Which format do you prefer?

Dirty Schwein

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I was watching the opening game and whilst I was watching it, something felt off...

I realised that I prefer having one home nation. It just gives it that extra spice.

What say you?
 

Lay

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One host nation. It currently gives off qualifier vibes.
 

Desert Eagle

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Yeah too much of an advantage for teams that get to play at home. Although in a financial sense this is probably better as one country doesn't have to eat all the costs.
 

V.O.

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Yeah, pretty fecked off about Wales having to play an away game and two in fecking Baku when England and Scotland get to play all of their group games in London and Glasgow.
 
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It’s ridiculous to have so many ‘home matches’.

The environmental impact is also atrocious- albeit limited by Covid.
 

KeanoMagicHat

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It's a bad idea but also nobody wants to host these tournaments anymore, they take a lot of money to host. And they keep expanding them, Euros is now 24 teams, World Cup soon to be 48 teams. Euro 2016 took 20 games more than Euro 2020 to eliminate just 8 more teams, is it really worth it? UEFA and Fifa only care about the €€€.
 
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It's a bad idea but also nobody wants to host these tournaments anymore, they take a lot of money to host. And they keep expanding them, Euros is now 24 teams, World Cup soon to be 48 teams. Euro 2016 took 20 games more than Euro 2020 to eliminate just 8 more teams, is it really worth it? UEFA and Fifa only care about the €€€.
I think countries do want to host these tournaments. However, FIFA/ UEFA seem to be obsessed with ‘spreading the love’ of who hosts the tournaments.

the issue with that is the demands on infrastructure and stadiums.
 

Oranges038

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Better off with one nation with fans from all over converging on one country it adds that extra bit of atmosphere and interest to it.

I think the all inclusive attitude to that seems to be going into these tournaments will actually reduce the interest and excitement around them.
 

NoPace

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I'm concerned about the expansion to 24, feels like every game against a big team might involve the smaller team trying to get a 0-0 or even a 1-0 loss for tiebreaker reasons, than trying their luck against their tier 2 and 3 brethren.
 

Poltophagy

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It's complete shite. No fans, no atmosphere and shameless home advantages to the top teams. Somebody's had too much cash to drink over at the FAs.
 
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I'm concerned about the expansion to 24, feels like every game against a big team might involve the smaller team trying to get a 0-0 or even a 1-0 loss for tiebreaker reasons, than trying their luck against their tier 2 and 3 brethren.
with all due respect, when you have teams like North Macedonia in the tournament… the net has been cast far too far.
 

Grib

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I'm concerned about the expansion to 24, feels like every game against a big team might involve the smaller team trying to get a 0-0 or even a 1-0 loss for tiebreaker reasons, than trying their luck against their tier 2 and 3 brethren.
This, I watched every group game last euros and most of them were absolute bore fests as the smaller nations best chance to get through isn't nicking a win it's to grab a couple of points and hope you get a best placed third
 

tentan

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The normal format (one nation hosting all the games). And also wish it to go back to 20 teams. This best 3rd place teams nonsense is stupid and all.
 

Charlie Foley

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The normal format (one nation hosting all the games). And also wish it to go back to 20 teams. This best 3rd place teams nonsense is stupid and all.
Do you mean 16? How would 20 work without a third place team qualifying?
 

el3mel

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One host nation and also no 3rd position qualifying. It honestly makes the group and the first KO stages almost like extended qualifications with the actual tournament starting from QF.
 

FattyFooty

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The Euros was great with 16 teams. 2 advancing and one host nation.

I'm glad it's on. But it just doesn't feel right.
 

Ayoba

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One host nation for sure! I just love the festive atmosphere that it brings. Right now it feels very isolated
 

youngrell

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The split nations was a rubbish idea before, doing it now is even worse. They should have scrapped it and used one country for both the safety and atmosphere.

As for the size, keep it big, I like Wales being there :D
 

Swiss_Red89

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I find it a bit of an unequal competition. I don't want to moan, but look at the example of Switzerland:

Our team has to play in Baku today.
For the game against Italy on wednesday they have to travel to rome.
And then they have to travel all the way back to baku for the game against Turkey.

Meanwhile Italy can chill in Rome all the time and Wales/Turkey at least don't have to travel between Rom and Baku two times.
It's definitely an disadvantage.

I can't get my head around on why you put a game location to fecking Baku, we've so many beautiful citys and stadiums in Europe.
 
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redshaw

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I'm surprised there's not more uproar about it, seems grossly unfair to have some teams able to play at home often while others have to jet around Europe and beyond.

Much better to have one home nation and all other ties be neutral.

We also saw this type of planning in the previous Europa final with Chelsea vs Arsenal not actually being played in Europe, fans had very far to go, limited options to get there and shite stadium
 

saivet

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Since everyone seems against it, I'll go against the grain. It gives a lot of fans the opportunity to see their country in a home game at a major tournament. Peter Schmiechel mentioned on a podcast how this will be a really proud moment for Denmark.

Given the pandemic, I think there's a case it works better for fans. A lot of fans will get to see their home nation without having to travel. With all the travel restrictions, it puts a deterrent on fans travelling around Europe. If it's in one country, would government really be keen on flocks of people coming into the country from different places?

I haven't looked into but I'd also assume less money would be required to update infrastructure or build new stadiums.

That being said, I'm not a big fan of it but as a one off I have no real issue. The expansion which allows more 3rd place teams to qualify is a much bigger issue in my opinion.
 
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Since everyone seems against it, I'll go against the grain. It gives a lot of fans the opportunity to see their country in a home game at a major tournament. Peter Schmiechel mentioned on a podcast how this will be a really proud moment for Denmark.

Given the pandemic, I think there's a case it works better for fans. A lot of fans will get to see their home nation without having to travel. With all the travel restrictions, it puts a deterrent on fans travelling around Europe. If it's in one country, would government really be keen on flocks of people coming into the country from different places?

I haven't looked into but I'd also assume less money would be required to update infrastructure or build new stadiums.

That being said, I'm not a big fan of it but as a one off I have no real issue. The expansion which allows more 3rd place teams to qualify is a much bigger issue in my opinion.
perhaps it works because of Covid.

but without Covid, I think the format is farcical. Fans, players, officials flip flopping across Europe.
 

Mark_Barca

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Extending the amount of teams qualifying has diluted and tournament and made it less exciting. The various hosts countries is a shambles as well. Fifa are going to ruin the WC with their expansion and UEFA are ruining the CL with passing another shambolic change.
 

Cal?

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Not that I’d want it to happen I think 20 is still too much but you could have 4 groups of 5 with the top 2 advancing to the QFs
Groups of 5 are always a terrible area, one quick look at the ridiculous format of the Copa America this year and you'll see.

One team will always have to sit out on each match day, meaning the group stage is not shorter and also one team goes into the final matchday with their fate out of their hands and the other teams knowing exactly what they need to qualify, incentivizes fixing draws etc.
 

JPRouve

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I find it a bit of an unequal competition. I don't want to moan, but look at the example of Switzerland:

Our team has to play in Baku today.
For the game against Italy on wednesday they have to travel to rome.
And then they have to travel all the way back to baku for the game against Turkey.

Meanwhile Italy can chill in Rome all the time and Wales/Turkey at least don't have to travel between Rom and Baku two times.
It's definitely an disadvantage.

I can't get my head around on why you put a game location to fecking Baku, we've so many beautiful citys and stadiums in Europe.
You are right to moan, it's a ridiculous and unfair organization. At the very least each country should have a home game, if not they shouldn't be crossing an entire continent back and forth.
 

Cascarino

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I think it’s unfair that a lot of teams will get home games, and some will get none. Just seems weird.

I also like having one host nation (or a joint hosting),not sure why but it just feels more special, more of a tournament feel than having to jet around the map. It also makes it an absolute pain to follow your team.
 

rcoobc

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One, two, three or four proper home nations.
 

Tonicruise

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I don't like this format at all, too many teams gets to play at home. It's more fair and intresting to have every team decend onto one country a lot better for the fans too. I hope this is a one time thing.
 

KirkDuyt

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I prefer one hosting nation so all the hooligans can fight eachother in the same place.

Im happy I get to actually go to a game because it's played close to home.
 

Scarlett Dracarys

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Why did they do this ? Was it Covid related ? Maybe because of travel restrictions they wanted everyone to have a chance to go to a game ?
 

KirkDuyt

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Why did they do this ? Was it Covid related ? Maybe because of travel restrictions they wanted everyone to have a chance to go to a game ?
Was decided long before Covid. I'm quite sure it's for commercial reasons, as is everything.