The UEFA Executive Committee today approved the expansion of the final tournament of the UEFA European Championship from 16 to 24 teams, as from the 2016 edition.

The format of the final tournament will consist of six groups of four teams, followed by a round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final. The top two from each group would qualify in addition to the four best third-ranked sides. This format would generate a total of 51 games, compared with the 31 now, played over a period of 29 to 31 days depending on the match schedule. This historic decision gives middle-ranked countries a much greater chance to qualify for the final tournament. The traditional qualifying format, with groups of six and five teams, will remain in place.

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WTF, this's gonna be boring :confused::confused:

btw, somewhere was a thread for this but I couldn't find :(

The UEFA Executive Committee today approved the expansion of the final tournament of the UEFA European Championship from 16 to 24 teams, as from the 2016 edition.

The format of the final tournament will consist of six groups of four teams, followed by a round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final. The top two from each group would qualify in addition to the four best third-ranked sides. This format would generate a total of 51 games, compared with the 31 now, played over a period of 29 to 31 days depending on the match schedule. This historic decision gives middle-ranked countries a much greater chance to qualify for the final tournament. The traditional qualifying format, with groups of six and five teams, will remain in place.

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WTF, this's gonna be boring :confused::confused:

btw, somewhere was a thread for this but I couldn't find :(
more victims for spain :cool:

Finally, we have a shot of qualifying. (H)

I'm actually in favour of this as it'll be good to get a look at some different national teams for a change. There will be a few poor quality teams in there but some good quality teams would miss out otherwise. We'll probably still make a mess of qualifying though.

The last prestigious football tournament changed; more teams mean **** quality.

We can't really judge this move until 2016 comes around but my only real concern is that the 4 groups with 4 teams format is now gone so that sucks major.

BTW as of next season the UEFA Cup will be called the UEFA Europa League.

Finally, we have a shot of qualifying. (H)

No, it's just ****.

maybe, we'll have bigger chances to qualify too but I guess it's gonna be just ****. Coz after qualifications we'll gonna have 'mini qualifications' inside the Euro which means lower quality and just more money for UEFA.

anyway, we have to wait to see what's gonna happen.

umm...why not 1012?

Europa League? 8|
It amazes me how UEFA and FIFA always feel this urge to change something that absolutely doesn't require changing..

It amazes me how UEFA and FIFA always feel this urge to change something that absolutely doesn't require changing..

Exactly, we've just seen the most amazing EURO 2008, with teams playing wonderful football and exciting games and now they go on expanding it to 24 teams. I for one was always happy to get rid of nations like Macedonia and Slovakia by the time the real EURO's started, with all do respect.

IMO, this is a bad ideea. More teams equal less quality, and the EURO was great just because only powerfull teams were there, playing against each other. And I still don't get why they changed the name of the UEFA Cup ? It makes no sense.

Europa League? Are you ******* ****ting me?

umm...why not 1012?

Do you mean 2012?
Because, I think, we'll not be able to host EURO with 24 teams. We have much work to do to prepare for EURO 2012. And it would be very difficult for us and for Poland to prepare, if UEFA added 8 teams to EURO 2012.
I think it will be a little bit boring (24 teams). Like World Cup, where there are allways 6-8 teams are obvious outsiders.

Excuse me for my English...

If Uefa really wants to improve football and to give chance to 'smaller' national teams, I think it would be better to give more chances clubs from countries with undeveloped football in 'Europa League' for example than in Europian Championship.

To qualify in Europa League, a 'small' team has to pas 3 qualification rounds which is really hard to do. Imagine one small team passes 2 rounds and in third round they have to play against Milan or same in CL when we have teams like Barcelona, Arsenal etc, etc.

Hmm, I don't quite see the point of having qualifications only to remove half the confederation... Qualfying groups are really going to be bitched about now... Sure, more football is always great, but i'm not liking the idea of a mini-qualification round.... :(

PS: As for expansion, UEFA should look at taking in the 4 former-Soviet States and Greenland. And maybe some fake-states too... (H)

Money motivated, pure and simple. More matches in the EURO finals equals more TV revenue. Of course this has now really reduced the number of potential host nations for the European Championships as more teams will require a better infrastructure and more Stadia.

Oh and I bet England still make a hard job of qualifying :tongue: