Mismatch of the day just a waste of time

IT’S time the small fry were dumped out of the qualifying groups – it’s just a waste of time and effort and an insult to the cream of European football.

Not very “all all for one, and one for all”, but, seriously, usly, what is the point?

I can’t be the he only one looking at England’s potential tential fixtures against Liechtenstein n in the run-up to Qatar in a couple of years with an inevitable sense of gloom. m.

A quick glance ance down the results this week and nd a brief scan of the tables shows s the same countries propping up the rest – welcome to European Championship ampionship “Groundhog Day”.

For instance, e, it will surprise no one that San Marino ino have conceded 43 goals during their eight outings.

That’s an average of five goals per game me – and doubtless some of their opponents took their foot t off the gas.

England smashed mashed seven past a woefully efully weak Montenegro o ( Tammy

Abraham in action, right). Portugal grabbed rabbed six against Lithuania uania – and f ace the might of Luxembourg g today as Cristiano Ronaldo naldo goes in search of yet et another match ball.

It’s the same me story repeated time me after time – and yes, I know France nce “on l y ” beat eat Moldova 2- 1 in midweek – but ut our f r i ends f r om across the Channel were ere a lready y through, so it was no biggie. Ahead of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Liechtenstein were bottom of their qualification group. As were San Marino, Gibraltar, the Faroe Islands... all getting thumped this time around.

This isn’t a xenophobic rant, by the way – happy to embrace anyone as an equal – until it comes to watching yet another 90 minutes wondering when England will finally make the breakthrough against, say, Malta who have absolutely no intention of doing anything other than stuffing 10 outfield players within 30 yards from their own goal.

UEFA need to streamline it so that bigger countries such as Spain, Germany, Italy,

France and Holland don’t waste their time. Because there is absolutely nothing to stop countries further down the rankings playing a Round Robin to decide who gets to play the big boys.

That way, spectators spectat aren’t being fleeced and they can turn up knowing knowin they are watching a proper pro game when the grou groups start.

If a team such as Kosovo p progress through the rankings, they won’t need to pre- qualify in i future. Good luck to them. them

But when ca can you see that happening happening?

It was brou brought home to yours truly t at the openi opening squad an announcem ment ahead o of Euro 2 2016 when R o y Hodgson p practically g guaranteed E England wo would reach Fra France.

And An yet still the b big- hitters to ha have to go t hrou g h t he motions against the likes of San Marino, Andorra and Gibraltar. Gibra

It’s tedi tedious.

So, why don’t we face f ace fa f acts and dump some so of the also-rans – it will be doing the majority m of us a ma s s i v e favour.