Weak international teams - remove from qualifiers?

[Daveysgingerlovechild]

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?

 

[Nymzee]

Stick them all in their own group.

 

[Alanbileysfeathercut]

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.

 

[Daveysgingerlovechild]

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.

Yeah, that's a fair point re: revenue.

Maybe @Nymzee is on the money here. Let them have their own group and a genuine chance 0f qualifying. Of course, that might mean a bigger team missing out with fewer more competive groups. Unlucky.

 

[BlueStevie35]

Definitely needs something doing, some of the teams that were seen as whipping boys have shown some improvement like Luxembourg, Albania and North Macedonia, the latter of which are a playoff away from a second successive tournament, then you have San Marino, Lichtenstein and, to a lesser extent, Gibraltar who are there to merely exist and not make any effort whatsoever

 

[summerisle]

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.

It's what the ICC does for the T20 and 50 over cricket World Cups. It makes obvious sense so of course it won't happen.

 

[daza_1973]

Should imagine Liechtenstein need all the football related income they can get their hands on to prop up their gdp.

 

[zukai12_]

It's just the way Europe is as a continent though

There are lots of small contries with low populations

FIFA and UEFA wont want any big teams missing out - would affect thier revenue

 

[Bruce Wayne]

We can't get rid of poor teams though as it'd reveal that Southgate is more lucky than good.

 

[duncs pigeon]

Should follow the format of the Nations League imo.

 

[Nymzee]

Yeah, that's a fair point re: revenue.

Maybe @Nymzee is on the money here. Let them have their own group and a genuine chance 0f qualifying. Of course, that might mean a bigger team missing out with fewer more competive groups. Unlucky.

We’ll end up with like a bloody 50 team World Cup anyway at some point so I’m sure one more dross team won’t matter. Or maybe the winner of this amateur group goes into the play-offs instead of straight to the Tournament.

 

[MikeH72]

We can't get rid of poor teams though as it'd reveal that Southgate is more lucky than good.

Everyone already knows that.

 

[Nymzee]

Everyone already knows that.

Whether he’s lucky or good he’s still our most successful manager since we won the World Cup.

 

[Daveysgingerlovechild]

We’ll end up with like a bloody 50 team World Cup anyway at some point so I’m sure one more dross team won’t matter. Or maybe the winner of this amateur group goes into the play-offs instead of straight to the Tournament.

I'd prefer less teams qualifying and more intense and competitive qualifiers if I'm honest.

 

[MikeH72]

Whether he’s lucky or good he’s still our most successful manager since we won the World Cup.

The generation of talent we have now deserves better than him.