San Marino v England

[fidelcastro]

Matterface has just said it's been a 10 out of 10 performance.

If it was a 5/10 performance it would still end up a thrashing. San Marino really are that bad.

[Devils_Advocate]

No. I was making the point that the top players can do it against the bigger teams. It was why I was a big Lineker fan. Never mind.

Im a massive Lineker fan too, definitely a big game player so at least we agree on something for once

[fidelcastro]

Im a massive Lineker fan too, definitely a big game player so at least we agree on something for once

First time for everything

[Roosterbooster]

England winning 10-0 and all I can think is "this ref is having a worse performance than San Marino"

[wilks_bfc]

1 minute addition time after 5 goals

[Rileybobs]

1 minute addition time after 5 goals

Sounds about right. 3 seconds for each goal, VAR check, substitution and there was that break whilst the injured player got treatment.

[Rowls]

1 minute addition time after 5 goals

Lol

5 goals = Two and a half minutes alone

+ Actual injury time (I think there's been two)

It's almost as if these things are arbitrary.

[ClaretTony]

1 minute addition time after 5 goals

And how long was the VAR stoppage?

[fidelcastro]

Biggest mismatch I've watched since Frank Bruno fought Chuck Gardner.

[boatshed bill]

This was hardly what i call international football.
A European pre qualifying group would surely be of more benefit to the likes of Andorra, Lichtenstein, San Marino and even Faroe?

[wilks_bfc]

And how long was the VAR stoppage?

And I forgot the red card

[Zom Zom]

That will do San Marino absolutely no good whatsoever. I really feel the powers that be need to develop a different qualification strategy for countries such as San Marino. Maybe something like the very early rounds of the FA Cup.

I wanted us to win, but I have to say I didn’t enjoy that.

[Rileybobs]

Are you all sure that the players, staff and supporters of San Marino don’t absolutely relish playing sides like England?

[boatshed bill]

Are you all sure that the players, staff and supporters of San Marino don’t absolutely relish playing sides like England?

Well they still could by winning a pre-qualifying group.
Looking at the faces of a few SM players tonight suggests it's been little more than an ordeal.

[fidelcastro]

Are you all sure that the players, staff and supporters of San Marino don’t absolutely relish playing sides like England?

The duty frees at the airport in away games will be the highlight for them.

I'll say it again. It shouldn't be allowed.

[Rileybobs]

Well they still could by winning a pre-qualifying group.
Looking at the faces of a few SM players tonight suggests it's been little more than an ordeal.

They wouldn’t win a pre-qualifying group though would they.

[claretburns]

This was hardly what i call international football.
A European pre qualifying group would surely be of more benefit to the likes of Andorra, Lichtenstein, San Marino and even Faroe?

The problem with that is that a couple of the lower ranked sides would still go through to the qualifying groups to be beaten heavily each game.

However, if you ask any player from Andorra, Malta, San Marino etc I bet they love playing at grounds like Wembley and playing top class players.

Imagine being in your normal job but this weekend you're playing England at Wembley or Italy at San Siro etc you surely wouldn't mind losing by 6+ goals each time just to get them experiences.

[Zom Zom]

Are you all sure that the players, staff and supporters of San Marino don’t absolutely relish playing sides like England?

Fair comment. But getting thumped game after game will not help them develop one jot.

[boatshed bill]

They wouldn’t win a pre-qualifying group though would they.

Probably not.

I'm listening to Wright and Keane at present, they are clearly less than happy with SM and their ability at this level.

[Rileybobs]

Fair comment. But getting thumped game after game will not help them develop one jot.

How do you know? I would have thought they’d learn a hell of a lot by playing against some of the best players in the world.

I’m not exactly enamoured that we get such mismatches, but let’s not pretend that we’d be doing the likes of San Marino a favour by putting them into a pre-qualification group.

[boatshed bill]

How do you know? I would have thought they’d learn a hell of a lot by playing against some of the best players in the world.

I’m not exactly enamoured that we get such mismatches, but let’s not pretend that we’d be doing the likes of San Marino a favour by putting them into a pre-qualification group.

I think it's FIFA who want an "inclusive" competition, and I believe they saw it as a way of bringing these smaller countries on.
I guess we'd have to look at the overall success rate of these tiny nations to see if this is a success.
Perhaps it will be one day

[houseboy]

I’m sensing a bit of arrogance in this thread. If people don’t like these games don’t watch them. A lot of people don’t want Burnley in the PL, so should we be kicked out? And please don’t say it’s not the same, the attitude is exactly the same. I expect arrogance and entitlement from Chelsea fans or Arsenal fans etc. but not from Clarets. If players of these teams feel embarrassed they don’t have to play but I bet they are queueing up.

[ClaretTony]

I’m sensing a bit of arrogance in this thread. If people don’t like these games don’t watch them. A lot of people don’t want Burnley in the PL, so should we be kicked out? And please don’t say it’s not the same, the attitude is exactly the same. I expect arrogance and entitlement from Chelsea fans or Arsenal fans etc. but not from Clarets. If players of these teams feel embarrassed they don’t have to play but I bet they are queueing up.

Huge difference - we are able to compete in the Premier League

[Devils_Advocate]

The League of Nations is set up to give competitive matches where the lower ranked sides are grouped with each other

[diamondpocket]

How do you know? I would have thought they’d learn a hell of a lot by playing against some of the best players in the world.

I’m not exactly enamoured that we get such mismatches, but let’s not pretend that we’d be doing the likes of San Marino a favour by putting them into a pre-qualification group.

Yeah coz history suggests they are learning fast!! Come on, who cares what kind of experience it is for them, it's embarrassing and a waste of time.

[diamondpocket]

I’m sensing a bit of arrogance in this thread. If people don’t like these games don’t watch them. A lot of people don’t want Burnley in the PL, so should we be kicked out? And please don’t say it’s not the same, the attitude is exactly the same. I expect arrogance and entitlement from Chelsea fans or Arsenal fans etc. but not from Clarets. If players of these teams feel embarrassed they don’t have to play but I bet they are queueing up.

it's not even the same game - we are there on merit coz we survive every year & earn our place there. These kids have been bottom of their qualifying group since they started playing! They are there because it's an international country competition, not on merit!

[houseboy]

I think it's FIFA who want an "inclusive" competition, and I believe they saw it as a way of bringing these smaller countries on.
I guess we'd have to look at the overall success rate of these tiny nations to see if this is a success.
Perhaps it will be one day

Excellent post. There was a time when we might thrash an African nation...not now mostly. Not too long ago we’d expect to hammer Iceland...the less said about that the better maybe. Even the US were footballing Minnows not that long ago. To use an old chess saying...you only get better by playing players better than you. The same is true of any game or sport.

[boatshed bill]

Having played, and often lost, many games of football I can honestly say that I've only ever learned one thing by getting absolutely hammered...
Drop down a division

[diamondpocket]

the minnow nations that have got better is because they have invested in their grass roots and infrastructure in producing better players, not because their senior teams have got battered for many years! Iceland & Finland are prime examples.

[boatshed bill]

the minnow nations that have got better is because they have invested in their grass roots and infrastructure in producing better players, not because their senior teams have got battered for many years! Iceland & Finland are prime examples.

Absolutely.
However, I don't see how a country the size of Rochdale could ever do this.

[Rileybobs]

Absolutely.
However, I don't see how a country the size of Rochdale could ever do this.

Maybe they could invade Italy.

[boatshed bill]

Maybe they could invade Italy.

With the smallest army in world history

I suppose they could give San Marino nationality to some decent players, they could have a half decent FL championship quality side in 20 years!

[Stayingup]

San Marino. Its about the size of Nelson. Hopeless mis match and frankly pointless.

[Rileybobs]

With the smallest army in world history

I suppose they could give San Marino nationality to some decent players, they could have a half decent FL championship quality side in 20 years!

The whole of Italy will be watching their WC qualifying knockout game in a few months time. The last thing they’ll be expecting or prepared for is an invasion.

[KRBFC]

Some of the smaller nations have really improved, Faroe, Luxembourg, Latvia, Macedonia. It looks impossible for San Marino to improve anytime soon, they deserve the same opportunity however.

[Silkyskills1]

The League of Nations is set up to give competitive matches where the lower ranked sides are grouped with each other

Thought it was a failed international organisation that was ultimately a cause of world war 2.

[Devils_Advocate]

Haha I should be more careful about which way round I put my words, I dont want to start WW3

[Alanstevensonsgloves]

If the tiny countries were showing any improvement then there would be an argument for their inclusion, but they are not.

Dont tell that to the Jocks after their result tonight!