24 teams for Euro 2016 too many?

[ozzie owl]

Surely 24 teams qualifying for Euro 2016 is too many.

After all only 52 sides will take part with 23 to qualify , surely the quality of the tournament will be diluted.

[Stuckey]

Surely 24 teams qualifying for Euro 2016 is too many.

After all only 52 sides will take part with 23 to qualify , surely the quality of the tournament will be diluted.

I think its fair enough. If you look at the countries that just missed out for 2012.
Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Serbia, Romania, Norway and Scotland missed out so there is a decent amount of quality there IMO.

[dajine]

Surely 24 teams qualifying for Euro 2016 is too many.

After all only 52 sides will take part with 23 to qualify , surely the quality of the tournament will be diluted.

I think its fair enough. If you look at the countries that just missed out for 2012.
Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Serbia, Romania, Norway and Scotland missed out so there is a decent amount of quality there IMO.

I agree that is fair, and this how looks groups: http://www.enko-football.com/2014/02/dr ... 016th.html

[ozzie owl]

I sill think it devalues the qualification process, plus it will be repeat of then the World Cup had 24 sides, when only 8 sides were eliminated after initial group stage. I just think 24 out of 54 countries competing get to play in the Euros.Iif quality sides miss out then that's just bad luck, same as the World Cup when quality European sides often miss out.

[Stuckey]

I sill think it devalues the qualification process, plus it will be repeat of then the World Cup had 24 sides, when only 8 sides were eliminated after initial group stage. I just think 24 out of 54 countries competing get to play in the Euros.Iif quality sides miss out then that's just bad luck, same as the World Cup when quality European sides often miss out.

I think UEFA need to take a leaf out of the AFC's book a have a two tiered qualification process. Allow all the lower ranked countries to play off for the right to play the big boys.
I agree Germany smashing San Marino 10-0 every time is a waste unless they field a experimental squad to blood some youth. But then maybe that's why they do it?

[Juventino]

Yes it is too many. Soon enough they'll expand to 32 teams.

16 was perfect - the standard of the Championships was generally higher than the World Cup and there were no easy games right from the opening group match.

[Chaos]

Surely 24 teams qualifying for Euro 2016 is too many.

After all only 52 sides will take part with 23 to qualify , surely the quality of the tournament will be diluted.

I think its fair enough. If you look at the countries that just missed out for 2012.
Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Serbia, Romania, Norway and Scotland missed out so there is a decent amount of quality there IMO.

[God is an Englishman]

If you look at the countries that just missed out for 2012.
Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Serbia, Romania, Norway and Scotland missed out so there is a decent amount of quality there IMO.

I'll give you Belgium.


Scotland

[Nishioka Sumiko]

I think UEFA need to take a leaf out of the AFC's book a have a two tiered qualification process. Allow all the lower ranked countries to play off for the right to play the big boys.

Bollocks to that.

[Russki Claw]

Too many, what is the point of playing all the qualifiers- isn't it to ensure that only the best teams make the last stages??? Good teams always miss out, is that not the point of a last 16??

Just another money grab from UEFA. Platini is no better than Blatter in my book.

[God is an Englishman]

Platini is no better than Blatter in my book.

[ozzie owl]

Too many, what is the point of playing all the qualifiers- isn't it to ensure that only the best teams make the last stages??? Good teams always miss out, is that not the point of a last 16??

Just another money grab from UEFA. Platini is no better than Blatter in my book.

+1

[starr]

I don't think its too many in the sense of diluting the quality of the competition, europe has more than enough good teams to fill the extra spots, and there will be still good teams that miss out. In that sense 24 teams is not too many, however i do think that it was just fine with 16 teams and the expansion is more about trying to generate more money for uefa rather than improving the tournament

[Chaos]

Surely 24 teams qualifying for Euro 2016 is too many.

After all only 52 sides will take part with 23 to qualify , surely the quality of the tournament will be diluted.

I think its fair enough. If you look at the countries that just missed out for 2012.
Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Serbia, Romania, Norway and Scotland missed out so there is a decent amount of quality there IMO.

Once again at the highlighted team guys.

[Red-4-Life]

So what will the format be?

[Stuckey]

So what will the format be?

Round robin, if a winner can't be found the sides will have to compete in three man sack races on consecutive Sundays till a winner is crowned!

[GaylyColouredStumps]

I don't think its too many

to be honest, probably doesn't go far enough IMO

ultimately 42 would be the best number to ensure it being a quality tournament

[Nice One Cyril]

I don't think its too many

to be honest, probably doesn't go far enough IMO

ultimately 42 would be the best number to ensure it being a quality tournament

You're just trying to get Croatia into it

[Juventino]

I don't think its too many

to be honest, probably doesn't go far enough IMO

ultimately 42 would be the best number to ensure it being a quality tournament

You're just trying to get Croatia into it

They'll be fine to qualify as it is anyway.

[ruud]

arent they also doing some weird thing for the next Euro where its held in like 10 different countries?

just keeps getting stranger and stranger at UEFA

[ozzie owl]

arent they also doing some weird thing for the next Euro where its held in like 10 different countries?

just keeps getting stranger and stranger at UEFA

[Nice One Cyril]

arent they also doing some weird thing for the next Euro where its held in like 10 different countries?

just keeps getting stranger and stranger at UEFA

It's that French bottle of shiraz in charge. He's obsessed with leaving his legacy (good or bad) on football.

[Stuckey]

arent they also doing some weird thing for the next Euro where its held in like 10 different countries?

just keeps getting stranger and stranger at UEFA

I'm not sure whats the issue with that? Europe is tiny why not have groups in different countries?

[fowlerisgod]

I think the biggest irony is Platini said in an interview that the expansion was Scotland and Ireland's idea. Then the two get drawn in the same group...so at least one won't get in..

[ruud]

arent they also doing some weird thing for the next Euro where its held in like 10 different countries?

just keeps getting stranger and stranger at UEFA

I'm not sure whats the issue with that? Europe is tiny why not have groups in different countries?

Europe is tiny?

[Certified Head Case]

In terms of football culture yes.

[Stuckey]

In terms of geographical distance between one major city and another compared to Asia or America yes.