why are San Morino even in this

It's not the same at all. In fact I think it would only be fair if all teams in the FA Cup had to start at the 1st stage... But of course that would be quite impractical since there would be so many teams, so in this case it's a necessity that the league clubs enter the competition at the latter stages. But that's not really a problem in European national football, there aren't that many countries.

What do they bring to the table? A team full of players who are proud to represent their country for starters. Maybe one day San Marino or some other "nothing nation" will steal a point from three from you, will they still be a nothing nation then? Anyway, just calling them a nothing nation is already arrogant, not to mention rude and insulting, in my opinion at least...

 

Re: seriously wtf has that to do with it

Yes Wales were not very good but still too good for Scotland. FFS we have really hit rock bottom.
Just as well I do not give 2 fks about the embarrassment which is that Scotland.

I canna believe a the critisism you are all giving your team. You can only beat what is in front of you.

 

Re: seriously wtf has that to do with it

Some of the smaller nations are getting better, though.

I remember Cameroon as a kid. They were gash. But come Italia 90 they'd improved dramatically. And have since established themselves.

Look at Moldova, Belarus, and to some degree, the likes of New Zealand and Australia. Much tougher sides than they once were. The USA even.


But San Marino?

I've no issue with them being involved, but they're not likely to develop into anything better than your average bottom of the table Sunday league team.


Maybe this new Pope could put a few other things to one side and get the Vatican on the footballing map...

 

Re: seriously wtf has that to do with it

Ha Ha and a they teams wid still be too good for Scotland

 

Re: seriously wtf has that to do with it

Dunno how old you are Ian, but I remember Scotland being half decent as a youth.

Where and why did it go wrong?

On paper, they still look like they ought to be pushing the likes of Croatia, Wales and Belgium.

 

Re: seriously wtf has that to do with it

Whitey I'm 56 and seen it a before mate.
Scotland never fail to disappoint.

I have never been a fan of international football. Dundee United are and always will be my team. Club football IMO will always be more important.

ATM Scotland are just an embarrassment. TBH the Scottish press and the Infirm dictate what goes on at the highest level in the game here, and TBH they are making a right royal cnt of it.

I watched the Scotland game in the pub tonight and TBH when Wales scored very few people were too bothered such is the apathy surrounding the game here.

 

Tell you what though mate, I bet their fans can spell England, maybe we should know how to spell their Country`s name eh ? SAN MARINO.

 

Agree Dragon Tyke, after travelling to watch England play plenty of these tiny countries they're absolutely pointless and silly. All the lesser nations should play in preliminary rounds beforehand and then put the best of these into the actual qualifiers. No need to have Luxembourg, Faroe Islands, San Marino, Liechtenstein, Andorra etc...all in the qualifiers

 

There wasn't a world class team on the pitch, England are average.

 

They don't come in straight away though they play off against the other lower leagues first

 

San marino dont come into the world cup straight away. The try to qualify

 

Re: seriously wtf has that to do with it

Looking at some of the players in the Scotland squad I'm not surprised they're struggling to be honest.

 

I thought about this last night, problem is UEFA then need to be able to schedule another round of group games before the main qualifying starts.

 

That won't be difficult. I once went to watch England away at Andorra, played in the Olympic stadium in Barcelona, complete waste of time and effort and probably the worst trip I've ever been on.

 

Was it this match that England so comfortably won 2-0?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/7593908.stm

 

Little Englanders trying to dictate to the world which nations have the right to compete in an international tournament on the same equal footing? Not at all disturbed by this.

 

Try looking at it from their point of view though... These qualifiers against some of the "big nations" are most likely the only big games that most of their players and fans will ever experience. Yes, they almost always lose (but that's why the qualification groups are seeded so that it's not too unfair for the other teams), but every now and then they're capable of snatching a surprise draw or even a win, and these great results are what those fans are living for. Me and probably most of other Finnish football fans are still buzzing after last night's result, and we didn't even win!

Making the smaller nations play some preliminary qualification rounds before the proper qualifiers would just divide the "footballing family" even further, and that's exactly what is killing football in my opinion. You can't really compare club football to national football, but for example a small town club like Barnsley will never be on the same footing as some of the bigger clubs, so perhaps in England they should pump even more money into the Premier League football and forget all about the lower leagues and the smaller clubs like us? Or maybe they should pay a bit more attention to us as well and try to make the competition a little more equal for everyone? Which approach would you prefer?

 

Yes mate, scores irrelevant, we were ****. Other teams were comfortably turning them over, back then we struggled to batter anyone.

Quick edit, no l went to the one we won 3-0 l think it was, Nugent scored a tap in. You got the scores for the return fixtures in England? Or the final league table and their goals against column?

 

You're comparing championship to premiership akin to England playing San Marino/Andorra etc? And their supporters? Andorra had less than 50 at the game l went to, more of their officials were there.

 

But you should earn the right to play in big games by improving yourself or showing some form. It would be like Barnsley thinking we deserve to play teams like Manchester United in the premiership even though we don't as we aren't good enough to play at that level.