new UEFA member?

[ShiftyPowers]

Forget it. UEFA will not let Gilbraltar join, because the Spanish FA has in the past threatened to withdraw over the matter. Also, from a competition standpoint, its a bad move, because they will consistently get ass-raped, even by the "smaller" nations such as Liechtenstein and Andorra.

Welcome Gibralter!

 

[d3adly]

i think the spainish FA needs to worry about their own NT and not Gibraltar.

 

[Gerrard 17]

http://www.gfa.gi/Division_1.htm

 

[Seán D]

haha, Newcastle are actually winning it

 

[TOON ARMY]

Makes a change to see a Newcastle actually winning something

 

[CapaJr]

well, if we let Israel in, why not. Although they'd get mauled.

how can Uefa could let Israel play for Uefa?
they are not even in the european continent.
I m really curious about this, i really dont get why

 

[Biebrich 02]

why's that hard to get? can you imagine Israel playing Lebanon or Iran?

I don't understand why so many people want preliminary stages for the smaller countries. I think it's fairer the way it is, every team gets the same chances, and besides, it's more entertaining

 

[Tiago_10]

Oh yeah, those Germany vs. San Marino type of matches are really entertaining. Especially for San Marino players, they must find it hilarious to lose like 13-0.

 

[Hendrik]

Especially for San Marino players, they must find it hilarious to lose like 13-0.

You kidding me? Those San Marino players are teachers, bakers, students etc. 5 days a week and then they get to play the European powerhouses. These guys are incredibly lucky.

 

[Biebrich 02]

By the way if it was better for those TEAMS if they didn't have to play those qualifiers - well, they don't have to. So obviously they want to. So this is no point.

And I thought it was entertaining. How many goals will it be?

By the way 2: There aren't this many matches like this. We have 7 groups, and in no group there is more than one team that's hopeless to get at least 1 point.

By the way 3:
Macedonia - Netherlands 2-2
Liechtenstein - Portugal 2-2
Liechtenstein - Slovakia 0-0
Faroe Islands - Scotland 2-2
Northern Ireland - Spain 3-2

and so on

 

[nor-rbk]

how can Uefa could let Israel play for Uefa?
they are not even in the european continent.
I m really curious about this, i really dont get why

Israel was originally part of the Asian association (AFC), but after pressure from the Arab countries (who refused to play against Israel), they were excluded in 1976. In the years that followed, Israel had to play World Championship qualifying matches in the Oceania group, before getting accepted as a member of the UEFA in 1991.

(From: World Soccer Dictionary of Football)

 

[CapaJr]

Israel was originally part of the Asian association (AFC), but after pressure from the Arab countries (who refused to play against Israel), they were excluded in 1976. In the years that followed, Israel had to play World Championship qualifying matches in the Oceania group, before getting accepted as a member of the UEFA in 1991.

(From: World Soccer Dictionary of Football)

In that case, its a good decision. i just didnt know why this happened, now that you told me why, it makes sense.

 

[Tiago_10]

Those San Marino players are teachers, bakers, students etc. 5 days a week and then they get to play the European powerhouses. These guys are incredibly lucky.

Then again, doesn't it make it a little pointless? There's no way in hell they're going to beat the powerhouses or not necessarly powerhouses, even a average NT can beat them with ease.

I'm completely against these matches, besides the fact that they're pointless the players already have lots of games throughout the season for the league, cups, CL or Uefa. With so many matches situations like for instance Ronaldinho and other players being physically unable to perform (as shown in the WC) are bound to happen.

 

[BBTB2007]

These mismatch games and a lot of the meaningless friendlies that are played really devalue the international level of the sport within UEFA because there was a time when internationals were the highest quality soccer played. Now the Champions League probably provides that most of the time.

 

[d3adly]

tottaly agree wiht you BBTB2007

 

[RobbieD_PL]

Meh, I dont quite see the point of Gibraltar from a political standpt. I mean it's a disputed colony of the United Kingdom and is also administered as part of the South-West of England... :/ I would have thot that maybe an Isle of Man or Aland Islands FA would have been a better choice...

And do we have any news on Montenegro's accession?

 

[Aarfy Aardvark]

Meh, I dont quite see the point of Gibraltar from a political standpt. I mean it's a disputed colony of the United Kingdom and is also administered as part of the South-West of England... :/ I would have thot that maybe an Isle of Man or Aland Islands FA would have been a better choice...

Or possibly Greenland. Mind you, 18 years ago people never would have thought the Faroe Islands would be given membership, despite being part of another sovereign nation.

And do we have any news on Montenegro's accession?

They will become a full member of UEFA in January 2007 and a member of Fifa in May/June 2007.

Meaning they will be put in the draw for the World Cup 2010 and of course next season's champions league and UEFA cup.

 

[Aarfy Aardvark]

how can Uefa could let Israel play for Uefa?
they are not even in the european continent.
I m really curious about this, i really dont get why

Neither is 90% of Turkey mon ami...

 

[CapaJr]

Neither is 90% of Turkey mon ami...

thats true, but that %10 is where, Gala, Fener, and Besiktas comes from. (Istanbul) not to mention Istanbul being one of the biggest cities in europe. thats why i believe that %10 is more important than the remaining %90

Also, thanks for reminding me this, i keep forgeting how cool it is to live in a city with two different continents, its amazing
I think we should be allowed in both competitions , cause we are part of both.

 

[hs232]

You kidding me? Those San Marino players are teachers, bakers, students etc. 5 days a week and then they get to play the European powerhouses. These guys are incredibly lucky.

Yeah I remeber the goalkeeper for the Grenada team was actually a dock worker. He wasn't all that bad either, even though the rest of the team was.