The EC in Germany was supposed to be a dream, and it started as a championship that exceeded all our dreams. Goals were almost scored in the first round of the group stage. Spectacular goals and playful play are what we remember from the first week. But something has happened. The playfulness and the willingness to take risks have disappeared on the field. We already saw it in round two of the group stage. The Netherlands and France were then pitted against each other. To the surprise of many, they played 0–0. But we saw early on that no one would risk anything to win that game. BORED?: Kylian Mbappè had no reason to put everything in the pot to advance from the group stage when France met Poland, news’s commentator duo believes. Photo: Bernadett Szabo / Reuters For the third time, the European Football Championship will be played with a total of 24 teams. This means that almost half of the 55 full members of Uefa can participate in this summer’s football party. Until 1992, only 8 teams took part in the play-offs and in the years between 1996 and 2012 the number was 16. Since 1998, the WC play-offs have had 32 teams. What these numbers have in common is that divided by four gives a number of groups which makes it easy to create a cup game where only the two best teams from each group advance. With 24 teams, it’s much worse. In the EC, the two best from each group advance, as well as four out of six third-place finishers. Unfortunately, it weakens the desire to score goals beyond the group stage. 36 games are used to knock out just eight teams. Then we believe that most people have more to lose than to win. COULD GO FOR 0-0: This Danish side finished second in their group after playing 0-0 against Serbia. It was a game they hardly needed to go for the win in. Photo: Antonio Calanni / AP The history of the last years’ EC and WC play-offs in the years 1986 to 1994 clearly shows that four points after two rounds sends you through to the cup game. With the draw both France and the Netherlands knew they were through before the final game. Thus, neither team was particularly interested in risking anything to get all three points. It had to be 0-0. In the last round, we had three more goalless games. Neither Belgium, Slovenia nor Denmark had any reason to try too hard to win their match. They faced teams that also had in mind that a draw could be a usable result. The excitement was alive, but if you didn’t watch these matches, you didn’t miss anything. 16 THE MAGIC NUMBER: Carl-Erik Torp and Andreas Stabrun Smith believe that this is the ideal number for participating countries in the EC. They are critical of 24 teams, with which the German EC started. Photo: MARIUS SIMENSEN / BILDBYRÅN NORWAY The EC format must be changed. And as soon as possible. The alternatives are to reduce the play-off to 16 teams, or increase it to 32. It will either be an elite tournament with the best in Europe, or a tournament in which more than half of the countries can participate. The tribune party in Germany had managed eight nations and twelve more games. Still, 16 is perhaps the best number. Either way, football will get better. Several teams must be on the offensive. Because no one can feel safe after two games, if they haven’t won both. We believe in more party football with such a format. And that’s what we want. See the highlights from the match 03:38 Tame English national team further in the European Championship 01:39 Austria shocked with victory over the Netherlands and as group winner 03:31 See the highlights here 03:47 Show more Published 27/06/2024, at 18.34 Updated 27.06.2024, at 18.37
ttn-69
