How long before the first game must a player arrive if called for national team duty?

The correct answer is that a player must arrive for national team duty forty-eight hours before the first game. This timing ensures that players have adequate time to acclimate to the environment, participate in team meetings, and engage in necessary practices or training sessions before competing. Arriving early allows the coaching staff to properly evaluate the players' fitness and strategy alignment, establishing unity and teamwork prior to the competitive match.

While other timeframes may seem reasonable, arriving too soon, such as one week in advance, may lead to fatigue or burnout. Conversely, twenty-four or seventy-two hours might not provide sufficient time for adjustment and team integration. Therefore, forty-eight hours strikes a balance, enabling preparation and focus for the upcoming game without overextending the players’ time away from their regular commitments.