England will continue to struggle to have an impact in major tournaments unless the Premier League agrees to a winter break, according to former Football Association executive director David Davies.
In his book 'FA Confidential' detailing his years inside the organisation, Davies blames league chief executive Richard Scudamore and Sky TV for blocking plans for a break - despite 19 out 20 club chairmen agreeing.
Davies believes that the injury problems suffered by England players before big tournaments are due to playing a long season without a gap - Wayne Rooney, David Beckham, Michael Owen and Steven Gerrard were all affected before World Cups in either 2002 or 2006.
Davies told PA Sport: "There is research that shows players are more at risk of injury in the later part of the season if they have not had a break.
"Lots of countries lose the odd player, but England's record of losing key players in the last few weeks of the season is quite remarkable.
"If you look back to the World Cup, England's fittest player by a long way was Owen Hargreaves - who then played in Germany."
Davies has also warned Fabio Capello to avoid making the same mistake as Sven-Goran Eriksson and prepare his players properly for penalty shoot-outs in the next World Cup.
He said Eriksson missed a trick in 2006 in failing to use a pre-tournament friendly for a practice shoot-out.
Davies said: "This is a big issue for Capello in terms of what stance he is going to take on the mental preparation of players, and an extension of that is clearly penalties.
"The odds are hugely against winning a tournament without winning a shoot-out at some stage.
"We had a missed opportunity in 2006. Sven agreed to do a shoot-out after the friendly against Jamaica just before the finals.
"Then the day before the game, for some reason that I'll never fathom, Sven and the players changed their minds - on the basis that they didn't want to show their intentions at the World Cup. What happened? They lost on penalties again.
"I hope there will be a lot of attention on penalties going into the next World Cup and that we do everything conceivable to be ready."
In his book, Davies reveals that the idea of holding shoot-outs after friendlies was first suggested by England rugby boss Clive Woodward to Mark Palios, then FA chief executive, before Euro 2004.
Davies believes that the injury problems suffered by England players before big tournaments are due to playing a long season without a gap - Wayne Rooney, David Beckham, Michael Owen and Steven Gerrard were all affected before World Cups in either 2002 or 2006.
Davies told PA Sport: "There is research that shows players are more at risk of injury in the later part of the season if they have not had a break.
"Lots of countries lose the odd player, but England's record of losing key players in the last few weeks of the season is quite remarkable.
"If you look back to the World Cup, England's fittest player by a long way was Owen Hargreaves - who then played in Germany."
Davies has also warned Fabio Capello to avoid making the same mistake as Sven-Goran Eriksson and prepare his players properly for penalty shoot-outs in the next World Cup.
He said Eriksson missed a trick in 2006 in failing to use a pre-tournament friendly for a practice shoot-out.
Davies said: "This is a big issue for Capello in terms of what stance he is going to take on the mental preparation of players, and an extension of that is clearly penalties.
"The odds are hugely against winning a tournament without winning a shoot-out at some stage.
"We had a missed opportunity in 2006. Sven agreed to do a shoot-out after the friendly against Jamaica just before the finals.
"Then the day before the game, for some reason that I'll never fathom, Sven and the players changed their minds - on the basis that they didn't want to show their intentions at the World Cup. What happened? They lost on penalties again.
"I hope there will be a lot of attention on penalties going into the next World Cup and that we do everything conceivable to be ready."
In his book, Davies reveals that the idea of holding shoot-outs after friendlies was first suggested by England rugby boss Clive Woodward to Mark Palios, then FA chief executive, before Euro 2004.
Copyright (c) Press Association
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