International Games

[MilnersJaw]

england are shite. Im sure the press, the players and media will all be hyping england as world class now and that they will win the world cup because they have such 'quality'.

[Cit.revenge]

Awful as San Marino are (really, truly, terribly, awful) it's interesting watching how the England midfield & forwards approached that game. Everyone wanted the ball, everyone was looking to pass & move, everyone was looking to spot runs in front of them.

Put 11 Germans in front of them & the same players will hide away from the ball, charge head first whilst looking at their shoelaces when in posession, hit impossible 50 yard passes, fail to spot off the ball runs, & shoot when their team mates are better placed.

Just shows the difference a bit of belief & confidence can make.

How big is San Marino i watch Lichenstain last night with Latvia draw 1 1 and they could win, Latvia is also awful but Lichenstain is really small.But my shock with Greece last night was big ,they have no midfield its just defend and take the ball hit long on Samaras and if he do something that is it.They really have tactic defend well and score from one or two chances if u have them .But if u watch like that Montenegro have 700000 people and they do crazy good.

[Ted Hughes]

Awful as San Marino are (really, truly, terribly, awful) it's interesting watching how the England midfield & forwards approached that game. Everyone wanted the ball, everyone was looking to pass & move, everyone was looking to spot runs in front of them.

Put 11 Germans in front of them & the same players will hide away from the ball, charge head first whilst looking at their shoelaces when in posession, hit impossible 50 yard passes, fail to spot off the ball runs, & shoot when their team mates are better placed.

Just shows the difference a bit of belief & confidence can make.

How big is San Marino i watch Lichenstain last night with Latvia draw 1 1 and they could win, Latvia is also awful but Lichenstain is really small.But my shock with Greece last night was big ,they have no midfield its just defend and take the ball hit long on Samaras and if he do something that is it.They really have tactic defend well and score from one or two chances if u have them .But if u watch like that Montenegro have 700000 people and they do crazy good.

San Marino should not be competing at that level without earning it.There's a point when being fair & giving everyone a chance to compete, becomes ridiculous. The standard has to be a factor.

[Blue Since 92]

How big is San Marino i watch Lichenstain last night with Latvia draw 1 1 and they could win, Latvia is also awful but Lichenstain is really small.But my shock with Greece last night was big ,they have no midfield its just defend and take the ball hit long on Samaras and if he do something that is it.They really have tactic defend well and score from one or two chances if u have them .But if u watch like that Montenegro have 700000 people and they do crazy good.

Manchester is about twenty times the size off San Marino. Think it has a population of about 32000

[Cit.revenge]

Awful as San Marino are (really, truly, terribly, awful) it's interesting watching how the England midfield & forwards approached that game. Everyone wanted the ball, everyone was looking to pass & move, everyone was looking to spot runs in front of them.

Put 11 Germans in front of them & the same players will hide away from the ball, charge head first whilst looking at their shoelaces when in posession, hit impossible 50 yard passes, fail to spot off the ball runs, & shoot when their team mates are better placed.

Just shows the difference a bit of belief & confidence can make.

How big is San Marino i watch Lichenstain last night with Latvia draw 1 1 and they could win, Latvia is also awful but Lichenstain is really small.But my shock with Greece last night was big ,they have no midfield its just defend and take the ball hit long on Samaras and if he do something that is it.They really have tactic defend well and score from one or two chances if u have them .But if u watch like that Montenegro have 700000 people and they do crazy good.

San Marino should not be competing at that level without earning it.There's a point when being fair & giving everyone a chance to compete, becomes ridiculous. The standard has to be a factor.

So u think something like preliminary qualification with Andora ,San Marino, Lichenstain and few those country and we have sme groups with more teams some with less because of that selections. But if u watch how much harder is in Europe i think some shit country from Europe can be good in Japan and South Korea there how they call that group .There Uzbekistan and Quatar have better chance to go more then Belgium, Ireland, Ukraine and many better country.

[Alioune DVToure]

england are shite. Im sure the press, the players and media will all be hyping england as world class now and that they will win the world cup because they have such 'quality'.

I'm sure they won't.

[MilnersJaw]

england are shite. Im sure the press, the players and media will all be hyping england as world class now and that they will win the world cup because they have such 'quality'.

I'm sure they won't.

pretty sure they always do.

Here it every time england have a game or win a friendly how great they are and how well they are going to do. then they go to the euros or world cup and struggle with every game. Drawing with the likes of poland and ukraine while hitting the ball long up against better teams such as italy.

Then we hear how they have the world class quality to do well, yet fall flat on their face. How many times have we been hearing that shrek will do something massive for england, it is every world cup and euros he goes to. Funnily enough, he is usually englands worse player at these tournaments, yet gets picked regardless.

[Cit.revenge]

San Marino has won only one game ever Lichenstain and they manage to play 20 games over 2 years without scoring goal so Ted have point.

[Ted Hughes]

San Marino has won only one game ever Lichenstain and they manage to play 20 games over 2 years without scoring goal so Ted have point.

All the smaller teams (those with a very poor record) could play a lower standardi World Cup tournament (including qualifiers), against each other & the top ones could play in the actual World Cup qualifiers.

Perhaps the winner of the mini World Cup could have a pass straight through to the finals (then Scotland would have a chance).

This won't happen, because people like Blatter rely on the votes from these countries, in order to get elected.

[Socrates]

How big is San Marino i watch Lichenstain last night with Latvia draw 1 1 and they could win, Latvia is also awful but Lichenstain is really small.But my shock with Greece last night was big ,they have no midfield its just defend and take the ball hit long on Samaras and if he do something that is it.They really have tactic defend well and score from one or two chances if u have them .But if u watch like that Montenegro have 700000 people and they do crazy good.

Manchester is about twenty times the size off San Marino. Think it has a population of about 32000

Yep, just the Manchester council area has nearly 20 times the size, the Manchester Urban Area/City Region has 2.6million, 80 times that of San Marino. Surely there is a case for a pre-qualifying tournament for the weakest sides? Would give them some competitive play every 2 years and cut the number of qualifying games back to sensible numbers too.

[Plain Speaking]

Yaya was man of the match for Ivory Coast in their 3 nil win over Gambia. He scored the second goal. Kolo got about 15 mins at the end. A classy performance from the big man.

[Bianchi on Ice]

San Marino has won only one game ever Lichenstain and they manage to play 20 games over 2 years without scoring goal so Ted have point.

All the smaller teams (those with a very poor record) could play a lower standardi World Cup tournament (including qualifiers), against each other & the top ones could play in the actual World Cup qualifiers.

Perhaps the winner of the mini World Cup could have a pass straight through to the finals (then Scotland would have a chance).

This won't happen, because people like Blatter rely on the votes from these countries, in order to get elected.

There are some nations who although have no hope of qualifying, are improving and are capable of affecting group standings by nicking the odd point from favoured teams...but san marino, andorra are three points for everyone...they have neither a competitive league structure or a population large enoughto establish one. They shouldnt have been given full uefa status

[Cit.revenge]

San Marino has won only one game ever Lichenstain and they manage to play 20 games over 2 years without scoring goal so Ted have point.

All the smaller teams (those with a very poor record) could play a lower standardi World Cup tournament (including qualifiers), against each other & the top ones could play in the actual World Cup qualifiers.

Perhaps the winner of the mini World Cup could have a pass straight through to the finals (then Scotland would have a chance).

This won't happen, because people like Blatter rely on the votes from these countries, in order to get elected.

There are some nations who although have no hope of qualifying, are improving and are capable of affecting group standings by nicking the odd point from favoured teams...but san marino, andorra are three points for everyone...they have neither a competitive league structure or a population large enoughto establish one. They shouldnt have been given full uefa status

So give idea witch teams and how will that look , i love that idea and like two best teams can play in qualification .That cut a lot of games for players at list two for all selection witch is good for clubs and give San Marino and nations like that something to play for

[Im_Spartacus]

There are some nations who although have no hope of qualifying, are improving and are capable of affecting group standings by nicking the odd point from favoured teams...but san marino, andorra are three points for everyone...they have neither a competitive league structure or a population large enoughto establish one. They shouldnt have been given full uefa status

I always remember turkey being like that.

Dont know if it was turkey who our prefious 8-0 win was against, but they were fucking diabolical in the 80s and much of the 90s but kept plugging away and are now one of the better sides in Europe, certainly one i wouldnt relish being drawn against anyway.

But there is the advantage of having a competetive league structure which the minnows will never, ever have so its pointless them being there, other than, as someone has said, to cast votes for blatter and platini

[Bianchi on Ice]

There are some nations who although have no hope of qualifying, are improving and are capable of affecting group standings by nicking the odd point from favoured teams...but san marino, andorra are three points for everyone...they have neither a competitive league structure or a population large enoughto establish one. They shouldnt have been given full uefa status

I always remember turkey being like that.

Dont know if it was turkey who our prefious 8-0 win was against, but they were fucking diabolical in the 80s and much of the 90s but kept plugging away and are now one of the better sides in Europe, certainly one i wouldnt relish being drawn against anyway.

But there is the advantage of having a competetive league structure which the minnows will never, ever have so its pointless them being there, other than, as someone has said, to cast votes for blatter and platini

Perfect example there...8-0 losers to england to world cup semis within 20 years. Not bad going. I could name a list of countries deemed hopeless...just in europe...im sure there are a few all over the world...but..if results are improving..however slowly...i wouldnt cast them out...but those two yeah...possibly leichtenstein, luxembourg and malta

[Bridge'srightfoot]

Portugal aren't doing too great. Held at home by Northern Ireland a few months back and the other night relied on a 93rd minute equaliser to squeeze a 3-3 draw against Israel to put them 3rd in their group.

Spain aswell held by Finland and could go 5 points behind France if they lose on Tuesday.

[BlueinBosnia]

I could name a list of countries deemed hopeless...just in europe...im sure there are a few all over the world...but..if results are improving..however slowly...i wouldnt cast them out...but those two yeah...possibly leichtenstein, luxembourg and malta

I'd chuck Estonia in alongside those 3, possibly Iceland, the Faroes and Wales, too. I think pretty much the worst 12 UEFA nations should fight it out for 4 places in the qualifiers, giving each group an even 5 teams, and each of the 12 teams a realistic chance of qualifying for the qualifiers.

[mr_nool]

I could name a list of countries deemed hopeless...just in europe...im sure there are a few all over the world...but..if results are improving..however slowly...i wouldnt cast them out...but those two yeah...possibly leichtenstein, luxembourg and malta

I'd chuck Estonia in alongside those 3, possibly Iceland, the Faroes and Wales, too. I think pretty much the worst 12 UEFA nations should fight it out for 4 places in the qualifiers, giving each group an even 5 teams, and each of the 12 teams a realistic chance of qualifying for the qualifiers.

1 Switzerland 5 3 2 0 7-1 11
2 Iceland 5 3 0 2 6-5 9
3 Albania 5 3 0 2 6-5 9
4 Norway 5 2 1 2 6-6 7
5 Cyprus 5 1 1 3 4-8 4
6 Slovenia 5 1 0 4 4-8 3

[Moonchesteri]

While were talking about the minnows of football, did you see the news that the Mighty Gibraltar is trying to get approval from UEFA to try and qualify for Euro 2016??
GIBRALTAR? What the hell.

Who's next? The Vatican with the Pope as a manager?

[Cit.revenge]

I could name a list of countries deemed hopeless...just in europe...im sure there are a few all over the world...but..if results are improving..however slowly...i wouldnt cast them out...but those two yeah...possibly leichtenstein, luxembourg and malta

I'd chuck Estonia in alongside those 3, possibly Iceland, the Faroes and Wales, too. I think pretty much the worst 12 UEFA nations should fight it out for 4 places in the qualifiers, giving each group an even 5 teams, and each of the 12 teams a realistic chance of qualifying for the qualifiers.

Don't agree on Iceland , Wales, Estonia they recent play play-off and improve in football , If they can be 2 in group with Serbia and Slovenia they are ok and Iceland have good chance for second even first place in that crazy group where Norway was top pot and how the fuck that hapen?Ted where more having idea witch i agree these teams that almost never take a win point, nothing.And those three country u said they can make damage