European Championships set to increase to 24 teams for 2016

esmufc07 · 28th June 2008, 23:15

Quote:

The European Championships look certain to be expanded from 16 to 24 teams after the proposal today won universal support from Uefa's 53 member countries.

A final decision will be taken by Uefa's executive committee in September but there was no opposition to the plan when it was raised at a meeting of association presidents and general secretaries in Vienna today.

The change would come into force for Euro 2016 and was originally put forward by the Scottish FA last year. Their chief executive Gordon Smith said he was delighted by the response. "It's something Uefa has seen no real disadvantage to - it will only means a few extra days of the tournament and there is no down side in terms of loss of revenue.

"The feeling in the meeting was everyone else was in favour as well. There's an appetite for it, everyone appreciated the advantages and no one spoke against it.

"It will make the qualifying competition more attractive as more teams come into the mix and that will keep the group alive longer.

"We just missed out for this tournament behind Italy and France but under the proposed new regulations we would have qualified."

An Italian Football Federation spokesman said: "It was 100%, it will happen for 2016 and it will boost the smaller nations."

Uefa president Michel Platini had earlier insisted that increasing the size of the tournament would not affect the quality of the competition.

He said: "Remember, I won the Euros [in 1984] when there were only eight teams. It is not certain it was better with eight teams than 16 or that 16 is better than 24 or 32 or 54.

"I am not worried about the quality by increasing the number of teams. Countries like England, Denmark, Scotland, Ireland, Belgium, Serbia, Ukraine and Bulgaria all have the ability to participate in a European Championship.

"Would they reduce the quality of the Euro? I believe they have the quality to take part. There are teams that could be at the Euros and even enhance the quality of the competition."

The European Championship finals were between just four teams from 1960 until 1976, and that rose to eight teams in 1980. The first 16-team finals were at Euro 96 in England.

Too many for my liking, would increase the number of shit teams in it, which is seeminngly what Platini wants to do to all UEFA Competitions.

VoetbalWizard · 28th June 2008, 23:19

england can have a better chance to qualify now.

MrMarcello · 28th June 2008, 23:35

/\
Beat me to it. Great news for all of Britain (pun).

Terrible news in reality. Too many nations.

ZIDANE · 28th June 2008, 23:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrMarcello

/\
Beat me to it. Great news for all of Britain (pun).

Terrible news in reality. Too many nations.

Beat me to it with the whole post.

More money though eh...

Count Duckula · 28th June 2008, 23:46

Well, increasing it by eight teams doesn't necessarily dilute the quality. Here's a game for you: name eight teams missing from the current competition who, if present, wouldn't have lowered the quality significantly. Hmm...

I'd go with:

England
Ireland
Scotland
Denmark
Serbia
Norway
Ukraine
Bulgaria

Addition: reading the full interview, it appears Platini has picked almost identical teams to these to represent his chosen eight. Shows that there is a situation where more teams joining would be viable in that it wouldn't lessen the quality.

Those teams wouldn't lessen the quality overmuch (especially considering we had such amazing teams as Switzerland and Greece already there, albeit due to non-qualification reasons). Bulgaria and the Ukraine are probably the weakest inclusions, but even then I don't think they're any worse than teams already there. The others are teams that the competition actually misses, and would probably have made it since most came third in their groups.

The problem would arise when it comes to the knockout stages. Twenty-four teams does not divide nicely into a tree format like sixteen teams does (where the top two teams from each group go straight into the quarter-finals). The only ways around this, that I can see, would be to have:

The top two from each group (there being twelve groups of four) go through, with additional members based on performance (goals scored, goals conceded, maybe cards to encourage disclipline) allowing certain third-placed members through, too. Much like the Copa America, where there are three groups, and two third-placed teams also qualify for the knockout rounds. There would, of course, have to be an additional knockout round in this format, with sixteen teams entering the knockout stage (as at the World Cup), and not eight.
The additional eight teams are added to the existing four groups, meaning that a group would consist of six teams and not four. This would liven up the groups somewhat, especially as it would remain with only the top two progressing. The chances of a "group of death" akin to the Netherland's group this tournament would be significantly higher, and would raise interest in the group stages as well as the knockouts. This would work similarly to the qualifying groups, where five or six teams compete for only two spots, the only difference being only one game is played on neutral ground, rather than separate home and away games.

Sean_RedDevil · 29th June 2008, 01:16

Isn´t it just about more money for the UEFA!?

Successful · 29th June 2008, 01:28

I think the cup is too small at the moment. It is over within no time, and the effort to take you there is awfully painful. At the moment there are too many good european sides that can't participate, and having more teams in it would of course increase the interest for the sport and generate more money and blablabla. I would like to see it yes.

AhmedDimwitson · 29th June 2008, 02:12

Not such a big different in the euros as most teams are quite competitive in Europe (i.e. England not qualifying..)..different in the worldcup where you soon will see the likes of Togo etc in it.

Cal? · 29th June 2008, 18:49

Does that mean 12 smaller groups of qualification?

If so, definitely a great idea, fewer stupid internationals

Kelvin · 29th June 2008, 22:14

good news for england then.

Amir · 29th June 2008, 22:54

That will be terrible - almost half of the European teams reaching the finals. The qualifying tournament, which isn't the most interesting already, will be a total bore, and the quality of the final tournament will decrease.

Red Pavan · 29th June 2008, 23:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by VoetbalWizard

england can have a better chance to qualify now.

Maybe

wancolos · 29th June 2008, 23:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Count Duckula

Well, increasing it by eight teams doesn't necessarily dilute the quality. Here's a game for you: name eight teams missing from the current competition who, if present, wouldn't have lowered the quality significantly. Hmm...

I'd go with:

England
Ireland
Scotland
Denmark
Serbia

Norway
Ukraine
Bulgaria

Meh, we're rubbish.

KingEric7 · 29th June 2008, 23:20

Ahh, i see what he's doing here. Platini's trying to win over more people again.

zain · 30th June 2008, 10:36

Errr..just a question..
How does the format work if there's 24 teams in it?

Sarni · 30th June 2008, 11:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by zain

Errr..just a question..
How does the format work if there's 24 teams in it?

Winners from each groups + the best two of second placed teams, which is a nonsense because in the just finished tournament Italy wouldn't have made it, whereas Turkey and Germany (both in piss easy groups) would.

zain · 30th June 2008, 21:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarni

Winners from each groups + the best two of second placed teams, which is a nonsense because in the just finished tournament Italy wouldn't have made it, whereas Turkey and Germany (both in piss easy groups) would.

Fair enough...
though bet you didn't complain about it in the 99 CL now did you ?

Sonny1972 · 30th June 2008, 21:27

How many countries are in Europe ?? I think 24 is way to much.

Steev · 30th June 2008, 22:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sonny1972

How many countries are in Europe ?? I think 24 is way to much.

53 countries make up the qualifying groups at the moment.

If it did go to 24 teams, they'd probably introduce a second round where the top two from each of the six groups qualify for the last sixteen, along with four best third-placed teams (like the World Cup used to be before it expanded to 32 teams).

The Boxer · 1st July 2008, 03:51

Should stick to 16. Quality over quantity.

jasonrh · 1st July 2008, 04:13

53 federations in Europe. 24 teams in the Euros.

That means nearly half of Europe will be in the damned thing.

In contrast 32 of 210 federations are in the World Cup.

28th June 2008, 23:46	#5 (permalink)
Count Duckula First Team Sub Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: In the corner, losing my religion. Posts: 5,716	Well, increasing it by eight teams doesn't necessarily dilute the quality. Here's a game for you: name eight teams missing from the current competition who, if present, wouldn't have lowered the quality significantly. Hmm... I'd go with: England Ireland Scotland Denmark Serbia Norway Ukraine Bulgaria Addition: reading the full interview, it appears Platini has picked almost identical teams to these to represent his chosen eight. Shows that there is a situation where more teams joining would be viable in that it wouldn't lessen the quality. Those teams wouldn't lessen the quality overmuch (especially considering we had such amazing teams as Switzerland and Greece already there, albeit due to non-qualification reasons). Bulgaria and the Ukraine are probably the weakest inclusions, but even then I don't think they're any worse than teams already there. The others are teams that the competition actually misses, and would probably have made it since most came third in their groups. The problem would arise when it comes to the knockout stages. Twenty-four teams does not divide nicely into a tree format like sixteen teams does (where the top two teams from each group go straight into the quarter-finals). The only ways around this, that I can see, would be to have: The top two from each group (there being twelve groups of four) go through, with additional members based on performance (goals scored, goals conceded, maybe cards to encourage disclipline) allowing certain third-placed members through, too. Much like the Copa America, where there are three groups, and two third-placed teams also qualify for the knockout rounds. There would, of course, have to be an additional knockout round in this format, with sixteen teams entering the knockout stage (as at the World Cup), and not eight. The additional eight teams are added to the existing four groups, meaning that a group would consist of six teams and not four. This would liven up the groups somewhat, especially as it would remain with only the top two progressing. The chances of a "group of death" akin to the Netherland's group this tournament would be significantly higher, and would raise interest in the group stages as well as the knockouts. This would work similarly to the qualifying groups, where five or six teams compete for only two spots, the only difference being only one game is played on neutral ground, rather than separate home and away games.

28th June 2008, 23:19	#2 (permalink)
VoetbalWizard Reserve Team Player Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 4,172	england can have a better chance to qualify now.

28th June 2008, 23:35	#3 (permalink)
MrMarcello First Team Regular Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Saha's hospital room Posts: 18,690	/\ Beat me to it. Great news for all of Britain (pun). Terrible news in reality. Too many nations.

29th June 2008, 01:16	#6 (permalink)
Sean_RedDevil Reserve Team Player Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Close to Villa Park Posts: 1,730	Isn´t it just about more money for the UEFA!?

29th June 2008, 01:28	#7 (permalink)
Successful Straight Guy Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: On top of the league Posts: 2,792	I think the cup is too small at the moment. It is over within no time, and the effort to take you there is awfully painful. At the moment there are too many good european sides that can't participate, and having more teams in it would of course increase the interest for the sport and generate more money and blablabla. I would like to see it yes.

29th June 2008, 02:12	#8 (permalink)
AhmedDimwitson The Expert Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: FI Posts: 5,164	Not such a big different in the euros as most teams are quite competitive in Europe (i.e. England not qualifying..)..different in the worldcup where you soon will see the likes of Togo etc in it.

29th June 2008, 18:49	#9 (permalink)
Cal? from Redcafe (matchfixing department) Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: We want our own TV deal... Posts: 11,627	Does that mean 12 smaller groups of qualification? If so, definitely a great idea, fewer stupid internationals

29th June 2008, 22:14	#10 (permalink)
Kelvin First Team Sub Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 8,980	good news for england then.

29th June 2008, 22:54	#11 (permalink)
Amir First Team Regular Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Rehovot, Israel Posts: 10,031	That will be terrible - almost half of the European teams reaching the finals. The qualifying tournament, which isn't the most interesting already, will be a total bore, and the quality of the final tournament will decrease.

29th June 2008, 23:20	#14 (permalink)
KingEric7 Winner of the Tabata bet Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Patrice Evra is that which no greater can be conceived. Posts: 12,788	Ahh, i see what he's doing here. Platini's trying to win over more people again.

30th June 2008, 10:36	#15 (permalink)
zain Believe Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Only around where Top Reds are! Posts: 1,348	Errr..just a question.. How does the format work if there's 24 teams in it?

30th June 2008, 21:27	#18 (permalink)
Sonny1972 Reserve Team Player Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: i knew i was nuts when the squirrels started staring at me Posts: 1,084	How many countries are in Europe ?? I think 24 is way to much.

1st July 2008, 03:51	#20 (permalink)
The Boxer Youth Team Player Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Melbourne/Jakarta/Shanghai Posts: 474	Should stick to 16. Quality over quantity.

1st July 2008, 04:13	#21 (permalink)
jasonrh Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: "You sir, are the syphilitic cockbiscuit son of a hamster rimmer."; "Sir Alex Ferguson, trainer of the English champions, wants to start the spoon fruits since early." Posts: 57,742	53 federations in Europe. 24 teams in the Euros. That means nearly half of Europe will be in the damned thing. In contrast 32 of 210 federations are in the World Cup.