they should expand to 32 teams, this is absolutely dreadful, both Slovenia and Denmark had to only hold out for a draw to guarantee going through.
Slovakia and Romania can do a gentlemanly Draw to guarantee both going through, Belgium is fine with a draw , so from Group E only really Ukraine has to go for it.
At least in Group F both Georgia and Czechia are fighting for their lives and can go through with a win
oh and let’s not forget that now one side of the bracket will be absolutely stacked with Germany, Portugal, Spain, France and possibly Belgium all on the same side
*and belgium
I think the biggest problem is that there is no disadvantage for getting 3rd place over 2nd place. Sometimes it’s even better to be 3rd and get the easier side of the bracket than going through groups as the 2nd-placed team
If they want to have a RO16 then they should perhaps find a system where they put the group-winners one round ahead without playing while 2nd and 3rd places play each other - or that the third placed games has to play another knockout between themselves to join the others.
It’s horrible that the groups that play last have way more information about which amount of points will be enough to go through than the groups that finish first so it’s totally possible for some of them to just sit back knowing that they are already guaranteed to go through even if they get 3rd place.
yeah, with Hungary’s win and Croatia’s draw it made it rather easy for other teams to know what will be enough.
Honestly I don’t know if a 3rd vs 2nd playoff would make it better, or if having 32 teams and 8 weaker teams added is better.
I think at least the tie breaker for 3rd teams should reward wins higher than 3 draws. it’s really stupid that you can park the bus for 3 games and play anti-football and be rewarded for it because 3 pts and 0 gd is likely good enough.
Could easily make it 20 1st and 2nd are in with bye all 3rd and top 2 4th play each other. The down side group play will be meaningless.
