International relations resume By John Brewin With European competition due to take a week's break, the football treadmill hasn't stopped turning.
International football is back in vogue.
And next week will see the return of national squads into action for the first time since November. Still can't believe that penalty decison. For many teams, England of course excepted, it's been as you were for the national teams. For the Portugese it's been a chance to recall the three players banned after the shenanigans which followed their loss to France in the Euro 2000 semi-final. Everton's Abel Xavier, Fiorentina's Nuno Gomes and Sporting Lisbon's Paulo Bento were banned after excessive protests at a penalty awarded in the last minute of extra-time.