The merciful silver lining to the punishingly compressed preseason cloud is that several English and Belgian players will be spared the dubious honour of ending one season and starting the next by participating in two of the most meaningless games in football. That's right: Just 22 days after the World Cup third-place playoff, Chelsea and Manchester City will drag themselves out at Wembley for the Community Shield on Sunday (10 a.m. ET, ESPN+).
However, as the traditional structure of the close season and its three perennial stages -- reflection, disconnection, anticipation -- evolves amid time off for some stars following international exertions and foreign tours for those who remain, the status of the new campaign's "curtain raiser" looks increasingly tenuous.