Weak international teams - remove from qualifiers?

[TheBigIguana]

give them a subsidiary competition for me.

The Nations League showed that these teams can be competitive, in their own level.

What benefit is losing 10-0? Destroys confidence and willingness.

Same benefit as letting everyone into the FA Cup. Just have an earlier round for them to sort some of them out among themselves.

 

[ClausThomsen]

Scoring that first goal in 1993 means San Marino get a 100 year pass for me.

If something like that happens every 30 years then keep them in.

 

[JobForTheMoyes]

Playing the likes of San Marino are fantastic fixtures for the fans!

 

[ClausThomsen]

Although there should be a pre tournament or play off games I doubt the corrupt fifa pockets would agree.
The San Marino fa are probably grateful for the monies generated from this evening.

Isn't the second part of your argument countering the first part?

Surely corrupt FIFA pockets would prefer the bigger nations playing big shiny marketable games more often rather than having to bother with games like tonight which were only of financial benefit to the San Marino FA?

 

[WA Toffee]

Something that's crossed my mind before. A lot of these games are one sided non-contests. Great for records etc, but in an already congested fixture list, might we better served cutting back the number of qualifiers played?

A better solution would be to get rid of seeding, but won't happen because the big countries are scared of an open honest competition

 

[JobForTheMoyes]

Women's football has far worse mismatches. They should talk about culling that before ruining the dreams of San Marinoans and Gibraltarians!

 

[Tipp blue]

1 win in over 180 games. No need for them to take meaty bull head every game, put the 5 lowest ranked teams in a group together and the winner gets a play off place.

Or have the 5 lowest ranked teams pick their best 20 players and form a squad, like the lions in Rugby, let them play together.

 

[sdk]

Boot out the minnows from the FA Cup as well. In fact, just start at the Quarter Finals as long as it’s PL clubs only.
Litlle clubs, little countries, little people, Koff the lot of yer.

The big six, plus two more as determined by overseas replica kit sales.

 

[Tipp blue]

It's important for their pubs and restaurants to have games against much better sides, big name players like Ronaldo coming to town is going to fill the stadium, everyone will have a few beers, hotels will get bookings.

 

[barneygumble]

Same benefit as letting everyone into the FA Cup. Just have an earlier round for them to sort some of them out among themselves.

Not even that, just have the crap 11 teams, so let’s say

Andorra, San Marino, Liechtenstein, Gibraltar, Malta, Moldova, Kazakhstan ans whatever and just let them have their own league.

Leaving 45 teams to qualify for major tournament, in 10 groups of 5 The bottom teams can play the crap 10, and if any are good enough, they can take their place.

Just don’t see what benefit it has for anyone other than a monumental waste of time for fans, players and for the lesser nations a chance to actually enjoy international football.

Maybe for the Euros, there’s a chance for one of them to qualify directly for the major tournament.

 

[woodsyni]

What about, y'know for a World Cup, every team in the World puts up their best team to see who is the bestest? Proper draw, no seeding advantage. Old school and give us back the European Cup, Uefa Cup and Cup Winners Cup while you're at it. Let's get some romance back in the game without pandering to the big nations/clubs.

 

[TheBigIguana]

Not even that, just have the crap 11 teams, so let’s say

Andorra, San Marino, Liechtenstein, Gibraltar, Malta, Moldova, Kazakhstan ans whatever and just let them have their own league.

Leaving 45 teams to qualify for major tournament, in 10 groups of 5 The bottom teams can play the crap 10, and if any are good enough, they can take their place.

Just don’t see what benefit it has for anyone other than a monumental waste of time for fans, players and for the lesser nations a chance to actually enjoy international football.

Maybe for the Euros, there’s a chance for one of them to qualify directly for the major tournament.

I don't think it is fair to do that to anyone though. Iceland would have been on your list at one point. They have to be given a chance even if it is remote.

 

[emir]

I find threads like this funny because when it comes to international football, everyone is waxing lyrical about removing the weak teams yet once you suggest a 18 team PL and removing garbage like Norwich, you receive abuse on here. Very inconsistent thinking from some people.

 

[WA Toffee]

I find threads like this funny because when it comes to international football, everyone is waxing lyrical about removing the weak teams yet once you suggest a 18 team PL and removing garbage like Norwich, you receive abuse on here. Very inconsistent thinking from some people.

Absolutely. People who complained about the superleague (probably because we weren't in it) but want exactly that for international football because their country will be in it.

 

[Preki]

Or have the 5 lowest ranked teams pick their best 20 players and form a squad, like the lions in Rugby, let them play together.

It's a competition for national teams. You represent your country?