English writers, some managers and former players have gone all out against the participation of small states in the qualifiers for the World Cup and Euro 2008 Championship, saying it is all a waste of time to have so many mis-matches.

They were all commenting after the 5-0 victory registered by England over Andorra on Saturday, although metnion was also made of all the other small states’ performances, including that of Malta against Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Later in the week, mention was also made of the 13-0 win for Germany over San Marino. One writer, at least, wrote that this result served a purpose, in that the record for the European Championship’s biggest defeat has now changed hands – from Malta to San Marino. In 1983, Malta had lost 12-1 to Spain and since that day, that result has never been cancelled from our minds.

But back to the English comments on the results of Saturday’s matches.

In an article on the BBC website, former England winger Chris Waddle said he believed international football needed restructuring. After England’s 5-0 win over Andorra, he said: “It’s an absolute farce and I don’t think it does any good for football. People pay good money and travel all over the country to watch England, but they are not getting value for money. Like the Champions League, there should be a pre-qualifying tournament that looks at results from down the years,” he said.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said most of the weekend matches were without interest, adding that the basic problem was the congestion of international matches. He added that there is a collapse in quality football.

Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock said: “It’s crazy in this day and age that big sides waste their time on useless opponents who never win,” he said.

But former England manager Glenn Hoddle is one man who does not agree. He believes that the small states’ participation is vital for the development of the international game. Not too long ago, Turkey and Greece were also among the whipping boys, but look at them now,” he was quoted as saying. “I’m not saying that Andorra will do the same, but they will improve if they continue to play the top teams over the next 15 years. It shows that FIFA and UEFA have to allow these teams to play for them to improve.”

In an article received from Associated Press at our offices, AP football writer Robert Millward said that “Italy’s failure to win at home against a team ranked 65th hides an even bigger problem facing the international game.

He compared the ‘mis-matches’ with golf, baseball or boxing. He wrote: “It’s like Tiger Woods forced to go head-to-head with a club pro in the Masters; a team of United States baseball stars told to face the Falkland Islands, Oscar De la Hoya having to defend his world boxing title against a bar room brawler.”

Millward said that although FIFA is proud to have more members than the Olympic Movement, it was evident that such mis-matches devalue the sport and no one gets any benefit from them. He added: “The losers get another heavy defeat on their record while the winners, going into the matches fearing an embarrassing defeat, ultimately get little credit for scoring four or five goals against players who are semi-professional.”

Even Millward insists on having a qualifying competition for the minnows with the winner advancing to the main qualifying competition.

Mail on Sunday columnist Patrick Collins described the England-Andorra match as “a vaguely distressing farce” and a “pointless way of spending a Saturday evening.”

And Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp, wiring in The Sunday People, said Andorra was not strong enough to get a place in England’s semi-pro Nationwide Conference (league).

My final comment

It is obvious that these comments cannot be denied. We must all agree that they make sense. Even if four days later, Malta managed to frustrate 2002 World Cup semi-finalists Turkey, forcing them to obtained their goals in the second half, and registering more than an acceptable 2-0 defeat.

The levels of the teams from the small countries cannot absolutely be compared to those at the top of the ranking list. But most of those who wrote or commented on the issue seem to have missed a strong point which goes in favour of these small countries. And this must be given its due consideration by FIFA, UEFA and their big nation members.

The participation of the small states in the top competitions has been a long standing argument – probably before the introduction of the Champions League in the mid 1990s.

Then, the small clubs were denied the right to face the top guns in the earlier rounds, but at least they were compensated in later years for losing their main source of revenue.

If FIFA and UEFA were to adopt the same policy now in connection with these two major tournaments, then the small countries will be hit very hard, unless they are adequately compensated.

It is already a big problem for these small countries to attract sizeable crowds for their home matches against some of the top teams. The corresponding figures cannot be denied. What can one expect if they had to play only against the small teams? Would there be any televised games in such a series of matches? I seriously doubt it. And if in the affirmative, who would be interested in watching such matches, except for the two countries involved (population of perhaps just a few thousands)?

FIFA and UEFA have been directing their attention on improving the levels of the game in the small and developing countries. Football development in these countries has been a top agenda in the past few years. The elimination of the small countries from the qualifying rounds of such competitions will not affect the pockets of the top countries. But it will mean financial disaster for all the small ones unless some form of financial solidarity (as compensation) is agreed upon. Otherwise, what’s the use of employing well paid coaches to train the thousands of youngsters who have the game of football so much at heart?

In my opinion, only under such circumstances will a tournament for the small nations every two years (World Cup and European Championship) become feasible.

Henry Brincat

Sports Editor

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