Marten

Why another tournament with a group stage though? Certainly it's better to have a full knock-out tournament for CL/EL dropouts. Then you can have 128 clubs with the same amount of match days (qualifiers excluded).

I've been to the Zentralstadion (as it was called back then) in Leipzig. Quite a nice ground actually and Leipzig is a really nice city. I've been for a Liga Pokal final, a few years before RB Leipzig even existed.

Yep, agreed with you both. I watched the match too and it was absolutely excellent, thoroughly entertaining.

Edinburgh City 2-1 Annan Athletic

Luxembourg, in terms of population, might be a small country, but it's not that small. It's 2.5 times the population of Andorra, San Marino, Liechtenstein, Faroer and Gibraltar put together, larger than Iceland and similar to Montenegro. The fact that they were in the category of these real microstates just shows they were under-performing for a long time. They will obviously never be a major force due to their size, but they can do much better than what they were doing until a few years ago.

Playoff will still take place, the vacancy in the league left by Selkirk's departure will be subject to an application of licensed sides. Normally, I'd expect one of the EOS champions that didn't get promoted (assuming the EOS team win the playoff), the SOS champions or the number 15 in the Lowland League (14 in case of the SPFL LL area down / HL champions up scenario) to be elected. The SOS champion (if they lose the playoff) could get picked, but if the EOS/SOS playoff is another drubbing of the SOS champions, like last year's 10-0 aggregate victory for Kelty Hearts, I think it's unlikely that they'd be chosen ahead of the 2nd placed team in the EOS championship playoff.

Bigoted? I've said before I like the "foreign" teams, I just find it a funny oddity.

Agreed, I love this tournament, especially because the "diddy countries" get some competitive games against similar level opposition. Games like Liechtenstein v Gibraltar & Faroe Islands v Malta are great for those countries: they finally get the chance of competitive victories. Luxembourg have improved greatly over recent years, they should have a good chance to get to the play-offs.

San Marino - Luxembourg was obviously THE game tonight. Finished 0-3 to Luxembourg.

Tbh, I'd rather have seen us (The Netherlands) in group B. This group can be an embarrassment with France & Germany as opponents. If there is one country Germany would be keen to proof against they can still play good football... Games for us in B would have been more interesting IMO.

Sutton United, an English team, away in Dublin, in a Scottish cup competition. Brilliant!

Aberdeen v Real Madrid Colts, I bet the Dons fans are already excited about that...

I wouln't be surprised if they will use that cup to dump the "diddy countries" in, so they can keep them out of the main tournaments. With them making it harder and harder for smaller sides to actually qualify that's bound to happen one day...

Early December I'm going over to Germany for 2 games: Friday 7/12 Werder Bremen v Fortuna Düsseldorf & the next day Schalke '04 v Borussia Dortmund. Got tickets for both, can't wait.

Yes, they would. So every country in the A division is more or less guaranteed at least a PO spot as there is no chance more than 4 teams in A will fail to qualify. Basically, all countries in B are nearly guaranteed as well as I can't see it happening that only 16 or fewer out of the 24 in A and B qualify.

No, Olympics only counted as full internationals pre-1930. After that Olympics became for amateurs only. This rule eventually got changed (I think early 80's) as communist countries had an advantage. Their players were only amateurs in name: they were paid by the government and effectively full time players. That's why the age limit got brought in. Although you could argue that the game in 1948 will have featured the full first teams for Luxembourg & Afghanistan (as neither had professionals at the time), so should count.

Agreed. I'd quite like this to become a UK/Ireland semi pro competition (ok, there are full time sides in the Scottish Championship & English National League, but still). Say take the 30 lower division SPFL sides + HL/LL + Wales + ROI + NI + National League = 124 teams. Either give out 4 byes or add some teams like representatives from Isle of Man, Orkney, Shetland & Western Isles to make it 128. Could be a very interesting tournament.

Football in Luxembourg is definitely on the rise. F91 Dudelange qualified for the Europa League & the national team improved greatly. Discounting Olympics (as they don't count as full internationals), this has been their biggest ever competitive win. Football in the country is really well organised there now after a restructuring some time back. Youth development is brilliant and they are starting to produce professional players who play for (lower division) full time teams in Belgium, France and Germany. It's still a very small country, but they have a population larger than Iceland, so you'll never know what's possible. They have definitely outgrown the absolute minnows category.

The defending at those goals was poor yes, that's what I noticed too. You were definitely creating going forward. Could (or should) have scored another.

Having been at the the game I didn't think you guys were as bad as the scoreline suggests. I do think Tayport were the better side and deserved their win, but 4-1 was a harsh scoreline on Fauldhouse. You should also have had a penalty after a clear handball mid 2nd half. I do hope that you're not trying to get me banned from Hoose games though... I've seen you guys play 3 times and concede 12 goals.

Tayport 4 Fauldhouse 1 today. Nice ground.

In B, C, D, I don't think it's as clear cut that the SoS champions will be picked (and I don't think it's sure they'll even apply). If the EoS v SoS play-off will be another drubbing like last season's 10-0 aggregate win for Kelty, there is a big chance they'd choose another EoS winner ahead of the SoS club.

Agreed, especially the D league looks great for these countries, who have apparently all really been looking forward to this competition. Finally some competitive games against opposition of their level with a shot on qualifying for Euro 2020.

To be honest, I'd be extremely surprised if club 14 wouldn't be let back in to fill the vacancy. Team 15 (in the case promotion/relegation isn't resulting in an extra LL team), could be in trouble as 15th is already "possible relegation" in a 16 team league, so clubs might think that they finished in a relegation place regardless, although I'd still think team 15 will at least have a decent hope of filling the vacancy. However, team 14 would be the victim of both Selkirk's demise and circumstances in the SPFL/LL/HL play-offs. I think there is a very fair argument to be made for them to be voted back in.

It's not the futsal squad playing. It's a team of semi-pro/amateur players from the 3rd and 4th tiers. Due to this ridiculous situation there will be (max.) 14 players who will always be able to call themselves Danish international. Nice thing to be able to say as an amateur in the 4th tier.