England Manager Roy Hodgson Says National Team Would Benefit From Winter Break

England football Manager Roy Hodgson said that he believes "the national side would perform better if a mid-season break was brought in to the domestic calendar," according to the London TELEGRAPH. The debate over whether England should "copy the likes of Germany, Spain, France, and Italy by introducing a winter break rears its head every time the national side struggles at a major tournament." The demands of the Premier League, two domestic cups, and European competition, mean the idea "has yet to be put into practice, but Hodgson is certainly in favour." Hodgson: "I find a shorter break now and again is much better than those long breaks. I don't think the best way to keep players fit is to push them through 60 games in eight-and-a-half months and then have three-and-a-half months with no football." He added, "It might be better if we spread the load a little bit differently, and we give them more breaks and certainly a break in the middle of the season" (TELEGRAPH, 4/22).