England v Albania

[Elite_Pie]

Surprised there’s no thread yet but certainly not what I expected from the first half. Walk in the park and anyone worried about Kane’s form in front of goal can relax. Hope tomorrow follows a similar pattern, for Kane read Wootton.

On the evidence of that half, I'd rather be playing Albania than Solihull Moors tomorrow!

[CamPie]

On the evidence of that half, I'd rather be playing Albania than Solihull Moors tomorrow!

Yeah - they’d be a bit knackered after two games in 24 hours ��

[lunaspie]

Yeah - they’d be a bit knackered after two games in 24 hours ��

They would indeed be Balkan at the idea.

[Elite_Pie]

It's time FIFA had a rethink about these qualifying games, because San Marino v England has been a farce. The minnow nations deserve a chance, but surely it has to be though a preliminary qualifying round. These complete mismatches are an embarrassment to all concerned.

[uysapie]

It's time FIFA had a rethink about these qualifying games, because San Marino v England has been a farce. The minnow nations deserve a chance, but surely it has to be though a preliminary qualifying round. These complete mismatches are an embarrassment to all concerned.

10-0 so far, ridiculous. Some minnows are just cannon fodder

[Notts78]

It's time FIFA had a rethink about these qualifying games, because San Marino v England has been a farce. The minnow nations deserve a chance, but surely it has to be though a preliminary qualifying round. These complete mismatches are an embarrassment to all concerned.

I wonder if San Marino think the same? I would hazard a guess that tonight was one of there bigger attendances and money earners.
The reality is that most games in the qualifying games are one sided affairs but that doesn’t mean they are completely pointless. Teams need to be given the chance to improve, but let’s not penalise countries that simply don’t have the resources to compete. It’s a bigger game for them than it would be for countries like us.

[uysapie]

I wonder if San Marino think the same? I would hazard a guess that tonight was one of there bigger attendances and money earners.
The reality is that most games in the qualifying games are one sided affairs but that doesn’t mean they are completely pointless. Teams need to be given the chance to improve, but let’s not penalise countries that simply don’t have the resources to compete. It’s a bigger game for them than it would be for countries like us.

You mean a bit like us drawing Man City at home in the cup?

[Elite_Pie]

I wonder if San Marino think the same?

Of course they don't, but this game was like all teams entering the FA Cup starting as equals in Round 1. Hucknall Town would love to play Man U, but it would be a total mismatch and would clog up the fixture list. If tiny teams want to play the big teams they should earn the right, just like we now have to win through 3 rounds to get the chance of an FA Cup tie against one of the big names.

[nw6pie]

Of course they don't, but this game was like all teams entering the FA Cup starting as equals in Round 1. Hucknall Town would love to play Man U, but it would be a total mismatch and would clog up the fixture list. If tiny teams want to play the big teams they should earn the right, just like we now have to win through 3 rounds to get the chance of an FA Cup tie against one of the big names.

Agree with this. The Nations League has been a success because it's teams at the same level competing against each other.

I think San Marino ended up with a goal difference of -45 (scored 1; conceded 46), which is ridiculous and helps nobody - especially the San Marino keeper's overworked orthopedist.

Time for a rethink, especially if FIFA is serious about holding the World Cup every two years - which is worthy of another thread in its own right.

Talking of World Cups, I see the Championship is pausing from Nov. 13 to Dec. 9 next year, but the leagues below will carry on as per usual:

https://www.skysports.com/football/n...-will-continue

One thing that might - and hopefully will - affect us is that the EFL starts on July 30 next season.

[jacobncfc]

I wonder if San Marino think the same? I would hazard a guess that tonight was one of there bigger attendances and money earners.
The reality is that most games in the qualifying games are one sided affairs but that doesn’t mean they are completely pointless. Teams need to be given the chance to improve, but let’s not penalise countries that simply don’t have the resources to compete. It’s a bigger game for them than it would be for countries like us.

This. Playing San Marino is obviously pointless for England, but not everything is about what it means for England or the bigger teams. That game brings in lots of money to San Marino through television rights and a sell-out crowd, which their FA can then reinvest into improving their pitches, coaching and infrastructure.

Is it a great spectacle? Not at all, but thankfully the way European qualifying works is that there’s been several really exciting, close groups and a couple of shocks already.