Former Aston Villa boss Graham Taylor can't see any benefit from the Premier League for the England team.
Roy Hodgson's side face a do-or-die qualifier in Ukraine on Tuesday with Taylor saying the national team comes a poor second in both the minds of the clubs and supporters.
"If you look at how we prepare, clubs now have end-of-season tours.
"It is all for the clubs' interest and yet when it comes to the international game we hammer the internationals - we did in my time - it doesn't get anywhere," said Taylor to the Sunday Mercury.
"The Premier League is yet to prove to me that it has been a benefit to the international players.
"I don't blame Manchester United, Arsenal or Manchester City. I don't blame any of those clubs but we all pretty well know who is going to be in the top four.
"I find that the game has lost an edge because of it."
