The three-week break for international duty is practically unheard of, so after Inter and Tottenham Hotspur gave players an entire week off, former Italy fitness coach Vincenzo Pincolini explains the benefits and dangers.

The new UEFA calendar was introduced this season after international managers complained they didn’t have enough time to work with their players before big games.

It combines two sets of Nations League fixtures, so they get to play four matches, but it means the domestic leagues are off until October 9.

This inevitably affects the club sides who have some players left , but probably not enough to do any effective tactical work in training.

Some, like Inter’s Cristian Chivu and Roberto De Zerbi at Premier League side Tottenham, have given the remaining players a whole week off to do as they wish.

Gennaro Gattuso gave Lazio five days for their vacation, with most teams varying between these two approaches.

La Gazzetta dello Sport contacted former Italy and Milan fitness coach Pincolini , who is now working with coach Paolo Nicolato’s Latvia, to ask about the risks.

“Those players who aren’t on international duty have an important advantage, because they will have time to do what is no longer possible even in the summer, seeing as there are now such long pre-season retreats,” said Pincolini.