Guest Bilo Posted 4 June 2013 Posted 4 June 2013 http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22657481 Gibraltar are now a full member of UEFA and will be allowed to compete in qualifying for the 2016 European Championships. Good idea or bad idea? They'll become the smallest association in Europe when they start playing and it has seriously annoyed the Spanish, to the extent that Spain and Gibraltar will always be kept apart in qualifiers. That said, they've had a couple of decent results for a country of their size looking around. Some odd friendlies as well against Portsmouth and Bury. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyjd-q6S-fA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BC6n9ccL-b8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rc2IcYaC-Ic Best of luck to them, I just hope they don't end up becoming cannon fodder like other tiny nations.
ealingfox Posted 4 June 2013 Posted 4 June 2013 Another team to join the eventual pre-qualifying for tournaments with San Marino, Luxembourg, Faroe Islands, Andorra and Scotland.
Guest Bilo Posted 4 June 2013 Posted 4 June 2013 It could represent a decent away day. Lap up the VAT free shopping, a few beers in the sun and then off to watch England inevitably labour to a 2-0 win.
Guest MattP Posted 4 June 2013 Posted 4 June 2013 I'm not sure the Spanish are really that bothered because it's Gibraltar, I would hazard a guess it's more to do with the fact it could give some leverage to the Basque and Catalunia regions to eventually become independant where there is some real football talent. Hope we draw Gib mind, would be a cracking away day down the south coast for a few days.
Guest Posted 5 June 2013 Posted 5 June 2013 We're playing them in Spain in July too They've found their level already then!
Captain... Posted 5 June 2013 Posted 5 June 2013 I'm not sure the Spanish are really that bothered because it's Gibraltar, I would hazard a guess it's more to do with the fact it could give some leverage to the Basque and Catalunia regions to eventually become independant where there is some real football talent. Hope we draw Gib mind, would be a cracking away day down the south coast for a few days. There already is a Basque and Catalan 'national' team, they play a couple of friendlies a year. Usually against each other. It is a separate situation as Gibraltar, like Jersey and Guernsey, is a British overseas territory, and not part of the UK nor Spain, so have a right to compete, I think the issue Spain would have with it is it legitimises Gibraltar, and that it may steal a very small amount of talent from Spain.
Guest MattP Posted 5 June 2013 Posted 5 June 2013 There already is a Basque and Catalan 'national' team, they play a couple of friendlies a year. Usually against each other. It is a separate situation as Gibraltar, like Jersey and Guernsey, is a British overseas territory, and not part of the UK nor Spain, so have a right to compete, I think the issue Spain would have with it is it legitimises Gibraltar, and that it may steal a very small amount of talent from Spain. Those two regions could start actually pushing to be recognised independantly though, it's a small cause at the minute but you know the whole saying about 'giving an inch and taking a mile'.
brockmyster Posted 10 June 2013 Posted 10 June 2013 Does this mean domestically they will now have sides entering the qualifying for champions league and europa league?
Webbo Posted 10 June 2013 Posted 10 June 2013 Does this mean domestically they will now have sides entering the qualifying for champions league and europa league? There's more chance of me entering Scarlett Johansson.
Guest Bilo Posted 10 June 2013 Posted 10 June 2013 Does this mean domestically they will now have sides entering the qualifying for champions league and europa league? Yes, but they'll be going into the first qualifying round with sides from San Marino and Liechtenstein so..... There's more chance of me entering Scarlett Johansson.
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