Scrap the group games next time

[Ivortheengine]

These group games are not living up to expectation. Get 32 teams on the board in a straight knockout, with both teams trying to win. Italy made 8 changes against Wales which devalues the competition. Last night , Belgium were already through, and were trying to walk the ball in, and be too clever. For us fans in our armchairs , it makes you want to change channels. As for kicking off at the same time, the authorities must be very naive if they think the teams don’t know what’s going on in the other group game. It’s about time this competition had a new format in future.

[Optimistic Nick]

Re: Scrap the group games next time

These group games are not living up to expectation. Get 32 teams on the board in a straight knockout, with both teams trying to win. Italy made 8 changes against Wales which devalues the competition. Last night , Belgium were already through, and were trying to walk the ball in, and be too clever. For us fans in our armchairs , it makes you want to change channels. As for kicking off at the same time, the authorities must be very naive if they think the teams don’t know what’s going on in the other group game. It’s about time this competition had a new format in future.

Or just go back to the old elite version with 16 teams; top two through. I always preferred the euros because England aside, there were rarely crap teams in it.

Would we have qualified for 2016 or 2020 had they been 16-team tournaments?

[Rjk]

Re: Scrap the group games next time

These group games are not living up to expectation. Get 32 teams on the board in a straight knockout, with both teams trying to win. Italy made 8 changes against Wales which devalues the competition. Last night , Belgium were already through, and were trying to walk the ball in, and be too clever. For us fans in our armchairs , it makes you want to change channels. As for kicking off at the same time, the authorities must be very naive if they think the teams don’t know what’s going on in the other group game. It’s about time this competition had a new format in future.

No.

2016 groups were largely poor, but this time around there have been a number of great games.
The format has meant that there are almost no teams with nothing to play for going into their last game.
In 2016 it was ruined a bit by lots of teams playing not to lose and progress with 3 draws, but this time around the bigger teams have mostly been able to break down the teams that are set up to defend, meaning those teams have had to go for a win in their subsequent games.

I wouldn't want a straight knockout - lose your first game and that's it, at least with a group you have a couple of weeks of interest in the tournament at the worst

[MacAdder]

Re: Scrap the group games next time

Would never happen.

Far too much money to be made with this format, albeit under the guise it allows the lesser teams the chance to make a major finals tournament.

Hope we've seen the last of multi-hosts though!

[The Bloop]

Re: Scrap the group games next time

You get mediocre games because teams are generally happy with a draw in the first game. However it makes the rest of the games better with those teams going for a win.
16 teams is too few, as youd get the same teams getting through each time and 32 (knockout or groups) is too many.
The current format is not ideal, but the most practical.

[surge]

Re: Scrap the group games next time

How can anyone witness the noise, the colour the passion of fans of Austria, Ukraine, Denmark last night and think that's something not deserving of being at the tournament?

[BLUETIT]

Re: Scrap the group games next time

If there were no group games this time, Germany would have been on their way home

[Hilts]

Re: Scrap the group games next time

Ive enjoyed this tournament and last nights games. I dont like the 3rd best out of 4 qualifying though.

[Rjk]

Re: Scrap the group games next time

If there were no group games this time, Germany would have been on their way home

presumably the draw would be seeded like Wimbledon so the big boys miss each other until the later rounds

[Dorcus]

Re: Scrap the group games next time

Yes to 32 teams but no to scrapping the group stage. I think this format of 4 losers (3rd place) out of 6 qualifying for the knock outs is dreadful. Why didn't they just go for 8 groups of 4 with the top 2 going through?

And for anyone saying there aren't enough quality teams to stretch to 32, do we honestly believe the likes of Serbia, Republic of Ireland, Norway, Bulgaria, Rumania etc. are any worse than North Macedonia, Hungary and Russia?

[OurManFlint II]

Re: Scrap the group games next time

Also i think the nostalgia for straight head to head games is misplaced, most of those games (thinking European cup/champions league) were just as crap.

[BLUETIT]

Re: Scrap the group games next time

presumably the draw would be seeded like Wimbledon so the big boys miss each other until the later rounds

The draw was seeded

[StraightOuttaCanton]

Re: Scrap the group games next time

The draw was seeded

It was but that’s not his point. If seedings were in place France would most likely have been #1. They’d have played the 24th seed, which wouldn’t have been Germany

[lardy]

Re: Scrap the group games next time

It's a terrible idea for travelling fans. Imagine all that build up, going all the way to another country, and it's just for one game.

The problem is not groups, it's that there are so many games just to eliminate a third of the sides. 24 teams is not a good number for this style of tournament.

It should be 16 or 32 teams. 32 is obviously too much for Europe.

[BLUETIT]

Re: Scrap the group games next time

It was but that’s not his point. If seedings were in place France would most likely have been #1. They’d have played the 24th seed, which wouldn’t have been Germany

Ah, he’s speaking hypothetically