Are the Euros ready for expansion?

[johan neeskens]

UEFA is apparently currently considering expanding the Euros from 16 teams to 20-24 teams by 2016.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=548939&cc=4716

What do you guys think? Good idea or not? Personally I like it the way it is. 16 teams maximum. The only expandable number for such a tournament is 32 or else it gets into this silly 4 best third placed teams progressing crap. Either that, or make 5-6 teams / group or a second group stage... but not really doable.

I say keep it as it is.

I preferred when it was still eight to be honest.

[footyfan1]

I'm just greedy. I want more! ;)

[benztown]

16 is just perfect.

1) Its a power of two, which is perfect for a tournament.

2) It assures high quality matches. Different to the World Cup, every match at the Euro is absolutely open. The worst team of the Euro can beat the best one on a good day. Just look at the past tournaments. Euro matches have generally been of higher quality than WC matches.

3) It has to be an accomplishment to qualify for the Euro. With 24 teams, almost half of UEFA would participate. This would take the thrill off qualification.

4) I prefer quality over quantity. Expanding the Euro would give us more games, but reduce the amount of thrilling high quality games.

[aloisius]

the croatian football federation president was just on the telly after a meeting of all the heads of uefa members.

he said there is a strong majority of federations that want to expand the tournament to 24 from 2016, with Croatia being against it.

lots of smaller federations want to increase their chances of particapating in it and some of the big ones don't mind the expansion either.

pretty crappy news, but what can you do if most uefa members want it that way.

[Lusankya]

What's the point of a "qualification" if it just gets rid of teams like San Marino, Andorra, Faroe Islands, Liechtenstein, England, Armenia, Luxembourg or Malta?

[imasyko]

What's the point of a "qualification" if it just gets rid of teams like San Marino, Andorra, Faroe Islands, Liechtenstein, England, Armenia, Luxembourg or Malta?

IMO, it only makes sense if it shortens the qualification process. There are too many national team games that detract from the club seasons and wear out the players.

[geego]

I'm on the 16-team bandwagon, but if extended to 24, please, qualify only group winners + 2 best seconds to quarterfinals.

With 2 + 4 3rd placers to eightfinals the group stage loses all interest.

[Kebbie Gazauzkas]

16 is just perfect.

1) Its a power of two, which is perfect for a tournament.

2) It assures high quality matches. Different to the World Cup, every match at the Euro is absolutely open. The worst team of the Euro can beat the best one on a good day. Just look at the past tournaments. Euro matches have generally been of higher quality than WC matches.

3) It has to be an accomplishment to qualify for the Euro. With 24 teams, almost half of UEFA would participate. This would take the thrill off qualification.

4) I prefer quality over quantity. Expanding the Euro would give us more games, but reduce the amount of thrilling high quality games.

Totally agree, 16 teams is enough, no need to expand it further; if a team is good enough, it has to be able to make it, even if it's in a tougher group.

[superfrantheman]

24 teams? and what next 32?

keep it this way


we could have bulgaria, ireland, scotland, denmark, ukraine, serbia.... with those teams it could be 22, but would you like to see moldova or san marino?

[glennaldo_sf]

UEFA only has 53 member btw.. 24 teams would basically mean half of Europe playys in the finals

[superfrantheman]

but then you will like to include 32 and even 36 later on


24 doesnt sound bad at all.. it would have another round, and more games.......

since next euro is in poland and ukraine i think it could be a 24 one....
lets pretend......

poland-portugal-croatia-armenia?
ukraine-holland-switzerland-russia
germany-england-bulgaria-serbia
spain-czech republic-ireland-sweden
italy-turkey-scotland-norway
france-romania-denmark-slovenia?

damn 16 makes tis competition better than a world cup, but 24 will make it a tournament similar to a concacaf one....

well that something you europeans will decide...... plus i dont really think this will happen for next euro, probably for the next one,... how many stadium are poland and ukraine offering for next euro 2012?

[footyfan1]

but then you will like to include 32 and even 36 later on


24 doesnt sound bad at all.. it would have another round, and more games.......

since next euro is in poland and ukraine i think it could be a 24 one....
lets pretend......

poland-portugal-croatia-armenia?
ukraine-holland-switzerland-russia
germany-england-bulgaria-serbia
spain-czech republic-ireland-sweden
italy-turkey-scotland-norway
france-romania-denmark-slovenia?

damn 16 makes tis competition better than a world cup, but 24 will make it a tournament similar to a concacaf one....

well that something you europeans will decide...... plus i dont really think this will happen for next euro, probably for the next one,... how many stadium are poland and ukraine offering for next euro 2012?

If Poland and Ukraine don't pass their September inspection, it may be moved to Scotland or Spain......

[The Potter]

What's the point of a "qualification" if it just gets rid of teams like San Marino, Andorra, Faroe Islands, Liechtenstein, England, Armenia, Luxembourg or Malta?


Oh my sides they're splitting.

[The Potter]

In fairness UEFA has expanded a fair bit over the years, I could see why they'd want the tournament to reflect that.

[superfrantheman]

If Poland and Ukraine don't pass their September inspection, it may be moved to Scotland or Spain......

spain will be nice?

scotland? or you mean glasgow and edinburgh? because they dont have more stadiums in other cities

[glennaldo_sf]

spain will be nice?

scotland? or you mean glasgow and edinburgh? because they dont have more stadiums in other cities

Apparently Gretna's stadium is being used too much nowadays.

[footyfan1]

scotland? or you mean glasgow and edinburgh? because they dont have more stadiums in other cities

There's a new stadium being built in Dundee also.

[superfrantheman]

spain will be better than scotland


they could even have 10 cities

madrid --- bernabeu.....vicente calderon
barcelona --- camp nou .... montjiuc
sevilla ---- olimpico/sanchez pizjuan/lopera
valencia ----mestalla/nou mestalla
la coruña ---- riazor
almeria ---- city stadium
bilbao ------ san mames
huelva ----- nuevo colombino
zaragoza ---- la romareda


spain has more stadium.... the first four cities i listed on top dont need too much manteinance, and are ready for a continental competition, the other 5 o 6 cities they need to be expanded, and remodeled a little.....

[footyfan1]

spain will be better than scotland


they could even have 10 cities

madrid --- bernabeu.....vicente calderon
barcelona --- camp nou .... montjiuc
sevilla ---- olimpico/sanchez pizjuan/lopera
valencia ----mestalla/nou mestalla
la coruña ---- riazor
almeria ---- city stadium
bilbao ------ san mames
huelva ----- nuevo colombino
zaragoza ---- la romareda


spain has more stadium.... the first four cities i listed on top dont need too much manteinance, and are ready for a continental competition, the other 5 o 6 cities they need to be expanded, and remodeled a little.....

If all you are going to go by is stadiums, then Germany, Italy and England have to be right in there too.

[Borussia]

UEFA is apparently currently considering expanding the Euros from 16 teams to 20-24 teams by 2016.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=548939&cc=4716

What do you guys think?


Finally some good news for England fans! :p :D ;)

Sorry for my little teasing. :-)