Should UEFA change current World Cup/Euro qualification concept?

I literraly hate it when club football is on pause, just because of Euro/WC qualification.

There are way too many matches, since the groups are too big imo. Perhaps an idea would be to change the current format where u have one groupstage and play-off matches to something similar to the Champions League qualifying rounds. Teams with highest coefficients should be seeded, while the small teams with lower coefficients gets to fight through qualifying rounds until reaching the play-off with the seeded teams, just like in CL and EL. I think there are too many qualification matches, like does Spain really have to play San Marino, or Iceland twice when we all know it's easy 6 points and waste of everybody elses time (except the small teams'). Let the small teams fight it out with themselves until a final play-off round.

With lesser matches for the big teams, it means less irritating breaks from league football. I wanna watch Inter vs Juventus, I don't care about qualifying matches at all. I find them rather annoying.

I find international football more entertaining than club football

Spain 1 - 1 Finland

Actually the one part of the OP I agree with is that the likes of Monaco, San Marino, Lichstenstein (sp?), Andorra, Luxembourg and the other principates should have a group of their own, the winner of this group should play in the play offs for a spot in the WC. It's both embarrassing and a waste of time for both teams for them to play the big teams. And it wouldn't be unfair - they still get their shot at participating in the WC.

The "smaller" FAs deserve to be able to spar with the big guys, too.

And frankly, I love international matches! (And my team plays during the international breaks anyway )

I love international football. better for betting too

Well they only last about 1-2 weeks every so often so I don't think there's a problem. CL teams still have to face lower sides when qualifying or when in the groups etc.

@ BC: Its Liechtenstein. You were close.

BarrileteCosmico wrote:I find international football more entertaining than club football

This, a million times this.

I really don't care about the break in club football. I think there is only two in-season breaks for qualifiers or friendlies.

However there should be pre-qualifiers for certain (smaller) teams!!! While it would reduce load for ALL competing teams, it will also reduce opportunities for small teams. Then again, there are about 10-12 teams (in Europe alone) who haven't made ANY progress in 20+ years.

Absolutely. They should play less games. There should be a second tier with scrubs like Malta, Liechestein, San Marino, andorra etc so there are less qualifying games.
Also, it would be great if all qualifications where played in just 2 breaks, one mid season and one at the end of the season.

free_cat wrote:Absolutely. They should play less games. There should be a second tier with scrubs like Malta, Liechestein, San Marino, andorra etc so there are less qualifying games.
Also, it would be great if all qualifications where played in just 2 breaks, one mid season and one at the end of the season.

What if a star player is injured during one of those breaks? That effectively decreases your chances of qualifying by half. I'd much rather it stay like now where injuries don't affect you as much.

Also, I'd hate to go 6 months without int football. When Catalonia becomes independent you'll understand.