Voller, who starred in the German team that won the World Cup in 1990 and finished runners-up in 1986, won 90 caps for Germany and went on to coach the national team for four years, during which time it lost to Brazil in the final of the 2002 edition.

Calendars, Voller claimed, should include space for international breaks, but he admitted that this would not be possible unless governing bodies start evening out the numbers of teams in leagues across Europe.

"For the players in teams participating in the Champions League, UEFA Cup, and internationals there are definitely too many matches and several competitions are extended unnecessarily. This shouldn't be the case," Voller told football debate website www.

feelfootball.com.

"The solution is to cut the number of clubs in the leagues down to 18. You can only create a structured calendar with a break when there are fewer matches and this is difficult for some leagues because they have too many matches."

Voller believes English clubs have the hardest time - and suggested the Premiership will need to reduce to 18 clubs if the national side is to have any hope of being successful on the world stage.

"In Germany there are 18 clubs in the Premier League and in England, there are 20. The Cup games are also different in Germany - we play first leg only, whereas there are first and second leg games in England.

"This increases the competition unnecessarily and there are too many matches for the players participating in international competitions. This is one reason why the English national team is not so prominent in many world championships."

Barcelona's Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o, who called for something to be done to help prevent clashes between club and international matches that are often seen in the African Cup echoed Voller's remarks.

"I feel it is crucial to create a calendar in which nobody is penalised. Maybe they could plan it as in the European Championship which is played parallel to the Cup," said Eto'o, speaking as part of the pan-European football survey run on www.feelfootball.com.

"It is important though to mention that our role is not to plan but to play. It is not our task to bring solutions to these issues. I just feel that planning should be done in such a way that nobody is penalised."