Knockout Stages

comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 2 hours, 7 minutes ago
comment by meltonblue (U10617)
posted 20 seconds ago
I can't really work out how they came up with the knockout stages, it seemed pre weighted in some groups favour anyway.
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Winners of groups A-D will have benefitted by getting the 3rd placed qualifiers.
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There is no logic to it, it is shambolic, which is why they moved on from it at world cups.

a 24 team format simply does not work for so many reasons.

Fans of teams like Albania have to kick their heels and pay a fortune to stick around in France for several days not knowing if they are even going to get another game.

Then of course the lopsided rest days for some teams, England having two days advantage over their next opponent.

And lord knows how anyone can think a team that finishes third in a qualifying group and then third in a tournament group deserves to still be alive in any tournament is beyond me.

Yeah, the 'lucky losers' system sucks.

Germany should of let NI equalise in injury time once they knew the Poland result

There is no logic to it, it is shambolic, which is why they moved on from it at world cups.

a 24 team format simply does not work for so many reasons.

Fans of teams like Albania have to kick their heels and pay a fortune to stick around in France for several days not knowing if they are even going to get another game.

Then of course the lopsided rest days for some teams, England having two days advantage over their next opponent.

And lord knows how anyone can think a team that finishes third in a qualifying group and then third in a tournament group deserves to still be alive in any tournament is beyond me.
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Probably a forerunner to introducing a 32 team tournament.

comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 16 hours, 3 minutes ago
comment by KingP1N (U19240)
posted 1 minute ago
Wale honestly have a very good shot at making the semi-finals
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Their Quarter is potentially Belgium or Portugal. But it could still be Hungary/Iceland or Sweden/Ireland
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Wales Portugal is a mouthwatering tie, bale vs Ronaldo

That could cause unrest in the Madrid dressing room.

Can you imagine Ronaldo if Wales knocked them out.

He would probably spit his dummy and ask for a transfer to psg

England scored first. By the logic of Robb and others Russia desperate to score should have resulted in more england goals as space would have appeared
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Better substitutes and a more confident manager would likely have seen that exact outcome.

The game was crying out for Vardy once we went 1-0 up. Instead, we got Milner.

comment by Boris 'Inky' Gibson (U5901)
posted 3 hours, 23 minutes ago

Probably a forerunner to introducing a 32 team tournament.
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There's only 50-odd countries in Europe though. Would make no sense to have a 2-year qualifying process just to eliminate Gibraltar, San Marino & co.

The fact the next tournament's being hosted across a number of countries is an odd one too.

There's some kinds of change afoot, imo, just not sure what it is they have in mind.

Comment Deleted by Site Moderator

I like the 3rd place thing.

No dead rubbers, always a punchers chance of qualifying going in to the last game.

I like the uncertainty of the draw too. A 3rd place side could be thrown in anywhere depending on the last day results

they sould cut down on qualifying also...let any team who has ever won the Euros in without needing to qualify polus the next highest ranks teams and the hosts up to 16.

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That would mean 2 years of no competitive games between World Cups for the top teams in Europe.

2 years of terrible friendlies <zzzzzzzz>