World Cup

Wasn’t thinking of the word being used in that context.

 

I just did, despite popular belief I pick my words carefully.




The views expressed in my posts are not necessarily mine.

 

Morocco manager Walid Regragui was speaking earlier about his country's epic run to the World Cup semi-finals.

They became the first African nation to reach the last four following victories over Belgium, Spain and Portugal.

Defending champions France are next up at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor on Wednesday and Regragui has assured the world his players are ready for the challenge.

"We had perhaps the most difficult route to the semis," he said. "Every round people thought we would get knocked out but we are still here and we are going to fight to the end.

"If you get to the semi-finals and you are not hungry then there is a problem.

"We want Africa to be top of the world, but we will have to be strong to progress. We are not the favourites but we are confident - maybe that makes me mad, crazy? A bit of crazy can be good."

 

Both those options are awful. The reason 4 team groups works so well is because half get eliminated, it works less well when you’ve got some teams looking not to concede to finish 3rd and go through when their record is better than other, harder, groups.

Just keep it to 32 teams. The format is perfect.

Or if you really must expand it, double it and have a one match play off to get in, really set the cat among the pigeons early doors.

 

Superb indeed

 

Up it to 50 teams.

10 groups of 5.

Top 3 qualify plus 2 best fourth place teams.

32 teams then enter an unseeded draw like the FA Cup.

Draw continues after completion of each round until the semi finals.


Radical.

 

I don’t hate this, but that’ll be a LOT of games in the first round. I feel like fatigue among the audience would really set in.

 

It's an odd number in the groups so not everyone is playing on the last day. also you still have the issue of having to wait until all the groups are done and then see which teams go through because they were slightly better than some teams they never even played. It amazes me that after all the years people put into watching football tournaments they still don't really understand what makes them actually exciting.

 

Increase it to 100 teams for me
Love it

 

The jocks still won't qualify!!!!

 

200 would be fine
It’s **** anyway

 

That means only 6 countries and recognised states wouldn't qualify...




So that would be Scotland and which other 5?

 

For a bit of balance, Scotland qualified for the World Cup in 1974 and 1978 and England didn't, so I supported Scotland.

 

The only thing I've ever supported in Scotland is a wife and 4 kids!!!

 

I wasn't in Scotland

 

I never said you were?