EURO qualification reshuffle

Do you think the qualification for the Euro Cup should be changed, so that minnows such as Andorra, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Faroe Islands, Kazakhstan, Malta, Cyprus etc have to play each other first before qualifying into groups with the larger European nations?

I think it should be changed. Matches for big teams against these are nearly always pointless... we occasionally see a low result but hardly ever an upset and its just silly. It can't help the nations either to get thrashed again and again. If they play each other at least then there will be actual competition!

After the England-Andorra game it's a fair question. That game was pointless and even dangerous for the players. You cannot expect players from Andorra to have anywhere near the same levels of fitness as countries where all the players are playing in the major European leagues so they are much more likely to pick up serious injuries, or mistime tackles on opponents causing injury.

The problem is how do you define small. Northern Ireland must be considered a small country, Their FIFA ranking in July 2005 was 112, only a few places above Andorra. Then they go and beat England and jump 30 odd places. Most of their players play in the English or Scottish Leagues so they should really be allowed to compete. The Faroe Islands have caused Scotland problems in the past etc. Having a two tier competition deprives Countries of revenue that their home associations need to develop the sport and the fans of football the joy they get when another country struggles against a minnow.

On the other hand, there are over 50 Nations in UEFA now which suggests that the competition in its present format is just too big. It just seems unfair to discriminate on the basis of FIFA rankings, which as far as I can see is the only way you can decide who the smaller nations are, as the rankings can change so quickly and by alot.

I think there should be a pre-qualifying tournament for the lesser nations, maybe the crappest 8 of them and the top 2/3 group get rewarded by being able to qualify for the Euros outright.

every team should play on the same level.
its a big thing for these team to play teams like: France, Italy, England, Germany and Denmark if you take that away, what do they have??? and if you see spain lost to one of these bad teams (northen ireland) not too long ago.

But if you do this you will have almost none games and if you dont agree with N. Ireland what about a team like Trinidad and Tobago they almost played draw with England and Sweden so....... by the way Chelsea rules

Obviously it is very rare, that a team like san Marino and other teams like them can take from a team, and obviously they can’t take points from anyone but once in a while they do take points from teams maybe not the best teams but teams like N. Ireland who we have talk about before or Iceland and these teams are teams that a good day could take points from the big teams and just for a fact the Faeroe islands did get a point not to long ago (if you see from a national team perspective)aganst cypress.

imagine their kids saying "That's my dad down there loseing 13-0" hehehe yeah i see your point but just letting them play them i hope will inspire these kids you are talking about.