This was always the questioning behind Harry Kane. How many goals would some of our former goal scores had if they regularly played against that lot.Where do you draw the line though ?
Luxembourg, Faroe Islands, San Marino Lichtenstein, Scotland All minnows, unlikely to get anywhere near a major tournament finals.
Perhaps a pre qualifying group of the lightweights where the top 2 gain entry to a qualifying group ?
A chap I know, a City fan who lives in Nottingham, goes to all the Gibraltar games.
Interesting point well made. I must admit of having the view of the original poster but....Gibraltar's record is..
Played 75.
Won 8
Drawn 9
Lost 58.
FIFA ranking 200 of 211.
Whilst Gibraltar and their likes are canon fodder for most nations, I believe the importance of their participation should not be dismissed.
Like lots of sports ( cricket and rugby) there are many minor nations that play them.
Should we be so arrogant that they are not worthy of taking their place?
When the formation of the European Super League was announced, I am sure we all recall the horror it presented to clubs like ourselves who are not in the elite bracket.
Surely it's having the hopes and dreams that make sport great.
When Leicester City took its place in the CL it provided an experience that no Leicester fan will ever forget. It's unlikely that we will be doing that again any day soon, but it's always having that goal and dream that drives you on.
When the ESL was announced it was effectively closing the door on competition.
If you close the door then you are killing the ambitions of the vast majority of clubs and their fans.
Football without promotion or relegation would quickly become a dreary bore fest.
We ourselves are the greatest example of achieving the impossible, and what would sport be without it's shocks ?
Of course Gibraltar itself is a long way from being a strong footballing nation, but where ever someone is in the rankings it does not stop them wanting to achieve things. England would love to win a trophy. Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland all want to be involved in tournament finals. Lithuania, Albania, Israel all want to challenge in their groups. Gibraltar, San Marino, Lichtenstein would all like to be the same as Lithuania, Albania and Israel.
So when we sneeringly look down on these lesser nations, just try and remember that we should never take their hopes and dreams away.
Gibraltar's record is..
Played 75.
Won 8
Drawn 9
Lost 58.
FIFA ranking 200 of 211.
Whilst Gibraltar and their likes are canon fodder for most nations, I believe the importance of their participation should not be dismissed.
Like lots of sports ( cricket and rugby) there are many minor nations that play them.
Should we be so arrogant that they are not worthy of taking their place?
When the formation of the European Super League was announced, I am sure we all recall the horror it presented to clubs like ourselves who are not in the elite bracket.
Surely it's having the hopes and dreams that make sport great.
When Leicester City took its place in the CL it provided an experience that no Leicester fan will ever forget. It's unlikely that we will be doing that again any day soon, but it's always having that goal and dream that drives you on.
When the ESL was announced it was effectively closing the door on competition.
If you close the door then you are killing the ambitions of the vast majority of clubs and their fans.
Football without promotion or relegation would quickly become a dreary bore fest.
We ourselves are the greatest example of achieving the impossible, and what would sport be without it's shocks ?
Of course Gibraltar itself is a long way from being a strong footballing nation, but where ever someone is in the rankings it does not stop them wanting to achieve things. England would love to win a trophy. Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland all want to be involved in tournament finals. Lithuania, Albania, Israel all want to challenge in their groups. Gibraltar, San Marino, Lichtenstein would all like to be the same as Lithuania, Albania and Israel.
So when we sneeringly look down on these lesser nations, just try and remember that we should never take their hopes and dreams away.
I didn't see any of the game, but i doubt I would be far wrong in saying they spent most of the 90 minutes defending for their lives. Playing the Dutch on their own patch is a real tough ask for a team such as Gibraltar. I would imagine they were well pleased with 0-3.
The problem they have is the moment they break ranks and try to go forward, they are easy pickings for superior players to pick them off.
Nice subtle jab at the porridge jockeys although it’s pretty fair to be honest !Where do you draw the line though ?
Luxembourg, Faroe Islands, San Marino Lichtenstein, Scotland All minnows, unlikely to get anywhere near a major tournament finals.
Perhaps a pre qualifying group of the lightweights where the top 2 gain entry to a qualifying group ?
Nice subtle jab at the porridge jockeys although it’s pretty fair to be honest !
True but they’re a shadow of the Iniesta, Ramos , Casilla side these days.Until they beat Spain last night!!
Of course, and, remember just how well ITALY performed at the last World Cup.True but they’re a shadow of the Iniesta, Ramos , Casilla side these days.
Until they beat Spain last night!!
I read the other day. Taking away the minnows and penalties he's scored 4 goals of significance in an England shirt.This was always the questioning behind Harry Kane. How many goals would some of our former goal scores had if they regularly played against that lot.
We took our place in the CL on merit, not merely by existing.Gibraltar's record is..
Played 75.
Won 8
Drawn 9
Lost 58.
FIFA ranking 200 of 211.
Whilst Gibraltar and their likes are canon fodder for most nations, I believe the importance of their participation should not be dismissed.
Like lots of sports ( cricket and rugby) there are many minor nations that play them.
Should we be so arrogant that they are not worthy of taking their place?
When the formation of the European Super League was announced, I am sure we all recall the horror it presented to clubs like ourselves who are not in the elite bracket.
Surely it's having the hopes and dreams that make sport great.
When Leicester City took its place in the CL it provided an experience that no Leicester fan will ever forget. It's unlikely that we will be doing that again any day soon, but it's always having that goal and dream that drives you on.
When the ESL was announced it was effectively closing the door on competition.
If you close the door then you are killing the ambitions of the vast majority of clubs and their fans.
Football without promotion or relegation would quickly become a dreary bore fest.
We ourselves are the greatest example of achieving the impossible, and what would sport be without it's shocks ?
Of course Gibraltar itself is a long way from being a strong footballing nation, but where ever someone is in the rankings it does not stop them wanting to achieve things. England would love to win a trophy. Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland all want to be involved in tournament finals. Lithuania, Albania, Israel all want to challenge in their groups. Gibraltar, San Marino, Lichtenstein would all like to be the same as Lithuania, Albania and Israel.
So when we sneeringly look down on these lesser nations, just try and remember that we should never take their hopes and dreams away.
We took our place in the CL on merit, not merely by existing.
I personally think there should be a two level qualification system based on rankings.
I remember going to see England thrash Luxembourg 9-0 (last time i went to a game), it was fun, but hardly a footballing spectacle as it was so one sided.
And since then the so called big 6 have pulled their socks up in both league and Europe.We did get CL on merit, but if you read the OP then the discussion was about the worthiness of a team being in a competition. The point I made was that every team should be allowed to dream.
Do you think the authorities and games elite want the Leicester Cities in the CL ? Of course they don't. What was the discussion when we were in the competition? It was that Leicester would ruin England's euro coefficient. What happened? We were the last English team left standing.