...prequalification now surely?
Looking through last nights results there were 2 x 6-0 and our 8-0. Whatever way you look at it in international football there are too many mismatches in these games.
What is the point? Who benefits? Presumably UEFA/FIFA but for us it's a pointless mid-season practise match and for Malta or whoever it's another demoralising defeat and not helping their development whatsoever.
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Also the last team we beat 8 - 0 was Turkey who have since been to a world cup final.
Pre-qualification makes sense and gives the minnows winnable game IF FIFA/UEFA sort out the financial side for them
Yeah the national FA gets a little bit of cash through tv rights I suppose but 'boosting the game' in this day and age when every bar this side of Timbuktu has wall to wall football...nah...not having that.
I think the boost is not that Kazak farmers realise football exists, but rather the income from these games should go to improve facilities, hiring experience coaches etc, which boost the development levels of the smaller nation players. Doubt that many San Marino kids would benefit if all the Senior team could play against were the likes of Luxembourg
England and Roy Hodgson seemed quite grateful of it, as it allowed us to get 90 minutes as a unit ( especially the new look defence)
San Marino and its people loved it as it allowed them a high profile game and even a bit of new tourism. If pre qualification was in place then they would have 1 game every 2 years, no funds would be wasted on improving or even upkeeping the game there and it would probably just disappear. That's slightly against the whole point of FIFA isn't it? The people's game?
So really you saying these games should be stopped because they are boring to you at home Sitting on your sofa...so nah...not having it.
Plus I love the fact that school teachers and plumbers can play against countries like England and Germany.
There were less than 5000 people watching the England game last night btw. Once you take the policing costs into account I can't see that it's even a big money spinner in terms of tourism as you suggest. Why would it be only 1 games every 2 years btw? Why not have pre-qualifiers followed by a play-off against the bottom team in the 'big boys' group or something?
What we have at the moment is the footballing equivalent of me giving Roger Federer a knock up. How would that ever help me improve my performance or encourage others to take up tennis?
This suggestion relates to a broader point which is about how qualification for the World Cup Finals is organised. The politicisation of FIFA has meant that the Finals include an increasing number of no hopers and a competition that has become less interesting and exciting as the years have gone by. Perhaps it would be too complicated to arrange a seeded and staged global qualification, but it would be worth thinking about. We need more games between teams of a similar standard and fewer mismatches.
It's also worth remembering that friendlies have become an increasing irrelevance; they just aren't taken seriously any more. If we (or the football community) want to see England play Brazil, Germany, Italy or the excellent Belgium side, for example, in matches that matter then this has to be either in qualification for or in European Championships and World Cups, but these games are becoming fewer and far between, drowned out by games that do little more than satisfy FIFA's political agenda.
Sky would sort it out!!! Bit ironic that!!
It's a daft analogy of course but how would watching Federer smash ace after ace past me help me in any way when I could perhaps play someone who was only slightly better than me and give me half a chance to progress my game?
I presume they must just enjoy the fact they have a break from their every day working life to take part in such matches but you would think they might prefer having more games agansit fellow minnows in a mini tournament - not only would they be able to play but also potentially win although they have only won ONE match in their history.
What do you think the score would be if Charlton played England?
I reckon there'd be a 4 goal margin, but England might get one back :-0
I'm all for the minnows taking their place in the qualifiers.
As said higher up the thread England thumped Turkey 8-0 many years ago, Turkey have now progressed and are a decent team nowadays but how would they have iumproved if they could only play Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta etc
Also Denamerk won the euros after being called up as a late replacement for Yugoslavia.
In this season's FA Cup there were two preliminary rounds, four qualifying rounds and the first and second rounds proper before clubs from the Premier League and Championship entered the competition. The minnows all got to compete and some enjoyed a "big day", but seeding and pre qualification in the FA Cup prevents a large number of meaningless games. That's the point rightly being made at the top of the thread.
I don't know if any of the above makes sense but it would mean there isn't a problem of restricting football development around Europe.
I think Rugby WC's work in a similar way. Only the top two in each group of 5/6 progress to the QF stage but if you finish third in your group, you secure your place for the next tournament four years later without having to go through additional qualifying matches.
They've also had a couple of very good motorcycle racers, so you'd think they can nurture a few decent footballers. Especially since they are basically Italian.
Haven't really got an answer for the Dutch putting 8 past Hungary the other night though!