I do agree with you both and know that 32 teams isn't a genuine option. It's just such a downer with the tournament like this. Don't know what the answer is. I don't think they'll drop it down again cos of the money they'll lose. Brendy - isn't that play off idea what FIFA are considering for the WC? I think that's awful too. All that effort qualifying and you could play one game and go home.
I guess a preliminary 16-team group stage is an alternative to a preliminary 16-team KO round. That would avoid the issue you rightly highlight about going home after one game. But it would add about two weeks onto the start of the tournament. The top eight sides would be twiddling their fingers, waiting for the second (and proper) group stage to start. It is something which they do in cricket, for the t20 world cup. But cricket doesn't have the same profile as football, which makes it easier for it to get away with weird starts to a tournament. I couldn't see people accepting an entire extra group stage for the Euros. For it work, I'd suggest it would need to take place the summer before each Euros, almost like a standalone tournament. It would require a complete overhaul of both the qualifying process and the Nations League, but maybe that isn't the worst thing.
Switzerland, Belgium, Finland, England, Czech, Sweden and France will all be through if these two scores remain unchanged. Russia would be out. Denmark would need a small miracle.
I've been watching this match for over 40 minutes and I'm still having to a double take occasionally when I realise Russia are in red.
Interesting on the radio they’re saying we’re interested in two of the Danish players - Delaney and Damsgaard. Would love them both, but it ain’t happening. I presume we’re all Denmark tonight?
After the atmosphere we've had at some of these tournaments can anyone really say they'd watch football without fans again? No idea what the words were but loved that song Denmark fans were just singing.
Two hours ago, Portugal were sitting pretty again. Whereas now, they could really do with a favour from Belgium.
Would say that essentially puts Ukraine out? Fully expect there to be a winner between Croatia and Scotland tomorrow.