Gibraltar will have some Home Field Advantage

By: Bob | September 6th, 2006

It happens every time there is qualifying for a major tournament in Europe. People start bemoaning the fact that big football nations have to waste their time, money and energies playing against minnows like Andorra, Lichtenstein and Sisters of the Mercy.

The minnow-bashers might be fed some more bait come January when UEFA will decide whether or not to allow Gibraltar join their merry cast of countries.

The big rock down by the tip of Spain that is as British as a London sky, was initially rejected by UEFA in 1999 because of those geo-political reasons that always get in the way of something that would be delightfully absurd. Gibraltar has 27,000 residents (monkeys not included) and a football pedigree that includes a third place finish in this year’s FIFI Wild Cup. They also defeated Sark, whomever he or she may be, 19-0 in 2003.

Clearly, Gibraltar is ready for the big time and ready to show the European powers that football can be played on a rock that is sloped 45 degrees.

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Category: Europe

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Trent

First of all, Sark had a Spurs-style flu during that 2003 match. Second, the Sark-...ians...ers...sters had the sun, improbably, in their eyes during both halves. I saw it on the Discovery Channel's Sark Week. Not a big deal, maybe, but we Sark supporters have to be ever-diligent against ahistorical accounts of our glorious matches.

More to the point, since some nations in FIFA aren't really even nations at this point (I'm looking at you England, Scotland, etc.), screwball entrants like Gibraltar should get their day in the sun as well.
SuperRich

Chances are they could probably hold Germany to 13 goals just like San Marino. I happen to agree that it is a waste of time for countries to play teams that are no better than what you would find in a schoolyard.