Totally agree Taavi. By making it competitive and European Championship slots up for grabs, with no real frindlies anymore, less chance for managers to blood new players.
Though there were too many meaningless friendlies, this doesn't solve the problem. So with the finals of this next summer, the ACN, World Cup, Euros, Copa America etc, soon enough top players won't ever get a summer off. Bad for them and their clubs.
Club football - Greed, greed and more greed. International football is now the same as well. With FIFA being the greediest of the lot. No improvement with Blatter gone. Still corrupt and greedy.