I remember Euro 92, and for sure 8 wasn't enough. I thought 16 was perfect though, from the first game to the last most games carried a significant amount of importance, this time I imagine there will numerous dead rubbers. I liked the fact that at each Euros certain teams missed out on qualifying, now we've got 24 of 53 teams making it through it just seems like too many, take out the real minnows like andorra, san marino and Scotland and it's basically half the teas getting there, with only 16 it made the whole qualification stage before the championships that much more important and difficult. I actually preferred the Euros to the World cup because I saw it as a really tough competition with few mismatches as it took only the 16 top teams. I'd actually rather see 32 teams than 24, I hate that 4 of the 6 teams coming 3rd in the group stages will qualify for the knockouts, that to me is just bobbins.
You know the same number of teams go through the groups in a 32 team tournament as a 24 team one, right? 32 would definitely be too many. There are only 53 UEFA members, that is near enough half of the confederation qualifying. Qualifying is already way too easy for the big nations. I think they should've made it like the old 24-team World Cups, and had a second group stage.
It is a hypocritcal view on my side, i'll admit! I just thought 16 teams was perfect, i'd prefer 32 over 24 from a numerical perspective. Not old enough to remember a WC with 2 group stages, did it work well?
I'm not old enough either (the last tournament to do it was 1982 World Cup). Obviously it does have faults, England went out of the 1982 World Cup without losing a game. It just seems more definitive to me. The 1986, 1990 and 1994 World Cups had this current Euro format, so it obviously does work.
I didnt remember it until he said it. It happened in Spain last I think, when England got knocked out without losing a single game. It lacks the drama of pens but might be seen as 'fairer'. Of course, you also get more risk of dead rubbers and the farce of Austria vs Germany (I know that wasnt in a second group stage,but you get the point).
hmm, just checked '82 world cup on wiki, and yes that would make more sense at the initial group stage and solve my issue of teams getting through coming third, but conversely creates other issues. There is no easy answer with 24 teams.
Got Football Manager 2016 a couple of days ago, and Euro 2016 has just finished in my save. England won the final on penalties against Belgium. Would be nice for the same to happen in about a months' time...
18. On a side note, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was top scorer and best player of the tournament. Unlucky Woy.
The Independent's run a story saying he's been sent home, but a bloke from Sky Sports Spain has tweeted that he was just sat with him in the team hotel and he's gone nowhere. He's not actually accused of rape (as far as I'm aware), he's accused of arranging for a girl to meet someone, who allegedly went on to rape her.
"Spanish online newspaper ElDiario.es said investigators were treating the witness's information with a 'great deal of credibility' and had ruled out the possibility she was motivated by money. She claimed Torbe drove her to the sex date at a suite in the hotel where she met the footballers and another woman - and was ordered to 'do whatever they wanted'. She was then warned to keep her mouth shut about what had happened. The newspaper also said the money she had been promised never materialised." reminds me of a joke, cant remember the comedian. A bloke says to him if i give you a million quid will you suck my cock? Next time I'll remember to get the money in advance...
England fans behaviour in Marseille. Pretty ****ing disgraceful. I tire of these knobheads that follow international football that go simply for a 'Scrap'. I'd knee cap every last one of the motherfuckers.
While while I do agree glp, how many England are out there? 5 10 thousand, there's a few hundred idiots twatting about egged on by the press and the local idiots wanting a go. Plus don't think the Russians, swedes etc are angels.
