San Marino...and other minnows.

[Goring-by-Seagull]

13 teams in each division (would be well over 10 divisions), would take 2 years to complete a season with 1 game every 4 weeks, top 2 up - next 4 in play offs, bottom 3 down. No end of season break - just keep going 1 game every 4 weeks. play offs tho all happen in a 2 week period at nuetral grounds halfway inbetween the nations. e.g. australia v scotland would happen in libya ;-)

You had best get on the blower to Mr Blatter, you seem to have given this a lot (possibly too much) thought haha!

 

[mistahclarke]

Surely time for preliminary rounds for the minnows?

Malta, Faroe Islands, San Marino, Andorra, Lichtenstein, Scotland...

pfffttt. in recent years Malta have:
Beaten - Japan, Hungary,Georgia, Leichenstein 7-1
Drawn with - Croatia, Bulgaria, Northern Ireland, Austria, Turkey,Albania, Switzerland

Not in the same league as San Marino.

 

[brighton_tom]

You say it got you thinking. Sorry chap but I take it you're no Einstein?

Apologies for trying to start a conversation about the varying levels of football around the world. Obviously in San Marino's case it will be down to low population, but the rankings and quality of football don't always follow that logic. A random country like Montenegro, which has a population of just over 600,000, is ranked 28th in the world... and other larger countries can be found towards the bottom of the rankings.

Sorry if ive offended you're obviously vast intelligence. ****.

 

[cloud]

I think it's time for pre-qualifying for these crap nations, to root out some of the shite before the proper teams join in and so cut down on these waste of time games.

Might be one-sided, but they're still a good chance for players to get caps, experience and international goals.

Anyone from San Marino who was half-decent would have dual nationality and want to play for Italy

 

[TonyBloomsPokerFace]

Watching the England game and the level football you see from San Marino really is appalling.. Its 5-0 at the moment and looks like it could end up being a cricket score.

Love the phrase 'a cricket score', always makes me laugh. The pedant in me thinks, surely any score can be considered a cricket score? A football match reaching what I call actual cricket score proportions would be outrageous "England beat San Marino 403-9"!

 

[TheJasperCo]

What would their equivalent level in England be? Ryman? County League?

Women's non-league might give them a run for their money.

 

[salty seagull]

They are hardly minnows, San Marinos team was packed with internationals.

 

[Absolute_Disgrace]

i was masturbating furiously as the 5th trickled in

 

[Ali_rrr]

See, I think there should be a tournament for these smaller teams, give them a taste of success. Like have all the 5th pot and 6th pot teams compete in a tournament.

 

[MattBackHome]

As a former resident of the last of the Italian city-republics (apart from San Marino) to lose its independence (crushed by the Florentines in 1559), I have to defend the right of the Sammarinesi to take their rightful place among the nations of the world. They make a huge contribution to world football, simply by offering opportunities to any team that has the wit to score bucketfuls of goals the chance to qualify by virtue of better goal difference. That shouldn't be sniffed at.

You've spent time in Italy? Why haven't you mention it before?

 

[Robot Chicken]

Why don't San Marino do what Monaco have done by becoming a league side, and then join the Italian league!

 

[aldershot village]

USA and Mexico to play Pre lim games then? Beating the likes of Barbados and St Kitts and Nevis is hardly a tough route to a World Cup.It will end up just like The Champions league ,i'm sorry the big sides should have to play the minnows.

 

[turienzo's lovechild]

Simple solution for me:

-Take the bottom 8 teams in Uefa.
-Every 2 years (same time as World Cup/Euros) have a tournament between the 8.
-Winner and runner up Qualifies for the proper qualifying.

Pros:
-provides these countries with winnable gaames, giving them tge chance to rise in the rankings and raise interest in the sport
-gives them a chance of winning a trophy
-cuts the number of games for the other nations

NO BRAINER

 

[turienzo's lovechild]

USA and Mexico to play Pre lim games then? Beating the likes of Barbados and St Kitts and Nevis is hardly a tough route to a World Cup.It will end up just like The Champions league ,i'm sorry the big sides should have to play the minnows.

There is preliminary qualification innorth america as far as i'm aware....usa and mexico are by far the best sides in that region

Interesting you mention the champion league...a tourament with pre qualification

 

[aldershot village]

There is preliminary qualification innorth america as far as i'm aware....usa and mexico are by far the best sides in that region

Interesting you mention the champion league...a tourament with pre qualification

I'm talking of The old European cup when even the likes of Linfield got to the Quarter Final's,The big boy's should alway's play the minnows

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

The big boy's should alway's play the minnows

This. It is a useful morale boost for England.

 

[Silkster365]

Get yourself the book "soccernomics" - a very good read and explains exactly this scenario very well

 

[hybrid_x]

the whole format of international football is really lame - i have found it really hard to get motivated for any tournament in years - when mcdonalds, visa, and housewives all come out........pah...

the champions league is the best level of football on the planet by miles. international football is dying........for me anyway.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

the champions league is the best level of football on the planet by miles. international football is dying........for me anyway.

Why is it dying? It's the other way round for me. I rarely watch Champions League but do watch the Euros and the World Cup.

 

[supaseagull]

Why is it dying? It's the other way round for me. I rarely watch Champions League but do watch the Euros and the World Cup.

Same here- I find the champions league dull and uninspiring. However with the Euros and World Cup I watch every game I can as there is always a good chance of an upset.