Paullow Posted June 7 Share Posted June 7 52 minutes ago, Superior Acuña said: I like having more smaller sides, but I don't like how 3 can go through from groups. I'd rather they just make it 32 if it's going to be more than 16. There probably is just about enough teams to have a 32 team event - Sweden and Norway are obvious candidates and have players most would want to see. Greece actually won it 20 years ago. Not sure if Russia will ever get back to playing UEFA event, but they would be another. It kind feel like Iceland's golden era is coming to an end, and many suspected, but they did make the QF in 2016, and even qualified for the World Cup only 6 years ago, and would have only been one of 13 or 14 European nations, so they could be in and not look too out of place. The likes of Wales, Ireland, Northern Ireland feel more important from a home nations perspective, but at least 1 of those could be included. Struggling after that, but if you added in a couple from Finland, Montenegro, Israel, Bosnia etc. then it wouldn't dilute the quality too much and most of those would have had a player over the years who most would want to see, like a Litmanen, Djeko. Obviously if it was extended to 32 then qualification among the better sides would be pretty pointless and you'd never get a Netherlands type missing out, like they did in 2016, but I don't think I'd be against it if it was going to expand again. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bizza Posted June 8 Share Posted June 8 16 teams for the Euros was perfect, 32 would be madness. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaizero Posted June 8 Share Posted June 8 (edited) On 07/06/2024 at 13:39, Superior Acuña said: I like having more smaller sides, but I don't like how 3 can go through from groups. I'd rather they just make it 32 if it's going to be more than 16. I'm all for a 64 nation WC and a 32 nation EC tbh. If EC 2024 was 32 nations, the ones that'd be there now (out of the non-qualified sides) would likely be Greece, Wales, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Montenegro, Israel and Luxembourg. None of which I'd have an issue with seeing get three matches in an EC tournament (bar Israel, of course, but for political reasons - not sporting). Out of the teams in the EC qualifiers, that'd mean only 24* (26 if we were to include Russia and Belarus) would not qualify for the final EC tournament. That means more sides would qualify for the finals than didn't, but nobody cares about the EC qualifiers - I want to see teams play at the EC itself. So even if it seems kinda dumb on paper to have more teams qualify than not, it'd make for a more fun final tournament and more nations/fans involved - as well as increasing the likelihood of a minnow nation or two managing to put together a run that'd create some upsets. As you, I hate the concept of three teams advancing from a group of four. I support any move, be it less nations at the tournament or more, that would ensure that we can get back to two out of four teams advancing from the group stage. * It's past midnight and I generally suck at counting, so don't quote me on that being the correct number Edited June 8 by Kaizero Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gdm Posted June 9 Share Posted June 9 Us Scots have arrived Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattypnufc Posted June 10 Share Posted June 10 11 hours ago, gdm said: Us Scots have arrived Genuinely buckled Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramirez Posted June 10 Share Posted June 10 On 07/06/2024 at 02:16, Paullow said: So now that we have had a couple of 24 team editions, do you prefer 16 or 24? There are a few less fancied sides like Georgia and Albania involved, but still enough relatively decent sides (or certainly big name players) that have missed out which doesn't make qualification totally redundant - Sweden, Norway, Greece and even Wales would all have added something to the event. There are 51 matches rather than the usual 31, so great for those, like myself, who will watch anything, but maybe not so much for those preferring quality, and the worst thing about the change is the 4 third placed teams advancing as it does mean less jeopardy in most group matches, and when you see groups containing Spain, Italy and Croatia, you realise there's actually a decent chance they will all progress anyway. It won't change, and probably more likely they would try and squeeze 32 than going back to 16, but overall are you in favour of the larger tournament? It definitely dilutes the quality, from the 16 team days you could usually make a case for 8-9 potential winners, so more than half the field. That said I favour Wales for tenuous reasons so haven't been bothered much until this edition, although Wales would have qualified anyway in 16 I think. It annoys the OCD in me that you can't do a proper bracket now, and like others have said it makes the qualifying extremely tedious for the top nations. 8 teams was mental France never even qualified to defend title in 88 and in 92 you had Italy, Spain and Belgium all miss out. Watching it back it definitely didn't have the same 'big tournament' feel until expansion in 96, although i'm sure others would disagree. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NSG Posted June 10 Share Posted June 10 I just can’t get with a format where you can finish 3rd out of 4 in a group and still go through. The 48 team World Cup will be dreadful Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SEMTEX Posted June 11 Share Posted June 11 (edited) Does anyone have written evidence of that top scorer game thing we did that Wullie suggested many moons ago? This was probably for Italia 1990 or some torno a long long time ago. Trying to work out what to do with mates and can't remember the rules. Edited June 11 by SEMTEX Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pata Posted June 12 Share Posted June 12 On 09/06/2024 at 01:28, Kaizero said: I'm all for a 64 nation WC and a 32 nation EC tbh. If EC 2024 was 32 nations, the ones that'd be there now (out of the non-qualified sides) would likely be Greece, Wales, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Montenegro, Israel and Luxembourg. None of which I'd have an issue with seeing get three matches in an EC tournament (bar Israel, of course, but for political reasons - not sporting). Out of the teams in the EC qualifiers, that'd mean only 24* (26 if we were to include Russia and Belarus) would not qualify for the final EC tournament. That means more sides would qualify for the finals than didn't, but nobody cares about the EC qualifiers - I want to see teams play at the EC itself. So even if it seems kinda dumb on paper to have more teams qualify than not, it'd make for a more fun final tournament and more nations/fans involved - as well as increasing the likelihood of a minnow nation or two managing to put together a run that'd create some upsets. As you, I hate the concept of three teams advancing from a group of four. I support any move, be it less nations at the tournament or more, that would ensure that we can get back to two out of four teams advancing from the group stage. * It's past midnight and I generally suck at counting, so don't quote me on that being the correct number I'm all for making it 32 teams just to fix the structure and come up with something else to replace to qualifiers. Northern Macedonia was good fun in 2021 and it's always interesting to see new countries on the biggest stage. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WilliamPS Posted June 12 Share Posted June 12 The 16 team euros was great as most of the matches were contests and the knockout rounds were high quality. It was a short but quality competition Europe doesn’t have 24 watchable sides so now in the pursuit of £££ the quality of the tournament is diluted. Once the change is made it’s done though as they will never agree a measure that reduces revenue Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WilliamPS Posted June 12 Share Posted June 12 Ps I also don’t think these expansions are fair on the players Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted June 12 Share Posted June 12 Geed up Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Prontonise Posted June 12 Share Posted June 12 2 hours ago, WilliamPS said: The 16 team euros was great as most of the matches were contests and the knockout rounds were high quality. It was a short but quality competition Europe doesn’t have 24 watchable sides so now in the pursuit of £££ the quality of the tournament is diluted. Once the change is made it’s done though as they will never agree a measure that reduces revenue I find it awful, simply doesn't make sense how it's harder to get knocked out than go through. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeyt Posted June 13 Share Posted June 13 Think I'm coming down with a bad case of Euros fever Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted June 13 Share Posted June 13 7 hours ago, joeyt said: Think I'm coming down with a bad case of Euros fever 1 more sleep Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted June 14 Share Posted June 14 Am I just a fucking old cunt or is this the least hyped tournament in ages? I’m on the road a fair bit and I’ve only seen one beflagged car. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mondonewc Posted June 14 Share Posted June 14 24 minutes ago, Rich said: Am I just a fucking old cunt or is this the least hyped tournament in ages? I’m on the road a fair bit and I’ve only seen one beflagged car. Usually the hype and flags don't come out in force until knockout stages. I'm buzzing for it, will watch every game, 3 games a day what's not to love! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkie Posted June 14 Share Posted June 14 1 hour ago, Rich said: Am I just a fucking old cunt or is this the least hyped tournament in ages? I’m on the road a fair bit and I’ve only seen one beflagged car. I was thinking the same. Mrs and I were searching through the various TV apps last night just to find anything at all to get hyped; couldn't find a thing beyond the very earnest Gazetta Football-style magazine show in ITVX. I'm craving a bit of Fantasy Football-style banter build-up. Got me wondering if it's a symptom of the relentless football calendar. There's no breathing space to build the hype train; the season feels like it's never really finished, with the European finals and friendlies. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeyt Posted June 14 Share Posted June 14 A part of the excitement for me was discovering new exciting players but I think with so much extensive scouting, social media etc there's not too many players that are complete unknowns these days. I realise I was a lot younger but when Senegal and South Korea did so well at the World Cup 2002 there was genuine fun and excitement watching these players we knew nothing about being able to beat the big boys Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bizza Posted June 14 Share Posted June 14 28 minutes ago, Yorkie said: Got me wondering if it's a symptom of the relentless football calendar. There's no breathing space to build the hype train; the season feels like it's never really finished, with the European finals and friendlies. This. It just never stops these days. Next seasons PL fixtures are out next week ffs. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaizero Posted June 14 Share Posted June 14 2 hours ago, joeyt said: A part of the excitement for me was discovering new exciting players but I think with so much extensive scouting, social media etc there's not too many players that are complete unknowns these days. I realise I was a lot younger but when Senegal and South Korea did so well at the World Cup 2002 there was genuine fun and excitement watching these players we knew nothing about being able to beat the big boys Used to love following the transfer window after major international tournaments back in the day to see if any of the "unknown" players that shined at the tournament would get snapped up by big clubs. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeyt Posted June 14 Share Posted June 14 Felt like every Prem club wanted a shiny Senegal player in the 2002 summer transfer window Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaizero Posted June 14 Share Posted June 14 3 minutes ago, joeyt said: Felt like every Prem club wanted a shiny Senegal player in the 2002 summer transfer window Didn't just feel like it, was it not something like 7 out of 23 Senegal players that got a transfer to a PL club following the WC? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LiquidAK Posted June 14 Share Posted June 14 Has snuck on me a bit this, but as the day has gone on I've gotten more and more excited. Fucking love an international tournament Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted June 14 Share Posted June 14 (edited) Totally didn’t know this started this weekend, but I’ll try to catch some games. Trying to give my marriage a break from the constant football so I can make it to the start of the PL with some credit Edited June 14 by AyeDubbleYoo Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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