San Marino...and other minnows.

brighton_tom

Well-known member

Jul 23, 2008

4,799

• Mar 22, 2013

• #1

Watching the England game and the level football you see from San Marino really is appalling.. Its 5-0 at the moment and looks like it could end up being a cricket score.

Got me thinking about why countries at their level seem to have such a low level of ability in the sport. On this viewing the players at my local 5-a-side would have a better chance...

Is it down to countries like San Marino not really seeing football as priority?
Is it down to their relatively low population?
Lack of funding into the sport?
Or are we and other countries at the top of the world rankings just blessed with better players?

 

easynow

New member

Mar 17, 2013

2,039

jakarta

• Mar 22, 2013

• #2

Is it down to their relatively low population?

Lack of funding into the sport?

That

 

B

blue2

New member

Apr 21, 2010

1,229

• Mar 22, 2013

• #3

Having to play at San ma withdean can't help now what they want is a new stadium

 

Ali_rrr

Well-known member

Feb 4, 2011

2,675

Utrecht, NL

• Mar 22, 2013

• #4

brighton_tom said:

Watching the England game and the level football you see from San Marino really is appalling.. Its 5-0 at the moment and looks like it could end up being a cricket score.

Got me thinking about why countries at their level seem to have such a low level of ability in the sport. On this viewing the players at my local 5-a-side would have a better chance...

Is it down to countries like San Marino not really seeing football as priority?
Is it down to their relatively low population?
Lack of funding into the sport?
Or are we and other countries at the top of the world rankings just blessed with better players?

Click to expand...

Firstly, their population is 33,000. They're highly unlikely to find the next Messi in a place where Eastbourne has 3 times the population. Most players play amateurly/semi professionally whilst ours, obvious are paid hundreds of thousands.

 

H

Hendrax

Well-known member

Jan 23, 2013

3,510

Worthing

• Mar 22, 2013

• #5

down to lack of choice in my opinion. very small population of 31,735. when you take out the elderly, females and children, your not exactly left with much are you?

 

del strangefish

Well-known member

Nov 1, 2008

1,620

Back of North Stand

• Mar 22, 2013

• #6

I still think San Marino can turn this around.

 

H

Hendrax

Well-known member

Jan 23, 2013

3,510

Worthing

• Mar 22, 2013

• #7

del strangefish said:

I still think San Marino can turn this around.

Click to expand...

thank you

 

PILTDOWN MAN

Well-known member

NSC Patron

Sep 15, 2004

18,685

Hurst Green

• Mar 22, 2013

• #8

brighton_tom said:

Watching the England game and the level football you see from San Marino really is appalling.. Its 5-0 at the moment and looks like it could end up being a cricket score.

Got me thinking about why countries at their level seem to have such a low level of ability in the sport. On this viewing the players at my local 5-a-side would have a better chance...

Is it down to countries like San Marino not really seeing football as priority?
Is it down to their relatively low population?
Lack of funding into the sport?
Or are we and other countries at the top of the world rankings just blessed with better players?

Click to expand...

You say it got you thinking. Sorry chap but I take it you're no Einstein?

 

W

whitestrat

New member

Dec 19, 2012

9

• Mar 22, 2013

• #9

What would their equivalent level in England be? Ryman? County League?

 

F

Foolg

.

Apr 23, 2007

5,024

• Mar 22, 2013

• #10

It hardly takes a genius to work it out, does it?

The population is more a less that of Littlehampton. If they were placed against the England first team, it'd probably be 5 or more at half time.

 

Frutos

.

Helpful Moderator

NSC Patron

May 3, 2006

35,541

Northumberland

• Mar 22, 2013

• #11

I think it's time for pre-qualifying for these crap nations, to root out some of the shite before the proper teams join in and so cut down on these waste of time games.

 

hybrid_x

Banned

Jun 28, 2011

2,225

• Mar 22, 2013

• #12

world nation football should be a league with divisions - 1 game every 4 weeks - home, then away alternating.

world nation tournaments are stupid - qualifying games of minnows against giants, and in tournaments usually the best teams miss eachother or injuries / dodgy ref decision impacts who wins.

a monster world league would sort it all out

 

Leekbrookgull

Well-known member

Jul 14, 2005

16,245

Leek

• Mar 22, 2013

• #13

Scotland,must be there ?

 

Lord Bracknell

On fire

Jul 5, 2003

39,499

104 Upper Grosvenor Street, Mayfair

• Mar 22, 2013

• #14

Games against hopeless minnows can sometimes turn out interesting.

See, for example, Scotland's unbelievable and undeserved half-time lead against Wales.

 

Goring-by-Seagull

Well-known member

Jan 5, 2012

1,980

• Mar 22, 2013

• #15

hybrid_x said:

world nation football should be a league with divisions - 1 game every 4 weeks - home, then away alternating.

world nation tournaments are stupid - qualifying games of minnows against giants, and in tournaments usually the best teams miss eachother or injuries / dodgy ref decision impacts who wins.

a monster world league would sort it all out

Click to expand...

I'm with you on that! Just imagine it! I'd also really like it to be called "The Monster World League" too.

 

Lord Bracknell

On fire

Jul 5, 2003

39,499

104 Upper Grosvenor Street, Mayfair

• Mar 22, 2013

• #16

As a former resident of the last of the Italian city-republics (apart from San Marino) to lose its independence (crushed by the Florentines in 1559), I have to defend the right of the Sammarinesi to take their rightful place among the nations of the world. They make a huge contribution to world football, simply by offering opportunities to any team that has the wit to score bucketfuls of goals the chance to qualify by virtue of better goal difference. That shouldn't be sniffed at.

 

vegster

Sanity Clause

May 5, 2008

27,886

• Mar 22, 2013

• #17

Lord Bracknell;5593718[B said:

]Games against hopeless minnows can sometimes turn out interesting.[/B]

See, for example, Scotland's unbelievable and undeserved half-time lead against Wales.

Click to expand...

No, not always, Costa Rica 1, Scotland 0 in 1990 was entirely predictable.

 

T

The Birdman

New member

Nov 30, 2008

6,313

Haywards Heath

• Mar 22, 2013

• #18

More atmosphere at Withdean same size stadium even fans in the trees oh they got a corner disaster ?

 

beorhthelm

A. Virgo, Football Genius

Jul 21, 2003

35,287

• Mar 22, 2013

• #19

Lord Bracknell said:

Games against hopeless minnows can sometimes turn out interesting.

See, for example, Scotland's unbelievable and undeserved half-time lead against Wales.

Click to expand...

i'm trying to work out which is the minnow there.

 

hybrid_x

Banned

Jun 28, 2011

2,225

• Mar 22, 2013

• #20

Goring-by-Seagull said:

I'm with you on that! Just imagine it! I'd also really like it to be called "The Monster World League" too.

Click to expand...

13 teams in each division (would be well over 10 divisions), would take 2 years to complete a season with 1 game every 4 weeks, top 2 up - next 4 in play offs, bottom 3 down. No end of season break - just keep going 1 game every 4 weeks. play offs tho all happen in a 2 week period at nuetral grounds halfway inbetween the nations. e.g. australia v scotland would happen in libya ;-)