San Marino have taken the lead in a football match!

TeaCider

TeaCider

Well-known member
Screenshot_20240320_200818_LiveScore.jpg

For one of the only times in their entire history.

Their one and only win was a 1-0 against Liechtenstein in 2004.

They famously took the lead against England in 1993 too.
 
TeaCider said:
Mixing them up with Luxembourg?
Click to expand...

Luxembourg (pop. 660k)are still in with a chance of qualifying for the Euros.

I don't want to stamp on their ambition, but they did lose to Portugal by a combined score of 15-0 over 2 matches in qualifying. I think that crosses the line regarding the quality of team that should be qualifying for a tournament.
 
Frozen Horse said:
Luxembourg (pop. 660k)are still in with a chance of qualifying for the Euros.

I don't want to stamp on their ambition, but they did lose to Portugal by a combined score of 15-0 over 2 matches in qualifying. I think that crosses the line regarding the quality of team that should be qualifying for a tournament.
Click to expand...
Remember when Iceland (Pop. 390k) knocked England out of the 2016 Euros and got themselves into a QF 👀
 
Frozen Horse said:
Luxembourg (pop. 660k)are still in with a chance of qualifying for the Euros.

I don't want to stamp on their ambition, but they did lose to Portugal by a combined score of 15-0 over 2 matches in qualifying. I think that crosses the line regarding the quality of team that should be qualifying for a tournament.
Click to expand...
Nope, all nations are in it and if they qualify then good luck to them. International football shouldn't be a clique for the better standard teams.

Leave that to the FA.
 
To be fair, I think it would be good to have a "Minor Nations European Championships" or something. Give those sorts of nations a chance to play each other in competitive matches and a chance of winning a tournament. Like the Paint Trophy.

It could be played in World Cup years so in between the main Euro Championships.
 
Corcaigh_the_Cat said:
Nope, all nations are in it and if they qualify then good luck to them. International football shouldn't be a clique for the better standard teams.

Leave that to the FA.
Click to expand...

Yes, I suppose if they're not good enough to qualify, we have to trust that they'll get knocked out before the finals.
I do think 24 qualifiers is too many though. If a team that loses that heavily in qualifying still makes it, I don't really know what purpose the qualifiers serve.

I don't base my concern on population size: Iceland is smaller and were worthy of their place. I said that just for context re: San Marino etc.
They were good enough to qualify for that tournament has it been 16 teams: they made it to the last 8, I seem to remember.
 
Frozen Horse said:
Yes, I suppose if they're not good enough to qualify, we have to trust that they'll get knocked out before the finals.
I do think 24 qualifiers is too many though. If a team that loses that heavily in qualifying still makes it, I don't really know what purpose the qualifiers serve.

I don't base my concern on population size: Iceland is smaller and were worthy of their place. I said that just for context re: San Marino etc.
They were good enough to qualify for that tournament has it been 16 teams: they made it to the last 8, I seem to remember.
Click to expand...
There's pros and cons of a 24 team tournament compared to a 16 team tournament.

A 24 team tournament gives about an extra 20 matches which means more tickets available etc which I think is a big positive. Of course it means there will be lesser quality matches in the group stage but so be it. They are no weaker than the matches we see in the World Cup group stage.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top