World Cup qualifying has become a box-ticking exercise - England have only lost four games in 30 years

FIRST it was 13. Then from 1934 to 1978 it was 16.

The World Cup finals was expanded in 1982 to 24 nations and in 1988 it went up again to 32.

Next year’s finals will include 48 teams and, if recent reports are anything to go by, in 2030 it will be up to 64.

At this rate, the only nations missing out will be those you need a microscope to spot in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

What is it with Fifa tournaments and their alarming capacity to expand faster than Erling Haaland’s goal tally?

Once upon a time, reaching the World Cup was an achievement but now its becoming a participation prize.

Turn up, hum a national anthem and you’re halfway there.

Surely this cannot be good for football.

Yes, there is sense in opening up opportunities to smaller nations to reach the pinnacle of the