World Cup qual - Andorra: Rubbish or ruffians?

Eurosport - Wed, 10 Jun 13:30:00 2009

The fact that all the talk in the build-up to England's match against Andorra has been about the home fans' travel arrangements speaks volumes about the quality of opposition.

2008 Andorra-England Theo Walcott - 0

As drivers of London Underground trains go on strike, the Pyrenean part-timers will be grateful if several thousand supporters end up stranded at Willesden Junction instead of cheering their side on at Wembley.

The eight-team, all-amateur Andorran league is made up of under 200 players, and the entire population of the principality (around 82,000) would not fill England's national stadium to capacity.

That miniscule talent pool currently sees them ranked 196th in the world, equalling their worst ever FIFA ranking. They currently reside between Aruba and Dominica in the table, which features 202 nations.

Not since beating Macedonia 1-0 in 2004 have they won a competitive match, and they have scored just six meaningful goals since then.

Of the few pros in the squad, centre-back Ildefons Lima plays at the highest level - he made four appearances in Serie B last season for Triestina, all from the bench.

Given all of this, a drubbing in North-West London is highly likely, but not inevitable. They have certainly been a thorn in England bosses' sides in Barcelona's Olympic Stadium, their designated 'home' venue against big opponents.

The travelling England fans directed plenty of abuse at Steve McClaren when his side laboured to victory during their ill-fated Euro 2008 qualification campaign. Despite the visitors eventually winning 3-0, result was one of many nails in McClaren's coffin.

Even Fabio Capello was made to shuffle uncomfortably in his Italian leather shoes as the Three Lions faithful jeered and booed their team as they went in goalless at half-time, in his first competitive match no less.

Veteran defender Toni Lima (Ildefons' older brother) is under no illusions as to how he and his team-mates are to avoid a repeat of the 5-0 drubbing at Old Trafford in London on Wednesday night.

"Football is a contact sport and the English play a physical game and with great intensity," said the man who, despite a distinct lack of success in his career, has had spells at clubs in Barcelona, Madeira, the Greek coast and the Costa Brava. Nice work if you can get it.

"As for fair play, the football purists talk about it, but the interests in football are greater and you are always open to alternatives.

"There is never any intention to deliberately injure anyone, but a kick or pull or something which does not cause injury; you have to do that to prevent danger."

That may sound industrial, but this is the same Lima whose ball-juggling by his own corner flag before clearing while under pressure from Theo Walcott was one of the highlights of England's 2-0 win at Montjuic last September.

Coach David Rodrigo, in his 10th year in charge, may have one of the safest jobs in international football, his brief as it is focused on fostering national pride rather than accumulating points, and his aims at Wembley are clear:

"We're aware of our limitations. But we have one thing very clear - whoever wants to beat us is going to have to sweat for it because we intend to make life difficult for them."

Tony Mabert / Eurosport

Comment 33 - 52 of 52

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  1. Most Major countries probably hype themselves up as­ winners entering the tournament. After all Italy were­ pretty poor leading to world cup and weren't great­ in the world cup but they still won it!

    From supertrin47, on Wed 10 Jun 3:50PM

  2. we shouldnt be on the same pitch as all the other­ minnows

    From scouselover58, on Wed 10 Jun 2:55PM

  3. well said scouse ur a genius

    From scouselover58, on Wed 10 Jun 2:53PM

  4. supertrin47 i take your point, but England tout­ themselves as world class, our supporters think every­ time the WC or EC comes round we hype ourselves up and­ the end result is disspointment, and i can not help but­ think is because we play teams like this in the­ qualifiers and thrash most of them, then in the­ compititions we do so badley, should we not be grouped­ with a bit more class than the likes of San marino,­ Andorra, slovakia, moldova, we have to up our game, we­ are so predictable its shocking.

    From yorkie, on Wed 10 Jun 2:46PM

  5. U CANT SPELL UR PLACE OF RESIDENCE CHAORLTON MY GUESS­ WOULD BE TAKE THE O OUT

    From scouselover58, on Wed 10 Jun 2:43PM

  6. I HATE THIS FECKING BADGE AND AM SICK OF CARRYING IT­ ROUND THE SITES

    From scouselover58, on Wed 10 Jun 2:41PM

  7. allmanufansrgay1 Chaorlton-c u m-Hardy, just to the­­ south west of moss side.........

    LIAR U CANT EVEN­ SPELL IT

    From scouselover58, on Wed 10 Jun 2:39PM

  8. Look at teams that have over Achieved in the past that­ is why you have to open it to more than 24. After all­ Slovenia qualified for a world cup in the past, Austria­ did, there are plenty of teams that are lowly ranked­ but have qualified in the past or will more than likely­ improve in the future.
    And lets not forget, You say­ England lost to Northern IReland with pretty much the­ same team but isn't that what Spain did before­ going on to win the Euro's?! the fact is Qualifying­ is all about getting there. No-one cares how you do it,­ just make sure you do it.

    From supertrin47, on Wed 10 Jun 2:34PM

  9. scouselover58 do one you nob jocky....

    From yorkie, on Wed 10 Jun 2:31PM

  10. now u ready for ur slap @#$% scouse

    From scouselover58, on Wed 10 Jun 2:26PM

  11. supertrin47, can we not have a second tier of­ qualifying groups just for these, will we improve by­ playing them???

    From yorkie, on Wed 10 Jun 2:23PM

  12. i drink in the Southern Hotel‎ in­ Chorlton.......come and see me...

    From yorkie, on Wed 10 Jun 2:20PM

  13. allmanufansrgay1 Chaorlton-c u m-Hardy, just to the­ south west of moss side.........

    From yorkie, on Wed 10 Jun 2:18PM

  14. tptcel Tell that to the likes of Northern Ireland who­ have recorded famous victories over Spain and England­ recently and came quite close to Qualifying themselves.­
    The "lesser" nations need to better­ themselves by playing bigger teams and can often cause­ an upset. It is the Minnows of the goups which need to­ have a separate qualification system, like they do in­ most other associations.
    For Example the top 43 teams­ auto qualify for group stages, the bottom 10­ "euro" nations then play off for the other­ five spot, they could even do this as 2 groups so they­ still get at least 4 internationals. so the likes of­ Malta, Andorra, San Marino, Faroe Islands, Moldova etc.­ would all have to qualify for the Group stages.

    From supertrin47, on Wed 10 Jun 2:15PM

  15. please dont hurt me scouse i am one of u,i know jack­ 5hit about football,but know how to please a man ha­ ha,burn me with petrol now im not sure whether u are­ from rochester or maybe moss side.u do get quite­ annoyed easily that must be ur girly side coming out of­ u.give me ur address and i will send u a dummy or­ better still a butt plug for both ends to stop u­ blabbering c r a p.

    From allmanufansrgay1, on Wed 10 Jun 2:13PM

  16. I have nothing to comment on the above article.

    From iwlklsb, on Wed 10 Jun 2:02PM

  17. allmanufansrgay1 i will find out were you are and i­ will douse you in petrol and burn you alive you nonce,­ now f**K off.....

    From yorkie, on Wed 10 Jun 1:50PM

  18. football is life, football is my religion, and my­ church is Old Trafford

    From yorkie, on Wed 10 Jun 1:49PM

  19. I'M NOT A SHEEP OR A LEMMING LIKE MOST OF­­ YOU........i have a opinion that does not conform with­­ the rest of you mongs, i see it how it is and say it­­ how it is, people like you don't like that so you­­ take the opportunity to make comments like that....yes­­ i am from Manchester and i am a united fan, season­­ ticket holder, and love my club as it is the only­­ decent club in Britain.... my first game was in 1974 i­­ know more about football than most people, i live,­­ breath, sleep, eat football 24/7, every tv i have as­­ sports on it my radio's have sports on them, my pc­­ and laptop as talk sport on it, like i said football­ is­ life..........
    AN OPINION UR THE MONG MY FELLOW­ COMPATRIOT

    From allmanufansrgay1, on Wed 10 Jun 1:46PM

  20. I'M NOT A SHEEP OR A LEMMING LIKE MOST OF­ YOU........i have a opinion that does not conform with­ the rest of you mongs, i see it how it is and say it­ how it is, people like you don't like that so you­ take the opportunity to make comments like that....yes­ i am from Manchester and i am a united fan, season­ ticket holder, and love my club as it is the only­ decent club in Britain.... my first game was in 1974 i­ know more about football than most people, i live,­ breath, sleep, eat football 24/7, every tv i have as­ sports on it my radio's have sports on them, my pc­ and laptop as talk sport on it, like i said football is­ life..........

    From yorkie, on Wed 10 Jun 1:41PM
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