New International Football thread

[sussexpob]

The current World Champions failed to beat Luxembourg in a competitive match recently, in fact Luxembourg were a strip of paint on the goal post away from scoring a late winner. While the majority of these games always end in battering's, every now and then a team springs a surprise, and who is to take that away from any nation? Luxembourgers will probably remember that day they nearly beat France for the rest of their lives.

I mean, Faroe Islands have in recent times beaten a former WC finalist and a European championship winner in two separate games, so I guess that isnt that bad. And 10 years ago we would have said the same thing as Iceland, then they beat England, Holland and forced draws v Portugal and Argentina in major tournaments. 300,000 odd population, tip of the hat to them.

[Durhamfootman]

England thump San Marino, naturally.

I do have to question the whole set-up, really. Why are nations like San Marino, Andorra, Faroes etc. their own teams, and why do they play qualifying matches against the likes of England, Germany and Belgium? Just wastes everybody's time. Half the time the victories against the lowest ranked team in the group seem to be disregarded anyway, rendering it completely pointless.

not sure 5-0 is a thumping, tbh. Feels like 5 goals short to me.

as to why.... they put a bit of goals pressure on teams that might otherwise rock up and do just enough to secure an easy win. Many moons ago now (1993) England went into the final game of the qualifiers knowing they had to beat San Marino by 7 clear goals to still be in with a chance of qualifying for the world cup, because their goal difference was much worse than other teams. Unfortunately SM scored almost from the kick off (after 8.3 seconds to be precise) and while England did score 7 goals for a 7-1 win, that goal, scored when Pearce cocked up his backpass while the other players were still fiddling with their underwear and checking their laces were tight, meant they failed to qualify and cost Graham Taylor his job

[sussexpob]

We might have scored ten if Southgate didn't play two defensive midfielders. Only that complete doughnut would be scared of San Marino's taxi driver by day number 10, and set up like he's playing Brazil in 1970.

I say defensive midfielders, but the Leeds lad is a hybrid centre back. Words fail me at times. When this total plank wastes a generation of excellent young talent in the next decade, it's going to be great to watch

[Gingerfinch]

We should have had 10 tbh. Poor finishing, mainly from Lingard stopped it being a complete trouncing.

These games are totally pointless. We could have scored 15 and it wouldn't have mattered.

[bigfluffylemon]

Not sure how convincing it is that the best argument is 'occasionally they spring an upset', when the vast majority are trouncings. If San Marino's greatest achievement is the 6 second goal 28 years ago in a 7-1 loss, that only stopped England going through because they didn't thrash them as much as other teams had, that's not the greatest endorsement.

I'm not saying these nations shouldn't play football, far from it. It just seems to me to be largely a waste of everyone's time to have them in open tournament qualifying groups every two years. Why not structure things more like the UEFA league (or substitute that, even), so they can play more against teams of like ability. The best can progress to subsequent rounds, and if a team does pull itself up, like Iceland, it would still get the chance to advance, play against and beat the better teams. Would just greatly reduce the number of one-sided bore fests.

I think it would probably help the teams themselves as well - surely you have more to get out of playing opposition you can compete with, rather than lining up week after week to lose heavily.

[sussexpob]

I'll make sure to ask Anthony Moris next time I see him in the Club House having a celebratory post match drink with the Union fans, what he thinks to notions he'd be better served not playing against teams like Ireland.

He will probably remind me about a certain time he blocked a few shots against Ireland away, and pulled off the best win his country have ever achieved in football, him being the clean sheet hero guarding the goal.

Actually I'm not going to ask him, I'm just going to buy him a drink and congratulate him for his achievement.

And while I'm at it, I might buy Teddy Tuema one for Malta's fine away draw in Slovakia.

We have different opinions, but these lads are proud to play for crap countries. It's nice on nights like this to see them post on social media happy to get results, even if it's rare. Teddy is a top lad, meant a lot to him to get his first Malta cap last year.

[Durhamfootman]

straightforward win for England. Not much to get excited about. Sterling was a bit off the pace tonight, but Kane had a good game, I thought. Saw something that said Pope has yet to concede a goal in his first 6 matches as England keeper, but I have no idea about the truth of that.

2 defensive mids again, so it looks as though this is the preferred formation and they are getting in practice playing it ahead of the Euro's in June...... hey.... why wouldn't it work....... after all it worked so well in the Nations League

[sussexpob]

Albania made it tough at times, got physical and really ran at England. England slowly broke them down.... Kane was ok, should have buried that chance in the second half, but at least his interchanges up top got things going.

If Ward Prowse could pass, England could have scored 3 times in the first 5 minutes he came on

[Durhamfootman]

yes, they were good opportunities that went begging for the want of a simple pass

Mount's goal was well taken, I thought

[sussexpob]

yes, they were good opportunities that went begging for the want of a simple pass

Mount's goal was well taken, I thought

Turning into a useful player Mount. Especially now Chelsea dont have a useless manager.

[Durhamfootman]

Lewandowski has returned to Germany for treatment to ligament damage picked up at the weekend. England will be pretty happy about that, I should imagine

[sussexpob]

Lewandowski has returned to Germany for treatment to ligament damage picked up at the weekend. England will be pretty happy about that, I should imagine

Excellent news for England.

[Gingerfinch]

Lewandowski has returned to Germany for treatment to ligament damage picked up at the weekend. England will be pretty happy about that, I should imagine

Excellent news for England.

Maguire would have been fine!!!

[yuppie]

It could have been a re run of when Ryan Shawcross vs Zlatan......

[Durhamfootman]

old Zlatan is making a comeback, i believe. I think he fancies giving Stanley Mathews a run for his money