Netherlands vs Gibraltar

LGFOX

LGFOX

Roofer
Only 3-0 but the Dutch incredibly had 50 shots!! Gib a big fat zero. 19 corners to nil. What’s the point. A complete joke
 
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 ?
 
Brauny said:
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 ?
Click to expand...
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.
 
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.
 
Brauny said:
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.
Click to expand...
Interesting point well made. I must admit of having the view of the original poster but....
 
Last edited:
Brauny said:
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.
Click to expand...

You make a very good point and you’re right. I just worry that they’re not developing by being ‘thrashed’ on most occasions.
I do love some of the stories though. The Telegraph reporter a few years ago landing in Gibraltar going to see the Lincoln Red Imps ( the biggest club side there) play Celtic in the CL.
Asked the taxi driver on the way to the hotel if he was going to the match

‘Going? I’m playing in it. I’m the centre half!
 
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.
 
Surely the early rounds need to be like the FA cup where there is at least a fighting chance to the minnows in a knockout competition
 
Brauny said:
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.
Click to expand...


To be fair they also played the last 40 mins with only 10 men. 50 shots but only 3 goals. I imagine the Dutch manager was fuming
 
Used to work in the office next door to the ground (The ominously named World Trade Centre). Was a fella on the trading team who played for em at the time.
 
Brauny said:
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 ?
Click to expand...
Nice subtle jab at the porridge jockeys although it’s pretty fair to be honest !
 
LGFOX said:
Until they beat Spain last night!!
Click to expand...

Great result for them.
For all the rivalry, and imo it's more of a one sided rivalry, I personally would love to see them at a major finals. Their fans would bring something to a tournament and I would sooner have them there rather than the likes of Slovakia and Slovenia .
If you want a good watch, try ' Scotland 78 a love story '.on YouTube .
All about Ally MacLeod's excellent Scotland team and their fans Argentinian adventure. It's a great story from Ally MacLeods optimism of believing they could win the WC, to the hardships that fans endured just to get there.
The shambles of the hotel and a rough field which was their training facility.
It seemed as if MacLeod didn't care about the opponents just purely concentrating on what Scotland could do. Of course it all went tits up, they underestimated Peru, were humiliated by Iran. The fans who were all taken in by MacLeods pre WC optimism, turned their backs on them.
Then all too little too late they beat the star studded Dutch courtesy of that Archie Gemmel wonder goal.
Throw in Willie Johnstons drug scandal and it's well worth an hour of your time
 
AlgarFox said:
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.
Click to expand...
I read the other day. Taking away the minnows and penalties he's scored 4 goals of significance in an England shirt.
 
Brauny said:
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.
Click to expand...
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.
 
Tuz_Not_Tuzz said:
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.
Click to expand...

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.
 
Brauny said:
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.
Click to expand...
And since then the so called big 6 have pulled their socks up in both league and Europe.
 
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