Sam Wallace: Even in San Marino no one cares about the national team

England beat them 8-0 on Friday

Jermain Defoe taps in his goal for England (Reuters)

The thing about San Marino is that they are getting worse as a football team.

Their game against England barely merited much coverage in the local newspapers in my hotel a mile from the stadium. There were hardly any home fans there; in fact it was like a home game for England.

Even the argument that it is about pride and sovereignty for these microstates who play at the elite international level goes out the window – in San Marino no one really cared. Apart from a few officials, and presumably the players themselves, who all get a kick out of their association with famous players. Giving them that in exchange for their vote in Uefa and Fifa is politically expedient for the likes of Sepp Blatter. But it has nothing to do with proper international football.