World Cup expansion approved...

Add a lot more to the personal bank accounts of those running the show maybe.

 

FIFA's exec pander to the needs of the crap footballing nations who don't qualify for these tournaments as their vote holds as much weight as a Brazilian or German vote when elections come around. They'd rather win votes and keep their cushy lives whilst demeaning the World Cup than do what is right

 

They'll make more money as there's more games will be the primary reason for the change. It will certainly be a proper festival of football, but much like this years Euros, the quality will be a bit suspect

 

More bore draws to come.

Time these tournament group systems were dispensed with. Unseeded knock-out tournaments are the way forward if you want exciting football, which I understand they don't.

 

The main problem with groups of 3 is

Fixtures will be
A v B
B v C
C v A

if team B lose their 2 games then the third game is dead as teams A & C will already have qualified.
Then it becomes a case of who might want to win the group (or coming second) depending on who they may play
in the next round, or where the game may be played etc.

It's shambolic.

 

I know the logistics preclude it from happening but I'd love to see an FA Cup style World Cup - all 200 teams or whatever it is drawn out of a hat each round and playing knock-out football from the beginning, once 32 teams are left matches played at a central tournament.

 

From what I have read it's about get more in from non-European federations. Africa, CONCAF and Asia. Oh and an extra 550 million dollars.....

 

Groups of 3 never go wrong, do they?

 

How'd you manage to say that with a straight face?

 

Don't think many European teams will take up an extra place. The main reason behind this (bar the obvious) is that some continents aren't represented enough.

I'd say around 4 will be from Europe, at most.

 

I think it'll make the finals themselves better, but it does make qualification largely pointless. I remember when just 8 teams used to qualify for the Euros, getting there was a massive achievement.

I'm pretty sure the reason they have done this is so big teams - Holland last year's example - always get there and at least the fans watch in numbers so they can sell more advertising at greater cost. Of course they'll never admit this and they'll talk about broadening the appeal of the game to a truly global audience.

 

Whilst it's a stupid idea - if only the top team qualifies from the 3 then there'll be no rigged games like before

 

I wonder if this would mean Australia deciding they're no longer Asian?

 

It'd be a bugger if you're that last qualifying country from Asia or CONCACAF and you can only take half a team

 

The minnow nations have bunged them a **** load that's what they've achieved.

Scotland have bribed each official with a battered crack pipe.

 

Simply too many games and too many teams. I get a bit bored during tournaments as it is and end up choosing games very carefully to watch. It would also be a real shame for fans attending tournament to see their team get knocked out after about 5 days (based on the presumption that there will be groups of 3 to start). Also, what about fans whose teams play in the first and third games in the group stage. They will be hanging around for 10 - 12 days between their team's games.
Yet another really stupid self-serving decision that alienates fans.

 

I don't necessarily agree with the consensus that the weaker teams are boring to watch. Some of the absolute worst games at last summer's euros involved the eventual winners Portugal - with the notable exception of the game against Hungary when they were all over the place and it was a high scoring draw in the end. The last few finals of tournaments have been really dull.

Watching poor quality football doesn't have to be less entertaining. Often the lesser discipline and organisation means there's more going on in both boxes.

It's still a **** idea mind.

 

So all three games end 0-0..Will it go down to number of corners won? / Number of yellow cards ? / Or a big brown paper bag full of $$$$$$$$$$