Player Focus: Burnout a Worry for International Stars

While players from 8 nations face the Confederations Cup this summer, others have the opportunity for some well-earned rest before next season's campaign, which culminates in Brazil at the 2014 World Cup. Fatigue and burnout are genuine problems, making the next few months of R and R all the more important. With Vicente del Bosque taking a strong squad to this month's competition, there will be players at next year's World Cup who have played almost consistently since August 2011, with the likes of Xavi and Fernando Torres having gone the distance in multiple tournaments with their clubs as well as Euro 2012 with Spain last summer.

Of those going to the 2013 Confederations Cup, Barcelona's Dani Alves could well be most in need of a rest, having made 130 appearances in La Liga and the Champions League alone since the last World Cup. In those matches he has played an average of 82 minutes, more often than not completed the full 90, patrolling the right flank tirelessly and contributing in attack as much as defence. Whilst reaching at least the semi final of Europe's elite competition in all 3 seasons since South Africa 2010, Alves has also gone as far as the last 4 in each installment of the Copa del Rey with Barcelona, not mention last summer's Copa America. He plays as if fatigue doesn't affect him, but after yet another summer tournament and arduous season in which he will play almost every game, Alves could tire ahead of next year's World Cup in his home country.

Alves' teammate Victor Valdes will also be competing in Brazil in the next few weeks, but with Iker Casillas in line to retain the number 1 jersey for Spain, Valdes will - whilst continuing to train - probably be fresh for next season. The Spaniard has made 131 appearances in La Liga and the Champions League since the last World Cup, and though his job as stopper is limited in a team as dominant of possession as Barcelona, quite how much he has played is nonetheless impressive.

Another Spaniard in Xabi Alonso has played 129 times in those competitions, but playing that often has taken its toll on the Real Madrid midfielder, who has had to withdraw from the national squad for the Confederations Cup, with next year's World Cup no doubt in mind. Chelsea duo Juan Mata and Fernando Torres also pop up in the top 20 players with the most appearances since last summer's competition, with the Blues having lifted the Champions League last year - which meant participation in the Club World Cup - not to mention cup wins in the Europa League this season as well as the FA Cup last. This month's competition will probably mean 5 more competitive games for the Spaniards, and they will need to be careful to take care of themselves between now and the World Cup, where they will, once again, be expected to triumph.

Cristiano Ronaldo, meanwhile, the incredible athlete that he is, has played an astounding 140 league and Champions League games in the past 3 seasons, playing over 200 hours of football in the process. This summer, though, while many of his teammates battle it out in Brazil, Ronaldo will have the opportunity to rest up (whilst carefully considering where his future may lie, of course), ahead of next season. In those 140 appearances, Ronaldo has played an average of nearly 86 minutes, rarely ever succumbing to injury, meaning he has been on the pitch for 88.9% of Los Blancos’ last 3 campaigns in the league and Europe. As captain of Portugal, he is similarly relied upon when playing for the national side, so having the summer off this year may be hugely beneficial to both him and his country with regards to next summer's World Cup.

For once at least, Leo Messi ranks second behind Ronaldo here, having played 137 league and Champions League matches since August 2010. Messi struggled through the end of the season due to injury as the fixture pileup took its toll on him, and his lack of fitness coincided with Barcelona's exit from Europe as well as a few indifferent performances from the Catalans. This summer provides some necessary respite for the Ballon d'Or winner and he will be keen to recuperate sufficiently over the coming months so as to be fully fit for next season, whilst also aiming to perform at the World Cup in South America, hoping to silence the many critics that say he hasn't done enough on the international stage.

Whilst Germany have plenty of players (Neuer, Ozil, Muller, Lahm) to have made over 120 appearances in these competitions, the up side of England's lack of players consistently at the top of the game is that they should be more fresh for next summer's tournament. Only goalkeeper Joe Hart and left-back Ashley Cole feature in the list, and another tough season is unlikely to hit them too hard. A summer off awaits England's players after last week's curtain raiser at the Maracana, and they should do their best to make the most of a key couple of months rest.