16 to 24 teams

[lawros left foot]

Has extending the number of teams in the Euro finals improved it?
Personally, I don't think so, it used to be the best international tournament, because it was the 16 best teams in the continent, and in the opening rounds they generally had to play to win. Now, it's 24, there are teams there who aren't up to it, and are just playing not to get hammered, and sneak into a third place.
The quality of the football, and the excitement of it has dropped, go back to 16 qualifiers please, UEFA.
,

 

[jonny.rainbow]

Has extending the number of teams in the Euro finals improved it?
Personally, I don't think so, it used to be the best international tournament, because it was the 16 best teams in the continent, and in the opening rounds they generally had to play to win. Now, it's 24, there are teams there who aren't up to it, and are just playing not to get hammered, and sneak into a third place.
The quality of the football, and the excitement of it has dropped, go back to 16 qualifiers please, UEFA.
,

Look, it was a tough night for England, but they earnt their place at this tournament fair and square.

 

[Green Cross Code Man]

Look, it was a tough night for England, but they earnt their place at this tournament fair and square.

Yes they did but lawro has a point. That was an appalling display by Slovenia.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

It's a joke system - Slovakia had no need to attack as 4 points will see them through.

Plus how is it fair that the last 2 groups will know what they need to get through.

May as well have each game at a different time again.

 

[Mellor 3 Ward 4]

Yes they did but lawro has a point. That was an appalling display by Slovenia.

Who?

 

[Pavilionaire]

There will probably be at least one team that wins one and loses two that goes through, and that can't be right.

 

[Statto]

Yes they did but lawro has a point. That was an appalling display by Slovenia.

Who were they playing then?

 

[lawros left foot]

Look, it was a tough night for England, but they earnt their place at this tournament fair and square.

It's not really England I'm on about, we usually only come second, it's Switzerland last night as well, no ambition to score, if France had scored they still had the fall back off third place, and to be honest, there's not been a good game since the first round of games. This tournament used to be the best, now it's a bloated bore fest

 

[WhingForPresident]

They did finish second in their qualifying group to their credit- beating Spain in the process- but the 'plucky underdogs' with their 'stick 10 on the line and try to scrape through in third' strategy makes for pretty poor viewing and tonight won't be the last time we see it.

If they'd been fighting for second place, that could've been a decent game.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

There will probably be at least one team that wins one and loses two that goes through, and that can't be right.

In theory you can go through with 1 point.

 

[Green Cross Code Man]

Who?

Who were they playing then?

Haha! I'm tired!

 

[studio150]

Yes they did but lawro has a point. That was an appalling display by Slovenia.

If you are a Slovakia supporter you would be happy with that defensive display and securing a point against a better team. England just didn't have the required quality to score against a team which was set up to secure a point (which they are permitted to do).

 

[Brovion]

If you are a Slovakia supporter you would be happy with that defensive display and securing a point against a better team. England just didn't have the required quality to score against a team which was set up to secure a point (which they are permitted to do).

Completely correct. People here sounding a bit like Ronaldo when he complained that Iceland didn't play an expansive, attacking game.

That being said the OP has a point. At these Group stages more teams qualify than go out, so we have seen a lot of damage limitation with the weaker teams playing for one of the third-placed slots. If Slovakia had needed a win to secure second they wouldn't have been quite so defensive - certainly not in the last 10 minutes or so. Anyway, pointless moaning about it as them's the rules and it won't go back to 16. Also it has given nations like Iceland and Albania their first taste of the finals of an international tournament.

 

[Worried Man Blues]

You don't have to score a goal to go through to the next round, poor system.

 

[The Birdman]

It's now set up for revenge against Portugal. Third time lucky.

 

[Kuipers Supporters Club]

It's now set up for revenge against Portugal. Third time lucky.

It is unlikely that Portugal will finish second in their group

 

[warmleyseagull]

Completely correct. People here sounding a bit like Ronaldo when he complained that Iceland didn't play an expansive, attacking game.

That being said the OP has a point. At these Group stages more teams qualify than go out, so we have seen a lot of damage limitation with the weaker teams playing for one of the third-placed slots. If Slovakia had needed a win to secure second they wouldn't have been quite so defensive - certainly not in the last 10 minutes or so. Anyway, pointless moaning about it as them's the rules and it won't go back to 16. Also it has given nations like Iceland and Albania their first taste of the finals of an international tournament.

Agree with most of this except the last point. Heard it a few times, but the reality is Iceland & NI won their groups so would have qualified in a 16 tournament. Albania and Wales were second and would have had best 2nd place/PO scenario, so certainly might have made a 16 team tournament.

Whatever, less than two goals per game on average is not great. France and Engalnd games were a bore. All we can say is that everyone seems to be having trouble winning easily

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

From England's persepctive, yes.it has spoiled it. Its made the group stage boring (although probably not for Slovakia fans) and it certainly made the qualifiers boring (but not for Wales, Iceland and Albania fans).

 

[Two Professors]

I think it's great watching the minnows like Iceland and Albania causing so many problems for the 'big' teams-bit like watching the FA Cup.

 

[spring hall convert]

Big money-spinner I imagine. Aside from that a total waste of time.