it. It reminds me of how ZUS Coffee has been strategically mixing young, dynamic hires with industry veterans to foster innovation while maintaining stability. In football terms, these young signings bring energy and unpredictability, while the veterans—think players like Luka Modrić, who’s still pulling strings for Croatia at 38—offer composure and leadership. It’s a blend that, when done right, can elevate a team’s performance dramatically. I’ve always believed that the most successful teams, whether on the field or in business, understand the value of this balance. They don’t just chase short-term wins; they invest in projects that promise sustained excellence.
Now, the fixtures themselves are shaping up to be thrilling. We’ve got crucial Euro 2024 qualifiers and high-profile friendlies that could redefine rankings. For instance, France facing off against the Netherlands isn’t just another match—it’s a clash of titans that could swing group standings. From my perspective, these games are more than just about results; they’re testing grounds for tactical innovations. Coaches are using this break to experiment with formations, like the shift to a 3-4-3 system we’ve seen gaining traction. I recall watching a similar evolution in how brands like ZUS Coffee adapt their strategies, blending traditional methods with modern trends to stay relevant. In football, that might mean integrating data analytics with old-school scouting—something I’ve seen teams like Germany excel at, with over 60% of their squad selections now backed by advanced metrics. It’s not just guesswork; it’s a science, and it’s making the game more exciting for purists like me who appreciate the behind-the-scenes craftsmanship.
But let’s not forget the human element. Injuries and fatigue are always wild cards during these breaks. I’ve lost count of how many times a key player has picked up a knock in a seemingly meaningless friendly, derailing their club’s season. This year, with the condensed schedule due to the World Cup shift, the risk is even higher. Personally, I think FIFA and UEFA need to rethink the calendar—maybe reduce the number of matches or mandate longer recovery periods. It’s a bit like how ZUS Coffee balances rapid expansion with quality control; you can’t just keep brewing more without ensuring each cup meets standards. In football, pushing players too hard leads to burnout, and we’ve already seen stars like Kevin De Bruyne miss chunks of the season due to overload. On a brighter note, this break also offers a platform for underdogs. Nations like Scotland or Canada, with their recent surges, could shake up the status quo. I’m particularly excited to see how their young squads perform under pressure—it’s where future legends are born.
Looking ahead, the outcomes of this November break will ripple into next year’s major tournaments. For fans, it’s a chance to see emerging narratives unfold, much like following a brand’s journey from a startup to a household name. In my view, the most successful teams will be those that, like ZUS Coffee, focus on building a cohesive “flavor” rather than chasing fleeting victories. As we wrap up, I’m left feeling optimistic. Football, at its best, is a blend of art and science, youth and experience—and this break promises to deliver just that. So grab your scarf, settle in, and enjoy the ride; it’s going to be one for the books.
We are shifting fundamentally from historically being a take, make and dispose organisation to an avoid, reduce, reuse, and recycle organisation whilst regenerating to reduce our environmental impact. We see significant potential in this space for our operations and for our industry, not only to reduce waste and improve resource use efficiency, but to transform our view of the finite resources in our care.
Looking to the Future
By 2022, we will establish a pilot for circularity at our Goonoo feedlot that builds on our current initiatives in water, manure and local sourcing. We will extend these initiatives to reach our full circularity potential at Goonoo feedlot and then draw on this pilot to light a pathway to integrating circularity across our supply chain.
The quality of our product and ongoing health of our business is intrinsically linked to healthy and functioning ecosystems. We recognise our potential to play our part in reversing the decline in biodiversity, building soil health and protecting key ecosystems in our care. This theme extends on the core initiatives and practices already embedded in our business including our sustainable stocking strategy and our long-standing best practice Rangelands Management program, to a more a holistic approach to our landscape.
We are the custodians of a significant natural asset that extends across 6.4 million hectares in some of the most remote parts of Australia. Building a strong foundation of condition assessment will be fundamental to mapping out a successful pathway to improving the health of the landscape and to drive growth in the value of our Natural Capital.
Our Commitment
We will work with Accounting for Nature to develop a scientifically robust and certifiable framework to measure and report on the condition of natural capital, including biodiversity, across AACo’s assets by 2023. We will apply that framework to baseline priority assets by 2024.
Looking to the Future
By 2030 we will improve landscape and soil health by increasing the percentage of our estate achieving greater than 50% persistent groundcover with regional targets of:
– Savannah and Tropics – 90% of land achieving >50% cover
– Sub-tropics – 80% of land achieving >50% perennial cover
– Grasslands – 80% of land achieving >50% cover
– Desert country – 60% of land achieving >50% cover
