England Internationals - Andorra and Serbia

[Bert]

2 hours ago, CosbehFox said:

Was thinking this weekend how the constant expansion of tournament football has completely bored qualification. In my childhood, we'd have to play one major team every qualification campaign with another tricky underdog as well. I don't think FIFA/UEFA realise that this constant milking of the sport is one of the main causes so many are bored with it. If England **** this up over Serbia, they still have a likely playoff place via the Nations League. 

 

The South American qualifiers have 6 teams and another qualifying for a play-off. Literally seven out of 10 teams. The qualifiers in their format have zero tension to them. 

Even if we come 2nd in this group it’ll be a playoff as 2nd place gets that. But I’m sure we have more than enough to go through as group winners. 

[Leicesterpool]

Qualification is rigged to make sure the big times make it, this is why I'm not keen on seeding teams. I would love to see a random draw, like for example you could get group of death where say France, England, Spain, Germany, Netherlands and Belgium are drawn together. Then you could have really weak group like Andorra, Gilbratar, Northern Ireland, San Marino, Estonia and Luxembourg. Giving some of the weaker teams a chance... another idea i like is doing like a champions league format. Of course things like this won't happen due to money... they really on big nations at the tournaments with high profiled players and huge fan base.

[Super_horns]

The nations league does give smaller nations more of a chance now and the increase in number of teams qualifying .

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

Still get into the tournaments but when City were crap I was into every single England game no matter who they played because it felt like the only chance I'd have of seeing my side win something again before I died

[Leicesterpool]

I swear qualifying was more entertaining in the early to mid 2000s. Germany 5-1, Greece 2-2, Turkey 2-0. That era under Sven qualification seemed fun to watch especially when all England games were being played around the country. 

[Bert]

2 hours ago, Leicesterpool said:

I swear qualifying was more entertaining in the early to mid 2000s. Germany 5-1, Greece 2-2, Turkey 2-0. That era under Sven qualification seemed fun to watch especially when all England games were being played around the country. 

It goes back to a point earlier in the thread when there always seemed to be one huge game. Granted back then qualifying was less of a formality than it seems to be nowadays. I think partly because the money involved FIFA are desperate for all of the big nations to be there. 

[Guest Bilo]

2 hours ago, Bert said:

It goes back to a point earlier in the thread when there always seemed to be one huge game. Granted back then qualifying was less of a formality than it seems to be nowadays. I think partly because the money involved FIFA are desperate for all of the big nations to be there. 

Couple that with their desperation to expand the size of tournaments by taking the World Cup to 48 nations, and even group stages could be the same when we end up playing Uzbekistan and New Zealand, thereby making even World Cups dull as dishwater until the Round of 16 at the earliest.

Edited 8 September 2025 by Bilo

[whoareyaaa]

Glad he has dropped Rashford

Edited 9 September 2025 by whoareyaaa

[Lionator]

Tuchel needs to either shave his head or hope that we draw Turkey away in the next qualifying campaign. 

[The Year Of The Fox]

Anyone still awake?

[CosbehFox]

Expected the atmosphere far more hostile than this. Not helped by some of the most defensive tactics seen in a long time 

[Brainy]

On 08/09/2025 at 11:53, Leicesterpool said:

Qualification is rigged to make sure the big times make it, this is why I'm not keen on seeding teams. I would love to see a random draw, like for example you could get group of death where say France, England, Spain, Germany, Netherlands and Belgium are drawn together. Then you could have really weak group like Andorra, Gilbratar, Northern Ireland, San Marino, Estonia and Luxembourg. Giving some of the weaker teams a chance... another idea i like is doing like a champions league format. Of course things like this won't happen due to money... they really on big nations at the tournaments with high profiled players and huge fan base.

Give them a chance of what... Embarrassment on the main stage? 

[grobyfox1990]

England away end looks like normal people? I would’ve thought this would be prime for all the usual mouth breathers, they’ve not played for decades. That ‘Ashley’ lcfc flag is the only vaguely non inbred face I’ve ever seen at an England away match. 

[Guest Bilo]

4 minutes ago, Brainy said:

Give them a chance of what... Embarrassment on the main stage? 

You do want the best nations at a tournament. Brazil v Liechtenstein, England v Maldives and Argentina v St Vincent & The Grenadines would be a waste of time for all involved.

[RonnieTodger]

The aesthetic and moody stadium is the only reason I’m watching this. Looks like a qualifier from 2007.

[Brainy]

10 minutes ago, Bilo said:

You do want the best nations at a tournament. Brazil v Liechtenstein, England v Maldives and Argentina v St Vincent & The Grenadines would be a waste of time for all involved.

Yeah as much as we love an underdog, they have to have atleast earned it rather than getting lucky being placed in a group with other rubbish. It's not rigged at all in the current format. The 16 team Euros in the past was brilliant but the increase to 24 has allowed some newer countries to appear at the finals and not only did they qualify the correct way but they didn't embarrass themselves in the slightest (thinking Georgia and Albania)

Edited 9 September 2025 by Brainy

[RonnieTodger]

10 minutes ago, Bilo said:

You do want the best nations at a tournament. Brazil v Liechtenstein, England v Maldives and Argentina v St Vincent & The Grenadines would be a waste of time for all involved.

Danny Baker had a great idea for a tournament.

 

If you win you’re out. Basically to decide the worst team in the world . 

[Guest Bilo]

Just now, RonnieTodger said:

Danny Baker had a great idea for a tournament.

 

If you win you’re out. Basically to decide the worst team in the world . 

Scotland would somehow find a way to **** it up. 

[JonnyZeroFox]

Deserved, been excellent the last 10/15 minutes, great header 

[fazzyfox]

Rice on a plate for Kane !

[JonnyZeroFox]

This is much better, 2 nil.. more like it lads 

[fazzyfox]

Yesss Gerrinn there ! 

[Bert]

We’ve been really good. On the front foot, always looking to go forward, playing some decent football. Anderson & Madueke looking good. Superb stuff so far. 

[Legend_in_blue]

To be fair, that was decent.

[Guest Bilo]

Miles and miles ahead of Serbia so far. We genuinely look more comfortable against these than we did against Latvia and Andorra.