Top 5 club footballers who were not effective on the international stage

Eric Cantona – FRANCE (45 Caps 20 Goals)

Whilst his goal scoring record for his national side wasn’t too shabby, Eric Cantona could never quite recapture his club form, when he played for Les Bleus. He was, arguably the man who started Manchester United’s successful reign when he helped them lift their first crown in over 26 years. But, whenever he played for France, there was a sense that he could do better, at least, at the start of his career.

And when he did, he got into trouble with the authorities. One of the most famous instances, was when called Henri Michel a “bag of shit” after being dropped from the squad. Cantona was subsequently indefinitely banned from all international matches. From then onwards, his reputation preceded him and his relationship with the national team was fractious at best. It was almost as if, the French couldn’t quite come to terms with how to make use of one of the most talented footballers of his generation.

In the end, Cantona retired from international football, having had his place taken by a certain Zinedine Zidane and never quite setting the international stage on fire.

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