International minnow farce, make them play each other?

[Jimothy]

My idea is that the bottom 16 ranked European nations are pooled in two 2 groups of 8 with the top 4 in each group playing off for 4 spots in World Cup and euro qualifying meaning instead of 48 teams we have 36 and 6 equal groups of 6 teams. With 12 teams qualifying for the World Cup and 24 for the euros.

The top team in group a plays the 4th team in group B 2nd v 3rd and vice versa over two legs. Giving the smaller nations lots of game time in games they could win.

To offset the problem of not playing the big nations every 4 years the top 16 are required to play one friendly against one of the minnows at home, giving the sides still a chance to play at Against the big guns.

For the top sides these could be a great chance to experiment and have a look at fringe players.

I haven't got all the details worked out but seriously think this keeps everyone happy, even the French who were complaint about less games in their group meaning less ranking points. Every team has an opportunity to qualify.

Plus because the lower teams will win some games their ranking would improve meaning it wouldn't always be the same 16.

Only issue with that format is don't we get 13 places at the World Cup? So you need an extra qualifier from your 6 groups of 6.

Suppose this could be the best 3rd place team plays one of the Asian play off teams, while the other Asian play off team plays the South American one. Always think it harsh the Asian team has to negotiate toe play offs.

[aussie-fox]

a similar thing happens in the Oceania qualifying. when Australia were still part of Oceania we would score 10 goals easy against the minnows. its just not worth it.

they changed it so the minnows had to play off and then the best would go to the next round where they would play Australia and new zealand. as a result the minnows have become better and nations like Tahiti and the Solomon islands and even Fiji are no longer easy beats.

this is of course proved by Tahiti beating New Zealand to qualify for the confederations cup.

 

I have no problem with the minnows having to qualify before the main group stage in confederation around the world.

 

the minnows who don't qualify can then just play friendly for the rest of the time or perhaps other little tournaments would appear for the minnows as a result.

[Captain...]

My idea is that the bottom 16 ranked European nations are pooled in two 2 groups of 8 with the top 4 in each group playing off for 4 spots in World Cup and euro qualifying meaning instead of 48 teams we have 36 and 6 equal groups of 6 teams. With 12 teams qualifying for the World Cup and 24 for the euros.

The top team in group a plays the 4th team in group B 2nd v 3rd and vice versa over two legs. Giving the smaller nations lots of game time in games they could win.

To offset the problem of not playing the big nations every 4 years the top 16 are required to play one friendly against one of the minnows at home, giving the sides still a chance to play at Against the big guns.

For the top sides these could be a great chance to experiment and have a look at fringe players.

I haven't got all the details worked out but seriously think this keeps everyone happy, even the French who were complaint about less games in their group meaning less ranking points. Every team has an opportunity to qualify.

Plus because the lower teams will win some games their ranking would improve meaning it wouldn't always be the same 16.

 

The only thing I would change about that is that the big teams have to play the minnows in friendlies, they would be the most pointless games ever, now if you brought back B-teams and had England B playing San Marino at a club ground during the international breaks I would be up for that, a chance for England fringe players to get a game and a chance for the minnows to test themselves against better opposition.