San Marino boss defends Euro 2016 spot

London: San Marino manager Pierangelo Manzaroli insisted Wednesday his side deserved their place in the Euro 2016 qualifying phase despite being perennial makeweights.

The part-timers are ranked joint last with Bhutan in FIFA`s world rankings and have never won a competitive fixture, a record not expected to change when they face England at Wembley on Thursday.

San Marino have conceded 26 goals and scored just one in their last four meetings with England and Manzaroli admitted: "It will have to be a big effort.

"Playing England is different for us because more often than not it is a matter of damage limitation.

"But we don`t rule anything out -- you never know when the chance will arrive to get a result."

There have been suggestions such lowly teams as San Marino ought to come through a play-off system before being granted a place in a main qualifying pool but Manzaroli said: "We want to carry on playing in the biggest and best stadiums in Europe and we think it is our right to do that.

"Every time we do, we show we are committed and we give our all so we want to carry on with that.

"If the international schedule is too dense and they want to take some matches away that is up to UEFA (European football`s governing body).

"But we are a member of UEFA and we think we have as much right as anyone else to play against the big teams."